Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation: Grants for Animals and Wildlife
/IP OVERVIEW: The Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation supports organizations that train seeing eye dogs and service dogs for people with physical disabilities. It also gives to wildlife conservation initiatives.
IP TAKE: The Johnson Foundation prioritizes organizations that train dogs for the assistance of visually impaired people. In recent years, it has branched out to support organizations that train dogs to assist people with other physical disabilities. Another area of grantmaking interest is wildlife conservation. This funder supports organizations of all sizes and appears to base its grantmaking selections on organizations’ reputation for success with training and placing service dogs. Conservation grantees tend to be engaged in direct, science-based conservation projects, as opposed to education or public awareness programs. It makes about $1 million in grants a year and runs an open, online grant application process via its website. Applications are due on at the beginning of August each year.
PROFILE: Established in 1990, the Chandler, Arizona-based Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation was established by Arthur L. Johnson, a successful distributor of home appliances who also invented a popular beverage tapping system. Johnson, who died in 1997, was also a German Shepherd enthusiast, and his early philanthropic work focused on grants for organizations that trained seeing eye dogs. Later, he expanded the work of his foundation to include the training of assistance dogs for people with other physical disabilities and wildlife conservation initiatives. Grantmaking is national in scope.
The Johnson Foundation’s highest grantmaking priority is the care and training of “dogs that assist the visually impaired.” The foundation also gives to organizations that train dogs to serve individuals with other physical disabilities. It generally does not support organizations that train “therapy, medical alert, autism, PTSD, facility, or emotional support animals,” but has given to organizations that train “such animals in addition to animals to assist the physically handicapped.” Past grantees include Southeastern Guide Dogs, New York’s Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Summit Assistance Dogs of Washington and Genesis Assistance Dogs of Florida. The foundation also supports wildlife conservation organizations that engage in “direct” and “science-based conservation activities,” prioritizing endangered species and habitats. The foundation’s recent wildlife grantees include the Yosemite Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the Land Trust of Napa County and the Turtle Survival Alliance.
The Johnson Foundation makes about $1 million a year in grants ranging from $1,000 to $500,000. Its average grant size is about $50,000. Its service dog training grantees tend to be small but highly reputable organizations, and its conservation grantees range from large national outfits to small local conservation efforts. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings.
This funder runs an open application process via its website; it does not accept applications by mail or email. The foundation advises grantees to read the eligibility, priorities and guidelines sections of its website before establishing an application account. Applications are usually due in early August each year. Inquiries should be addressed to the organizations managing trustee, David Hammerslag, or its senior trustee, Sally Mode, via email.
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