The Johnson Family Foundation

Name

The Johnson Family Foundation

Legal name

Johnson Family Foundation

Website

https://jffnd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Private foundation grantmaking
• Philanthropic grants
• Social justice fellowship
• Environmental health funding
• Nonprofit program funding

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grantmaking: As a private non-operating foundation established December 1, 1990 and classified in 1991, the Johnson Family Foundation generates revenue through investment returns on its endowment and awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations. Since inception, JFF has awarded more than $74 million in grants supporting environmental health, equality/social progress, and education/youth causes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Johnson Family Foundation is a private non-operating foundation that awards grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve environmental health, promote equality and social progress, and support education and youth. Since its 1990 inception, JFF has awarded more than $74 million in grants, with particular focus on Colorado, Vermont, and LGBTQ communities. The Foundation also operates the Johnson Justice Fellowship, a two-year, full-time fellowship in New York City for rising social justice leaders.

Product overview

The Johnson Family Foundation is a private non-operating foundation established in 1990 that offers grantmaking programs focused on improving environmental health, promoting equality and social progress, and supporting education and youth. The foundation operates two primary programs: its core Grantmaking Programs that have distributed over $74 million in grants to various nonprofits, and the Johnson Justice Fellowship, a two-year fellowship launched in September 2023 to build a pipeline for social justice leaders in New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grantmaking Programs JFF's Grantmaking Programs fund nonprofit organizations working to improve the health of the environment, promote equality and social progress, and support education and youth; the foundation has awarded more than $74 million in grants since inception, with focus areas including Colorado, Vermont, and LGBTQ communities nationally.
• Johnson Justice Fellowship A full-time, two-year fellowship based in New York City, launched in September 2023 to build a pipeline for rising social justice leaders, providing resources, network, and support to mid-career leaders dedicated to social justice work; the fellowship provides a salary of $70,000–$80,000 plus full benefits, with placements across electoral, grassroots, and policy/advocacy tracks at host nonprofit organizations such as New American Leaders, Riders Alliance, and New Economy Project.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $74 million in grants awarded since foundation inception
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Riders AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Grassroots organization fighting for subway and bus improvements in New York. Host organization for Johnson Justice Fellowship (grassroots track).
• New Economy ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Policy and advocacy organization working for economic justice and democratic control of resources. Host organization for Johnson Justice Fellowship (policy/advocacy track).
• True Colors UnitedOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization working to ensure that LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness have access to safe housing and the support they need to thrive.
• National Farm to School NetworkOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization connecting farms and schools to provide educational opportunities about food and agriculture while supporting local farmers.
• MountainfilmOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization using the power of film, art, and culture to inspire action and create positive change in communities.
• Let's Grow KidsOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization in Vermont focused on early childhood development and supporting families with young children.
• Pinhead InstituteOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization providing science education programs and inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators.
• New American LeaderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Partner organization preparing first- and second-generation immigrants and refugees to exercise political power and leadership. Host organization for Johnson Justice Fellowship (electoral track).
• VT Council on Rural DevelopmentOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization supporting rural Vermont communities through development programs and community building initiatives.
• CenterLinkOthers · 1 January 1990Featured grantee organization supporting LGBTQ community centers and building stronger communities for LGBTQ people.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Drug Policy Alliance: Social justice advocacy organization where Richard Burns served as interim executive director; comparable as a New York-based justice-issues grant recipient/ally in JFF's network.
• Arcus Foundation: Private family foundation with comparable LGBTQ-rights and social-justice grantmaking focus, where Senior Advisor Richard D. Burns served as COO. Directly comparable in mission and operating model to JFF.
• Telluride Foundation: Western Slope Colorado rural community foundation where Dylan Hoos structured economic development programs; comparable in Western Slope Colorado grantmaking focus.
• Vermont Community Foundation: Vermont-based community foundation with statewide grantmaking; comparable in mission overlap with JFF's Vermont portfolio (Let's Grow Kids, VT Council on Rural Development).
• North Star Fund: NYC-based progressive grantmaking foundation where Richard Burns served as interim executive director; comparable as a small NYC social-justice grantmaker with overlapping programmatic priorities.
• Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation: Progressive family foundation supporting environmental health, social justice, and sustainable agriculture — directly aligning with JFF's vertical portfolio and small-team operating model.
• Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation: Family foundation funding early childhood education and poverty alleviation; Dylan Hoos previously managed $40M+ in grants here. Closely comparable in scale and grantmaking focus on youth/education.
• Funders for LGBTQ Issues: Membership association of LGBTQ-focused funders where Richard Burns served as interim executive director; comparable in LGBTQ philanthropic infrastructure.
• Stonewall Community Foundation: NYC-based LGBTQ-focused community foundation where Richard Burns served as interim executive director; comparable in LGBTQ-grantmaking focus and NYC presence.

Broad incumbents

• New York Community Trust: Large NYC-focused community foundation where Richard Burns served on the Nonprofit Excellence Awards selection committee; comparable as a NYC grantmaking entity but at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Johnson Family Foundation