The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy (Johnson Center) is a left-of-center applied research center that conducts research on philanthropic trends to promote left-of-center activism through a network of businesses, nonprofits, and government entities. 1 One of its central research initiatives is in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through which it advocates left-leaning, race-based activism. 2
The center is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is an applied research center of Grand Valley State University, a public university in Allendale, Michigan. 3 Leslie Slavitt is the executive director of the Johnson Center. 4
Background
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy was founded in 1992 under its original name, the Center for Philanthropic and Nonprofit Leadership. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided the initial $922,000 grant to open the Johnson Center. The Center was renamed in 1999 after Dorothy Johnson, a philanthropic trailblazer in Michigan and founder of the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), a left-of-center association of philanthropic foundations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activism. 1 5
Activities and Influence
The Dorothy A. Johnson Center has grown several internal research centers, philanthropy tools and initiatives that have helped advance left-of-center grantmaking activities with tremendous reach and influence. The center’s most notable activities include its partnership with major clients, its research, publications, and networking with businesses, nonprofits, philanthropic arms, and government entities to advance left-of-center activism. 1 6
Community Research Initiative and Grantmaking School
In 2000, the Johnson Center launched its Community Research Initiative which was renamed the Community Data and Research Lab in 2006. This initiative became the center’s home for community data collection and analysis, neighborhood mapping, and online tools to target areas for philanthropic influence. Also in 2006, the Community Data and Research Lab was awarded membership in the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership, a left-of-center advocacy and research organization that advances race-based equity policies in urban communities. 6 7 8
In 2004, the Johnson Center founded its Grantmaking School, the first university-based program for teaching the techniques and nuances of institutional grantmaking. It trains students and organizations in the legal and financial areas of grantmaking to increase the network of left-leaning grantmaking groups. 6 9
Major Clients
The Johnson Center has influenced several prominent philanthropic institutions, including the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Michigan Nonprofit Association, and Network180. The Johnson Center claims to push for assisting its clients in advancing their philanthropic missions by reaching donors. 10
Major Reports
The Johnson Center has produced several major reports and research projects that have influenced the left-of-center philanthropy network and received major media coverage. In 2022, the Johnson Center published its “Use Cases from Publicly Available IRS Form 990 Data” project, an initiative that examined the impact of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax return transparency on spreading philanthropic missions. The report, a partnership with the left-leaning Washington, D.C.-based Aspen Institute, concluded that the free access to financial information enables private businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to target specific organizations and communities with grantmaking efforts. 11
In 2023, the Johnson Center published its flagship annual report on “11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2023.” The report highlights the importance of creating coalitions of individual philanthropic actors with labor-union movements, funding collaboratives, and new government administrations to advance a grassroots and centralized philanthropic approach. 12 In May 2024, the Johnson Center was cited in a Non-Profit Quarterly article that emphasized the growing interest in democratic-based giving within philanthropic organizations. The article referred to the Johnson Center’s 2023 report “11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2023” citing co-leadership and worker-owned models for nonprofits as more popular models for grantmaking. 13
In 2024, the Johnson Center published a project on generational giving that analyzed how different age groups view philanthropy. The report highlighted specifically the contributions of millennials who “want a closer and more active relationship with the groups they support, and with other supporters.” The Johnson Center also noted that millennials place an emphasis on left-leaning social efforts and environmentalism when considering philanthropic investment. 14
The Johnson Center also published its report, “In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S.” in partnership with Philanthropy Together and Colmena-Consulting. The report highlighted the importance of smaller giving circles as opposed to only the contributions from wealthy individual philanthropists. It discovered that from 2017 to 2023, participation in collective giving grew to 4,000 giving circles contributing over $3.1 billion to social causes. The report received coverage from Fidelity Charitable, the largest public charity in the United States. 15
Also in 2024, the Johnson Center was cited in the Chronicle of Philanthropy for its work on giving circles. The article highlighted the center’s research which found that 89 percent of participants who were part of their giving circle community made charitable donations beyond their contributions through those groups, thus amplifying their philanthropic efforts. 16
The Johnson Center also maintains a race-based diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) research center. In 2018, the center hosted Juan Olivarez for a three-year term as Distinguished Scholar in Residence for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the goal of expanding a left-wing perspective on race and equity through philanthropy. Olivarez’s work was sponsored by the Frey Foundation, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation, and the Wege Foundation. In 2019, the Johnson Center’s DEI center partnered with the Cleveland Foundation, the New Economy Initiative, and others in its “Strategies for Shared Prosperity” program, a digital and in-person series on how to expand race-first considerations in philanthropy. These resources can be found at the Johnson Center’s “Inclusive Growth Center.” Olivarez’s work culminated in the establishment of the Juan Olivarez Learning Equity Endowment, a DEI-based professional training program. 2 17 18
The Johnson Center has an emphasis on DEI philanthropy while producing research projects for specific minority communities. 19 It also maintains research projects oriented that promote family-based and community-based philanthropy. 20
People
Leadership
Lesley Slavitt is the executive director of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy. She joined the Johnson Center in this role in April 2023. Slavitt has an extensive work history in left-of-center philanthropy advocacy and social activism. She has led left-of-center initiatives addressing economic policy, arts and culture, educational policy, and disaster relief and recovery. Before joining the Johnson Center, Slavitt was chief executive officer of the Fiat Chrysler Foundation, where she also led civic engagement, and spent 10 years at JPMorgan Chase and legacy companies, advancing its corporate philanthropy and foundation impact. 21
Slavitt advocated for greater government action for racial minorities during the COVID-19 crisis in the state of Michigan and has led other administrative efforts in so called social-justice-centered higher education and urban planning. Slavitt serves on the board of the Urban Renaissance Center, is a strategic advisor to Co.act Detroit, and is on the advisory group for the Chronicle of Philanthropy-AP-The Conversation on philanthropy. She also has experience in left-of-center advocacy at the international level, authoring the war crimes tribunal report on the destruction of cultural property in the former Yugoslavia for the UN Commission of Experts and is an advisor to Belgium-based Eurocities on Ukraine reconstruction. 21
Slavitt holds a Ph.D. in planning from the Bartlett School of the Built Environment at University College London, an M.S. in urban planning and an M.S. in historic preservation from Columbia University in New York City, and a B.A. in art history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 21
Leadership Council
Dave Egner is the co-chair of the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council. He joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. In 2016, Dave was appointed president and CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, a $1.2 billion left-leaning foundation that must be spent down by 2035. Previously, Dave worked as president and CEO of the Hudson-Webber Foundation for 19 years. 22
Mae Hong joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2019. Hong opened the Chicago office of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in 2009 and is responsible for serving individual donors, families, foundations and corporations throughout the Midwest. Hong is a frequent activist, speaker, and writer about left-of-center issues, trends, and ideas in philanthropy. 23
Dorothy (Dottie) Johnson joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Johnson, the center’s namesake, worked for 25 years as president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations. She is a former trustee and chair of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and a former trustee and chair of the Grand Valley Board of Trustees. 24
Funding
As a sponsored project of Grand Valley State University, the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy does not file an independent tax return. Much of its funding comes from grants made to the university, but it also receives extensive funding for specific research projects it conducts. 25
In 2008, a $1,500,000 grant from the Frey Foundation established the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy at the Johnson Center. The center received another grant in 2023 to continue the Family Philanthropy center’s work. The grant totaled $2,200,000 with the Frey Foundation furnishing a $1,200,000 grant with an anonymous donor’s $1,000,000 match. 26
The Johnson Center has previously received grants from the Ford Foundation, including one in 2022 that totaled $100,000 and another from 2024 for $50,000. 27
References
- “About Us.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed DEcember 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/about-us/#our-mission-vision-1-0
- “Research & Initiatives – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/research-initiatives/#dei-1-3
- “Home.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/
- Martin, Tory. “Meet Lesley Slavitt, Eighth Executive Director of the Johnson Center.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. April 3, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/blog/meet-lesley-slavitt-eighth-executive-director-of-the-johnson-center/
- “Equity.” Council of Michigan Foundations. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.michiganfoundations.org/equity/our-strategic-framework
- “Celebrating 30 years of the Johnson Center.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter30years.my.canva.site/
- “Johnson Center – Research, Reports, and Publications.” ScholarWorks@GVSU. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/jcppubs/
- “NNIP Mission.” National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.neighborhoodindicators.org/about-nnip/nnip-mission
- “The Grantmaking School.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/training/for-grantmakers-donors/the-grantmaking-school/
- “Services.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/services/#research-1-0
- “Use Cases from Publicly Available IRS Form 990 Data.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. April 6, 2022. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/resource/use-cases-from-publicly-available-990-data/
- “11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2023.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. January 18, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/blog/11-trends-in-philanthropy-for-2023/?utm_source=Johnson+Center+e-Newsletters&utm_campaign=2b348c0f48-Jan-18-2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e86623ff86-2b348c0f48-398886361&mc_cid=2b348c0f48&mc_eid=b267c76b7b
- Christoforo, Faye. “Want Democratic Leadership at Your Nonprofit? Here Are Some Dos and Don’ts.” Non-Profit Quarterly. May 7, 2024. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/want-democratic-leadership-at-your-nonprofit-here-are-some-dos-and-donts/
- Chu, Julia. “In Family Philanthropy, Embracing Differences Can Pay Off.” Kiplinger. September 9, 2024. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/family-philanthropy-embracing-differences-can-pay-off
- Lomelin, Sarah. “The power of giving circles.” Fidelity Charitable. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/articles/the-power-of-giving-circles.html
- Alexander, Soraya. “What We Get Wrong About Community and Why It Matters.” Chronicle of Philanthropy. Accessed July 15, 2024. December 15, 2024. https://www.philanthropy.com/paid-content/classy/what-we-get-wrong-about-community-and-why-it-matters
- Abalo, Trish. “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Philanthropy: Three Years at the Johnson Center.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. August 17, 2021. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/blog-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-philanthropy-three-years-at-the-johnson-center/
- “Inclusive Growth.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/collection/inclusive-growth/
- Abalo, Trish, Engwis, Adam, and Martin, Tory. “Philanthropy is Entering a New Era of Engagement with Native Communities.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. January 18, 2022. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/blog/philanthropy-is-entering-a-new-era-of-engagement-with-native-communities/
- “Research and Initiatives.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/research-initiatives/#community-philanthropy-1-1
- “Lesley D. Slavitt, Ph.D.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed DEcember 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/team/lesley-slavitt/
- “David Egner.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/team/david-egner/
- “Mae Hong.” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/team/mae-hong/
- “Dorothy Johnson” Johnson Center for Philanthropy. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://johnsoncenter.org/team/dorothy-johnson/.
- “William & Flora Hewlett Foundation – 2013 Federal Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/941655673/201443049349100604/IRS990PF
- Center, Patrick. “Generous gift creates permanent funding for endowed chair at Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy.” WGVU News. November 28, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.wgvunews.org/news/2023-11-28/generous-gift-creates-permanent-funding-for-endowed-chair-at-dorothy-a-johnson-center-for-philanthropy
- “Grant Database – Search for ‘Grand Valley State University.’” Ford Foundation. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/?search=Grand+Valley+State+University