Walter S. Johnson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,060,000 (2023)
• Total Assets: $111,397,435
• Decision Time: 2-6 months
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $600,000+
• Geographic Focus: Northern California (48 counties) and Nevada (all counties)
• Application Type: Invitation only

Contact Details

Address: Walter S. Johnson Foundation, c/o Whittier Trust, 505 Montgomery St, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94111-6529

Phone: (415) 283-1854

Website: https://wsjf.org/

Email: Yali Lincroft, Program Director - ylincroft@whittiertrust.com

Overview

The Walter S. Johnson Foundation was established in 1968 in California by Walter S. Johnson (1884-1978), a San Francisco attorney who founded the American Box Company (later American Forest Products Corporation) and helped establish the Friden Calculating Machine Company. Johnson gained public recognition for leading a major gift to reconstruct San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts. He developed an interest in supporting foster youth through a friendship with a nonprofit serving this population. Today, the foundation assists young people ages 14-26 who are disconnected from education and employment in Northern California and Nevada to become successful adults. With total assets exceeding $111 million and annual giving of approximately $4.1 million, the foundation focuses on educational and employment opportunities for transition-aged foster youth and other vulnerable young people. The foundation has received recognition through its leadership, with Program Director Yali Lincroft receiving the 2024 John Burton Advocate for Youth Champion of the Year award and the 2013 White House Champion for Change award.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation operates three primary focus areas:

1. California College Pathways & Nevada Foster Youth Success Initiative

• Supports current and former foster youth in post-secondary education
• Includes campus housing, year-round housing availability, mentoring, financial aid assistance, and academic support services
• Application: Invitation only
• The foundation participates in the pooled California College Pathways Fund addressing foster youth educational outcomes in California
• The foundation supports the Nevada System of Higher Education's systemwide Foster Youth Success Initiative through multi-year grants

2. Reforming Systems

• Funds policy reform initiatives and public/private partnerships addressing systemic barriers
• Supports initiatives like California College Pathways, Nevada Foster Youth Success Initiative, and research on transition-age youth
• Multi-year grants typically provided

3. Employment and Career Opportunities

• Supports work-readiness training, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships
• Connects vulnerable youth to jobs and career pathways
• Recent example: California Local Conservation Corps Foundation received multi-year support to build statewide capacity for employment opportunities for opportunity youth

Small Grants ($2,000 - $25,000)

• Conference support, travel support, research studies, and capacity building
• Rolling basis for eligible organisations
• Examples: Support for CA Foster Youth Education Summit participation and NYEC Annual Forum participation

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organisations and efforts in the following areas:

• Transition-Aged Foster Youth: Creating integrated systems of services for current and former foster youth that ensure successful transition to adulthood
• Educational and Job Training Programmes: Programmes targeting specific needs of young people requiring wrap-around services and basic needs support
• System Integration: Government and social service systems that connect to make accessing services and benefits easier for young people and providers
• Youth Leaders: Helping young people become engaged, motivated citizens in their communities
• Capacity Building: Increasing organisational effectiveness of youth organisations and agencies

The foundation emphasises relational grantmaking and supports grantees' organisational improvements to become more effective and efficient, with a strong belief in partnerships that support sustainable solutions.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not fund:

• Individuals
• Arts or film projects
• International organisations
• Ongoing general operating costs (with rare exceptions for organisations aligned with Walter S. Johnson's lifetime giving)
• Capital campaigns
• Endowments
• County chapters (typically only state-level organisations are invited to apply)

Governance and Leadership

Staff

Yali Lincroft, MBA - Program Director Vice President of Whittier Trust's Philanthropic Services. Received the 2024 John Burton Advocate for Youth Champion of the Year award, 2024 CA Association of Local Conservation Corps Partner of the Year, the 2018 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year from the Network of CA Community College Foundations, and the 2013 White House Champion for Change recognition.

Chuck Hoblitzelle - Grants Manager Manages the grantmaking process, including philanthropic due diligence, budget reviews, and database maintenance. Has 15+ years of nonprofit programme management experience.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Walter S. Johnson Foundation operates an invitation-only application process. Organisations cannot submit unsolicited proposals.

Five-Step Process:

1. Determine eligibility - Organisations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public agencies, or projects sponsored by public charities serving Northern California and Nevada
2. Check project fit - Review foundation funding priorities and previous grantees to ensure alignment
3. Contact programme staff - Email Yali Lincroft (ylincroft@whittiertrust.com) with a Letter of Inquiry describing your organisation and project
4. Submit proposal (by invitation only) - If invited, the foundation will provide application materials
5. Await decision - Board meetings occur quarterly; decisions communicated by programme staff

Important Notes:

• The foundation does not accept or review unsolicited proposals or sales requests
• A Letter of Inquiry is often requested before consideration for a proposal invitation
• Organisations should review the foundation's funding priorities and list of previous grants before reaching out

Decision Timeline

• Board meetings: Four times per year (February, May, July/August, and November)
• Proposal deadlines: Generally due 3 months prior to board meetings
• Review period: 2-6 months for programme staff to conduct due diligence (may include site visits, reference checks, and programme/financial assessment)
• Notification: Programme staff will keep applicants informed about proposal status and notify organisations if and when their proposal will be presented to the Board and when to expect a decision

Funding Duration

The foundation typically provides no more than two or three years of consecutive funding to grantees.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the foundation's invitation-only model suggests a selective process:

• 53 grants awarded in 2023
• 59 grants awarded in 2022
• 52 grants awarded in 2021
• 38 grants awarded in 2020

The foundation operates through targeted, relationship-based grantmaking rather than open application cycles.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented. Given the invitation-only nature of the application process, organisations interested in future consideration should maintain contact with programme staff and continue to align their work with foundation priorities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities The foundation emphasises that organisations should "review their funding priorities and list of previous grants to determine whether your efforts advance one or more of the Foundation's goals and objectives." Successful applicants demonstrate clear alignment with the foundation's focus on transition-aged foster youth (ages 14-26) and vulnerable young people disconnected from education and employment.

Geographic Service Area Organisations must serve eligible counties in Northern California or Nevada. The eligible California counties are: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba. All counties in Nevada are eligible. State-level organisations are preferred over county chapters.

Evidence of System Integration The foundation values programmes that help "government and social service systems connect to make accessing services and benefits easier for young people and providers." Projects demonstrating partnerships, collaboration, and sustainable solutions are prioritised.

Focus on Outcomes for Youth Ages 14-26 Programmes must specifically target transition-aged youth, with emphasis on wrap-around services, basic needs support, education, employment, and pathways to successful adulthood.

Relational Approach and Capacity Building The foundation "believes in relational grantmaking and supports grantees' organisational improvements to become more effective and efficient." Organisations should be prepared for site visits, reference checks, and ongoing communication with programme staff.

Examples of Recently Funded Work Recent grants demonstrate the foundation's priorities:

• California College Pathways: Support for foster youth post-secondary education support through pooled funding initiative
• Nevada System of Higher Education: Multi-year support for systemwide Foster Youth Success Initiative
• Research and evaluation on transition-age youth
• California Local Conservation Corps Foundation: Multi-year support for employment opportunities for opportunity youth
• UNLV Fostering Scholars Programme: Multi-year support
• American Bar Association Legal Center for Foster Care and Education: Multi-year support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Instead, contact Program Director Yali Lincroft with a Letter of Inquiry to explore fit before investing application effort.
• Geographic focus matters: Ensure your organisation serves Northern California (48 eligible counties) or Nevada (all counties eligible). State-level organisations are strongly preferred over county chapters.
• Age range is critical: Programmes must specifically serve young people ages 14-26, with emphasis on foster youth and those disconnected from education and employment.
• Multi-year funding typical: The foundation typically provides 2-3 years of consecutive funding, with grants ranging from small awards ($2,000-$25,000) to major multi-year commitments.
• System change and collaboration valued: The foundation prioritises partnerships, policy reform, and system integration efforts that create sustainable solutions beyond individual programme delivery.
• Long review timeline: Plan for 2-6 months of due diligence including potential site visits and reference checks. Proposals are typically due 3 months before quarterly board meetings.
• Relational approach: The foundation emphasises relationships with grantees and supports organisational capacity building. Expect ongoing communication and partnership beyond just grant funding.

References

• Walter S. Johnson Foundation Official Website - Accessed January 2025
• Walter S. Johnson Foundation - Grants Page - Accessed January 2025
• Walter S. Johnson Foundation - About Page - Accessed January 2025
• Cause IQ - Walter S Johnson Foundation Profile - Accessed January 2025
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Walter S Johnson Foundation - Accessed January 2025
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Walter S Johnson Foundation - Accessed January 2025
• NSHE Foster Youth Success Initiative Update - Accessed January 2025
• JBAY - Walter S. Johnson Foundation Invests in Reducing Homelessness - Accessed January 2025
• Candid Foundation Directory - Walter S Johnson Foundation - Accessed January 2025