David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Its stated priority is Utah, and it primarily funds organisations working there, though it may support qualifying charities working outside the region, so a Utah project in one of its six fields is the clearest fit.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its 219 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, and its stated range runs from $5,000 to $100,000, although the filing shows one award of $275,000 above that maximum.
- Repeat giving is strong, as 86% of its grant dollars to organisations in the filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a new applicant should submit a letter of inquiry first, since it reviews these before any formal application.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, an organisation may apply only once per calendar year, and it contacts organisations whose inquiries fall within its guidelines.
- Do not approach it for capital campaigns, new building construction, multi-year commitments, research, staff funding, overhead or administrative salaries, as it excludes these.
Overview
David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation is a US private foundation based in Salt Lake City, UT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation preserves its founder’s philanthropic interests by supporting qualified 501(c)(3) organisations with the potential to make a significant impact in sight preservation and improvement, children’s services, drunk driving prevention and education, historic preservation, elder advocacy and environmental conservation. Its named grant areas include outreach for vision and eye care, children’s services, elder advocacy and care, environmental conservation and historic preservation. It primarily funds organisations conducting activities in Utah, while it may also support qualifying charitable organisations providing services outside the region. Its stated ambition is to make a significant difference in these fields across regional, national and international communities. Organisations may apply once per calendar year.
Themes
- Vision and eye care
- Children's services
- Drunk driving prevention
- Historic preservation
- Elder advocacy
- Environmental conservation
Geographic Focus
Priority: Utah.
What They Don't Fund
- Capital Campaigns or new Building Construction
- Multi-year commitments
- Grants to Individuals
- Grants to nonqualified agencies
- Grants that fall outside of the guidelines set by the Board of Directors
- Grants for research
- Funding for staff
- Political organizations
- Overhead expenses
- Administrative salaries
- Candidates
How to apply
Submit a letter of inquiry for review and approval before the formal grant application.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 219 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It requires applicants to be qualified 501(c)(3) organisations.
- It seeks organisations with the potential to make a significant impact in its stated charitable fields.
- It contacts organisations whose inquiries fall within its guidelines.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 69 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Madeleine Choir School · New gym and equipment.$200,0002024 tax year
- Moran Eye Center · Outreach program.$117,0002024 tax year
- Utah Food Bank · Essential food distribution for families in need.$100,0002024 tax year
- Summit Land Conservancy · Preserving agricultural property along the Weber River in Sargent Ranch and Richins Ranch.$75,0002024 tax year
- Shriners Hospital for Children · To provide unique, patient-centered care to children.$65,0002024 tax year
- Christmas Box International · To prevent child abuse and defend children through a culture of universal diversity, inclusion, and love.$55,0002024 tax year
- Adopt A Native Elder · Food runs and essential supplies to the Navajo Nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.$50,0002024 tax year
- World Central Kitchen · To provide disaster relief to devastated communities.$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Monsignor Joseph M Mayo — Advisory Committee
- Peter M Corroon — Advisory Committee
- Laurel Dokos — Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,901,931 | $1,684,175 | $42,914,286 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,019,585 | $1,708,372 | $44,060,209 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,094,018 | $1,700,270 | $45,334,338 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@dkjmemorial.org
- Salt Lake City, UT
- dkjmemorial.org
Applying to David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- info@dkjmemorial.org
- Salt Lake City, UT
- dkjmemorial.org