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M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$10.1M
Grant Range
$29K - $2.0M
Decision Time
2mo

M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$10.1 million (2024 charitable disbursements)
  • Total Assets: $122.2 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $28,500 - $2,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: 15-county Texas Gulf Coast region (Victoria area)
  • Decision Timeline: Quarterly (March, July, October board meetings)
  • Total Given to Date: $156.9 million (as of March 2023)

Contact Details

  • Website: mglajohnsonfoundation.com
  • Phone: 361-575-7970
  • Address: P.O. Box 2269, Victoria, TX 77902
  • Contact Person: Robert Halepeska, Executive Vice President

Overview

Established in December 1958 by Marshall G. Johnson and Lillie Appelt Johnson, the M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation is a private foundation headquartered in Victoria, Texas. The foundation was originally created to fund the construction of a Lutheran hospital in Houston's Texas Medical Center. The Johnsons' initial contribution—the sale of their 51,860-acre Florida ranch for $16 million—helped establish what is now the Lutheran Hospital Pavilion at M.D. Anderson Hospital, representing the single largest contribution ever made to the University of Texas Cancer Foundation at that time.

Today, the foundation operates in perpetuity with assets exceeding $122 million, distributing approximately $10 million annually to qualifying organizations in a 15-county Texas Gulf Coast region. The foundation's primary focus areas are health and education, particularly higher education institutions and healthcare facilities. Through March 2023, the foundation has distributed over $156.9 million in grants to qualifying charities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Healthcare/Medical Equipment Grants: $50,000 - $1,200,000

  • Hospital equipment purchases (MRI machines, endoscopy systems, mammography equipment)
  • Ambulance and EMS equipment
  • Healthcare simulation facilities

Higher Education Grants: $28,500 - $2,000,000

  • Capital projects and facility construction
  • Technology and equipment for health/STEM programs
  • Scholarship endowments
  • Nursing and allied health training equipment

Community/Social Service Grants: $50,000 - $100,000

  • Community development projects
  • Social service needs

Application Schedule: The Board of Trustees reviews grant requests in March, July, and October. Applications must be submitted by the last day of the month preceding the meeting date.

Priority Areas

  • Medical and allied health purposes (primary emphasis)
  • Institutions of higher education (Victoria College, Wharton County Junior College, University of Houston-Victoria)
  • Healthcare facilities and hospitals in the 15-county service area
  • Emergency medical services and ambulance services
  • STEM education programs
  • Healthcare workforce development

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations financially supported by United Way, government grants/subsidies, or national fundraisers
  • Endowments or development campaigns
  • Research fellowships, conferences, or publications
  • Loans, grants, scholarships, or fellowships to individuals
  • Operational expenses (rarely funded)
  • K-12 education (only higher education)
  • Private foundations
  • Organizations outside the 15-county geographic area

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Russell Marshall - Chairman
  • Jim Bouligny - Vice Chairman
  • Dennis Soimons - Secretary/Treasurer
  • M.H. Brock - Trustee
  • Terrell Mullins - Trustee
  • Rosemary Rust - Trustee
  • Luis Guerra - Trustee

Staff

  • Robert Halepeska - Executive Vice President and Manager (since 1989)
  • Dorothy Mikulenka - Accounting and Technology

Robert Halepeska has led the foundation since 1989, when it had approximately $28.2 million in assets. On the foundation's approach, Halepeska has stated: "We don't want a lot of publicity, we don't want our picture in the paper every day. The main thing is, I think we've got the word out on what we do, what we won't do."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Submit one copy of a detailed proposal to Robert Halepeska, Executive Vice President, at P.O. Box 2269, Victoria, TX 77902.

Required Documents:

  • Institutional profile with brief organizational history
  • Organization name, address, telephone number, contact person, and email address
  • Description of proposed program or project
  • Specific funding request and payment date needed
  • List of all funding sources approached (with responses and amounts received)
  • Project cost or budget with firm cost estimates or bids
  • Prior year and current year-to-date fiscal statements and last certified audit
  • Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) designation letter

Important Notes:

  • Elaborate proposals are not necessary
  • In-person presentations to the Board of Trustees are not permitted
  • Grant requests that do not meet stated guidelines will not be acknowledged

Decision Timeline

  • Board Meeting Schedule: March, July, and October
  • Submission Deadline: Last day of the month preceding the meeting
  • Notification: After board review at quarterly meetings

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must:

  • Be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Serve people in one of the 15 eligible Texas Gulf Coast counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Colorado, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Waller, and Wharton
  • Not be a private foundation

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Documented Priorities: The foundation has clearly stated that "primary emphasis will be given to requests for medical or allied health purposes, and institutions of higher education." Projects that directly support healthcare infrastructure or higher education programs in health and STEM fields have the strongest track record.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • $2 million to University of Houston-Victoria for Health & Wellness Center construction
  • $1.98 million to Victoria College for Emerging Technology Center equipment
  • $1.2 million for hospital MRI machine
  • $543,000 for Victoria College emergency simulation room
  • $600,000 for UHV healthcare scholarships and internships

Strong Proposals Include:

  • Capital equipment or facility projects (not operational costs)
  • Clear budget with firm cost estimates or bids
  • Documented need within the 15-county service area
  • Alignment with health, education, or healthcare workforce development
  • Evidence the organization is not primarily funded by United Way, government, or national campaigns

What to Avoid:

  • Operational funding requests
  • K-12 education projects
  • Requests from organizations heavily funded by public sources
  • Applications outside the geographic area
  • Elaborate or overly complex proposals

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic restrictions are strict: Only organizations serving the 15-county Texas Gulf Coast region are eligible. Verify your service area aligns before applying.

  2. Focus on capital projects: The foundation rarely funds operational expenses. Request equipment, facilities, or capital improvements.

  3. Healthcare and higher education dominate: These two areas receive the vast majority of funding. Educational grants have historically gone exclusively to Victoria College, Wharton County Junior College, and University of Houston-Victoria.

  4. Don't be heavily government or United Way funded: The trustees prefer not to fund organizations already receiving significant public support.

  5. Keep proposals simple: The foundation explicitly states "elaborate proposals are not necessary." Focus on clarity and completeness, not length.

  6. Respect the quarterly timeline: Submit by month-end before March, July, or October meetings. Allow several months for the review cycle.

  7. Contact Robert Halepeska first: All inquiries should go through the Executive Vice President at 361-575-7970. The foundation prefers direct communication over elaborate written materials.

References

Research conducted December 2025

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