Theodore R & Vivian M Johnson Scholarship Foundation Inc.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) operates as a highly focused, relationship-driven grantmaker with a singular mission: helping disadvantaged people prepare for and obtain a college degree. Unlike many foundations that accept general proposals, JSF channels all grants through institutional partners — it makes no direct awards to individuals. This architecture means applicants must be nonprofit organizations capable of administering scholarship programs for one of three strictly defined populations: economically disadvantaged students, students who are Indigenous to the United States or Canada, or students with disabilities.

The foundation's grantmaking philosophy centers on leverage. Grantees are typically required to secure matching funds from other sources, with the specific match ratio negotiated individually. This signals that JSF values institutional commitment and financial capacity: organizations that cannot demonstrate co-investment will struggle to advance past the LOI stage. Top grantees — Palm Beach Atlantic University ($2.04M across two grants), Scholarship America ($1.54M), Gallaudet University ($1.31M), and Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind ($1.31M) — illustrate the preferred partner profile: established institutions with documented track records in target populations and capacity to administer multi-year programs.

First-time applicants should understand that JSF operates a formal seven-stage process beginning with an LOI submitted through the grantinterface.com portal. The program committee responds within 30 days. LOIs that advance trigger an investigation phase — expect phone calls, site visits, or supplemental questions — before a full proposal invitation is extended. The Grant Program Committee meets three times annually (March, September, December), so timing your LOI strategically can meaningfully reduce wait time.

JSF is primarily Florida-anchored: 63 of 182 tracked grants (34.6%) went to Florida organizations, reflecting the foundation's roots in West Palm Beach and its deep ties to the State University System of Florida. However, the Indigenous Peoples and disabilities portfolios carry national and binational reach, with grants flowing to institutions in Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Massachusetts, and Canada. Organizations outside Florida should emphasize a distinctive capacity in JSF's target populations rather than geographic proximity.

CEO Robert Krause ($343K compensation) and CFO Richard Krause ($249K) manage day-to-day operations from the West Palm Beach headquarters, with Board Chair R. Malcolm Macleod ($294K) providing strategic oversight. Board Vice Chair Sherry Salway Black brings specific relevance for Indigenous programming and may be a valuable relationship contact for organizations in that portfolio.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation's grantmaking has grown steadily across three decades, accelerating in the 2020s. Annual grants paid rose from $6.1 million in 2011 to $8.4 million in 2020, $9.0 million in 2021, and $11.2 million in 2022. The foundation's website reports $10.49 million awarded in 2025, consistent with the grants-paid trend rather than the broader "total giving" figure ($17.4M in 2022, which may include program service expenses). Total assets reached $290.9 million as of December 2025 — up from $202.8 million in fiscal 2024 — suggesting investment gains that could drive increased payout.

Grant sizes span a wide range. The foundation's own data shows a median of $30,000, average of $103,750, and documented awards from a few hundred dollars to $1.285 million in a single grant (Scholarship America-UPS). Multi-grant institutional relationships are common: Palm Beach Atlantic University received $2.04M across two grants; both Gallaudet University and Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind received $1.31M each over two grants. First-time grantees typically receive pilot awards in the $30,000–$100,000 range, with relationships deepening into larger multi-year commitments for demonstrated partners.

By program area (cumulative through 2025 from $196.3M total), JSF has distributed: $93.7M (47.8%) to economically disadvantaged programs, $64.7M (33%) to disability programs, and $37.5M (19.1%) to Indigenous Peoples programs. In 2025 specifically: economically disadvantaged received the largest slice at $4.57M to 13 institutions; disabilities received $3.22M to 23 organizations; Indigenous Peoples received $2.3M to 20 institutions.

Geographically, Florida institutions dominate (63 of 182 tracked grants, 34.6%), with Massachusetts second (11 grants), followed by New Mexico and Arizona (8 each, consistent with the Southwest Indigenous portfolio), DC (7), New York (6), California (6), Colorado (5), Alaska (5), and Minnesota (5). Canadian institutions — primarily in Atlantic Canada and the Pacific Northwest — receive grants tied to Indigenous and disability scholarship programs. Organizations in underrepresented states with strong program fit should not be deterred by JSF's Florida concentration.

Among U.S. private foundations with asset bases near $200 million, the Johnson Scholarship Foundation stands apart for its accessibility — a formal, publicly documented LOI process via an online portal — while most comparably sized peers operate through invitation only or publish minimal application information.

JSF's $10.49M in 2025 grants represents a roughly 3.6% payout rate against its $290.9M asset base — a relatively modest disbursement that creates potential for expanded grantmaking as assets appreciate. In contrast, peer foundations at similar asset levels in the Philanthropy & Grantmaking NTEE category either lack public application processes or disclose no grantmaking data. JSF's geographic breadth — spanning Florida, the U.S. Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Canada — also distinguishes it from region-specific family foundations of comparable size. For organizations serving disability, Indigenous, or low-income student populations that have exhausted invitation-only funders, JSF's transparent LOI pathway represents a meaningfully accessible entry point in the $200M+ foundation tier.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation entered 2026 with notable governance changes. On January 21, 2026, the foundation welcomed two new board members — the first publicly announced governance addition in recent years — potentially signaling new strategic directions or expanded program perspectives. The identities of these new directors were not publicly detailed in available sources.

In March 2026, JSF announced updates to the Take Stock in Children/Johnson Scholars Program (March 5 and March 13, 2026), one of its flagship vehicles for Florida middle school students from low-income families. This program combines mentoring with scholarship commitments and represents a significant share of the economically disadvantaged portfolio.

The foundation's 2025 grantmaking cycle delivered $10.49 million to 56+ institutions across all three focus areas, consistent with the grants-paid trend line dating back to 2011. Major 2025 recipients included Palm Beach Atlantic University ($1.575M), Scholarship America ($1.317M), Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind ($635K), Gallaudet University ($635K), Fort Lewis College ($300K), and Northwest Indian College ($445K).

Financially, the most significant development is the asset expansion: from $202.8 million in fiscal 2024 to $290.9 million as of December 2025 — an $88 million gain in under 12 months, almost certainly driven by equity market performance. This places JSF's endowment at a materially higher base, and organizations monitoring the foundation should watch for a possible increase in annual grantmaking volume through 2026-2027. CEO Robert Krause and CFO Richard Krause remain in place, suggesting operational continuity.

Securing a grant from JSF requires treating this as a partnership development process, not a standard open-call application. The following guidance is specific to JSF's documented practices:

• Time your LOI to the committee calendar. The Grant Program Committee meets in March, September, and December. LOIs submitted in late January/early February, mid-July, or late October will complete the 30-day review and any investigation phase before the next committee convenes. Submitting in April, for example, pushes your decision to September at the earliest.

• Select and align to exactly one population. Your LOI must choose one of three categories in the portal: economically disadvantaged, Indigenous Peoples, or people with disabilities. JSF does not fund generalist education initiatives. Be specific — name the population, describe how you document eligibility, and provide student outcome data.

• Lead with your matching funds. JSF's matching requirement is non-negotiable. Before submitting, secure at least preliminary commitments from co-funders and name them explicitly in your LOI. Vague language such as "we are seeking matching funds" will undermine your application.

• Use clear, typewritten language about beneficiaries. The foundation's official application instructions specifically request letters detailing the educational purpose and the ultimate student beneficiaries. Avoid institutional jargon. Write plainly: how many students, what disabilities or economic circumstances, what educational outcomes are expected.

• Florida applicants should differentiate from SUS incumbents. JSF has funded all 12 State University System campuses for disability scholarships since 1993. New Florida entrants must articulate clearly what they provide that the existing SUS partnerships do not.

• Indigenous applicants must frame programs as business/entrepreneurship education. JSF's Indigenous portfolio is explicitly built around economic development through business training — the Gonzaga MBA in American Indian Entrepreneurship has been a flagship since 2001. Programs focused on general tribal services or cultural preservation will not align.

• Avoid ineligible categories. JSF explicitly excludes capital improvements, operating expenses, debt repayment, political advocacy, and programs outside the U.S. and Canada. Any proposal touching these areas will be rejected at the LOI stage.

• Make a pre-LOI phone call. The West Palm Beach office (561-659-2005, foundation@jsf.bz) is accessible. A brief call to confirm program fit and ask about current committee timing signals institutional seriousness and is consistent with JSF's relationship-driven culture.