activities · 2
what they do
direct service · 1
- Grantmaking program Local Community GrantmakingHas awarded more than $74 million in grants since the foundation's inception, supporting external organizations and initiatives aligned with its mission.
capacity building · 1
- Johnson Justice Fellowship program Leadership Fellowship ProgramsOperates a full-time, two-year fellowship program in New York City for emerging social justice leaders, with cohorts of three fellows placed at partner organizations such as Riders Alliance, Center for Popular Democracy, and New American Leaders. The program launched an inaugural cohort and began a second cohort in September 2025.
strategies · 3
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advance systems change through community collaboration and youth-adult partnerships systems_change_with_affected_communitiesThe foundation supports transformative systems change by working directly with communities most impacted by injustice, leveraging youth-adult partnerships and healing-centered practices to co-create solutions.
- Invest in emerging and mid-career social justice leaders to build a sustained leadership pipeline leadership_pipelineThe foundation cultivates long-term public service leadership by investing in early- to mid-career professionals, providing them with resources, networks, and support to drive innovation and community-driven change, particularly within democracy and social justice fields.
- Strategic grantmaking to advance social progress in key issue areas grantmaking_for_social_progressThe foundation funds programs in environmental health, social equality, and youth education to drive equitable social change.
named programs · 1
what they call their work
Johnson Justice Fellowship
A full-time two-year fellowship based in New York City for rising social justice leaders, aiming to build a pipeline for careers in public service. Fellows work with host organizations like New American Leaders, Riders Alliance, and New Economy Project.
relationships · 11
who they work with
- Center for Popular Democracy Partner — Host organization for inaugural Johnson Justice Fellow.
- Intergenerational Change Initiative Partner — Partnered with Mia Legaspi-Cavin on a New York City-based action research project addressing systemic barriers.
- New American Leaders Partner — Host organization for Johnson Justice Fellows, including Valeria Paz and inaugural fellow José Galarza.
- New American Leaders Partner — Host organization for the electoral track of the Johnson Justice Fellowship.
- New Economy Project Partner — Host organization for the policy/advocacy track of the Johnson Justice Fellowship.
- Osborne Association Partner — Former employer of program officer Mia Legaspi-Cavin, where she managed youth mentoring programs aligned with JFF’s justice grantmaking.
- REclaimED Partner — Co-founded by program officer Jamison Lerner, who leads JFF’s grantmaking in Vermont.
- Riders Alliance Partner — Host organization for Johnson Justice Fellows, including Mayana Torres and inaugural fellow José Galarza.
- Riders Alliance Partner — Host organization for the grassroots track of the Johnson Justice Fellowship.
- True Colors United Partner — Featured as a grantee of the Johnson Family Foundation.
- Vera Institute of Justice Partner — Former employer of program officer Mia Legaspi-Cavin, where she worked on the Restoring Promise Initiative supported by JFF’s justice portfolio.