Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of
The Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1990 and based in Cumming, Georgia. The foundation was created by Arthur L. "Bud" Johnson, Jr., a Rockford, Illinois native and Army veteran who built a career in appliance distribution and beverage industry equipment innovation. The foundation was named in memory of Bud's wife, Elaine V. Johnson. Following Bud's death in 1997, he left the majority of his estate to the foundation, significantly expanding its capacity for grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-4.1% YoY
Grant Count
37
-5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+1.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides grants to organizations supporting:
- Guide dogs and assistance animals: Organizations that provide guide dogs to assist the visually impaired and assistance animals that aid people with physical disabilities
- Wildlife conservation: Organizations that conserve wildlife, with particular emphasis on threatened or endangered species and their habitats
The foundation's focus on assistance animals was inspired by Bud's lifelong love of German Shepherd dogs and his passion for seeing them used to help people. Over time, the foundation expanded its mission to include other dog breeds and assistance animals more broadly, as well as nature conservation efforts.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking has primary focus in California, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $9,729,500
- Total Giving: $1,330,469
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since June 1991
- EIN: 36-3739494
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
183 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Seeing Eye Inc ($100,000), American Assn of Zoological Parks ($100,000), Sempervirens Fund ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE PHOENIX, AZ | NATURE CONSERVATION | $62,700 |
| ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY ZOO ATLANTA, GA | NATURE CONSERVATION | $50,000 |
| BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AUSTIN, TX | NATURE CONSERVATION | $50,000 |
| CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BROOKFIELD, IL | NATURE CONSERVATION | $28,898 |
| CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM CLEARWATER, FL | NATURE CONSERVATION | $14,350 |
| DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN PHOENIX, AZ | NATURE CONSERVATION | $32,632 |
| FREEDOM GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND CASSVILLE, NY | HANDICAP ASSISTANCE | $20,000 |
| FRIENDS OF BONOBOS DURHAM, NC | NATURE CONSERVATION | $29,333 |
| FRIENDS OF TRACY AVIARY SALT LAKE CITY, UT | NATURE CONSERVATION | $25,150 |
| GORILLA REHABILITATION AND CONS EDU NIWOT, CO | NATURE CONSERVATION | $88,157 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder: Arthur L. "Bud" Johnson, Jr. (1897–1997)
- Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois
- Served in the U.S. Army during World War II
- Held sales positions with Coleman Company and Queen Stove Company
- Operated an appliance and cabinet work distribution business to home builders
- Developed a tapping system still used in the beverage industry
- Established the foundation in 1990
The foundation continues Bud's legacy through its grantmaking, having helped many organizations realize their goals in assistance animal services and wildlife conservation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALLY MODE | TRUSTEE | 10 | $65,418 |
| DAVID HAMMERSLAG | TRUSTEE | 15 | $80,231 |
| RYAN HOLMES | TRUSTEE | 10 | $51,801 |
| BEN HAMMERSLAG | TRUSTEE | 5 | $9,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of fund?
The foundation provides grants to organizations supporting: • **Guide dogs and assistance animals**: Organizations that provide guide dogs to assist the visually impaired and assistance animals that aid people with physical disabilities • **Wildlife conservation**: Organizations that conserve wildlife, with particular emphasis on threatened or endangered species and their habitats The foundation's focus on assistance animals was inspired by Bud's lifelong love of German Shepherd dogs and his pa…
How do I apply for a grant from Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of?
**Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $100,000 to $200,000, with grants available up to $150,000. **Grant Activity**: The foundation distributed $1,330,469 in total giving according to recent financial data. **Application Focus**: The foundation discourages applications for ongoing operational funding and prioritizes conservation activities that are science-based and demonstrate long-term impact. **Eligible Applicants**: Grants are awarded to charitable organizations under specific IRS c…
Where does Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking has primary focus in California, Arizona, and North Carolina.
What size grants does Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of award?
In 2024, Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of awarded 37 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of's EIN?
Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3739494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory of's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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