The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah, established in 2014. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring the memory of David Kelby Johnson through philanthropic support of qualified nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-0.5% YoY
Grant Count
69
+1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-1.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is rooted in the life and legacy of David Kelby Johnson, whose life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver in 1983. The foundation was established by Elizabeth Hope Armstrong, David's grandmother, who became a relentless crusader against drunk driving following his death. Elizabeth Hope Armstrong passed away on March 5, 2014, but her vision for the foundation continues.
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education, particularly technology and equipment upgrades to enable remote learning for students
- Community health
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- Environmental conservation and trail management
- Arts and cultural preservation
- Wildlife and nature education
Grantmaking
The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation provides funding exclusively to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation reviews grant requests twice each calendar year in March and October.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Utah, with some support extending to the District of Columbia and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $40,653,583
- Total giving: $1,700,270
- Revenue: $3,494,000
- Expenses: $3,090,000
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $39,754,514
- Total revenues: $2,334,942
- Total expenses: $3,019,585
The foundation operates with no employees.
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from David Kelby Johnson
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Madeleine Choir School ($200,000), Utah Food Bank ($100,000), Summit Land Conservancy ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Community Svcs of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | Catholic Community Services Bridge the Gap Program. | $50,000 |
| Spy Hop Productions Salt Lake City, UT | To provide support for after school film, music, audio, and design programs. | $7,420 |
| Utah Food Bank Salt Lake City, UT | Essential food distribution for families in need. | $100,000 |
| Wasatch Community Gardens Salt Lake City, UT | Outdoor classroom construction. | $15,000 |
| Habitat For Humanity Ogden, UT | To help local low-income families have a place to call home. | $2,000 |
| United Storytelling Good Will For A Murray, UT | To provide self-empowerment to participants through diverse learning and lifestyles through storytelling and activities which help to build a road map for their futures. | $1,000 |
| Frank Cordova Foundation South Jordan, UT | Funding to provide assistance to the Latino community. | $1,000 |
| Summit Land Conservancy Park City, UT | Preserving agricultural property along the Weber River in Sargent Ranch and Richins Ranch. | $75,000 |
| The Sharing Place Salt Lake City, UT | To provide a safe and caring environment for grieving children, teens, and their families to share their feelings while healing themselves. | $30,000 |
| Boys Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis Ogden, UT | After school programs. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Laurel Dokos serves as trustee of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Dokos | Exec. Dir. | 35 | $221,992 |
| Peter M Corroon | Adv. Comm. | 1 | $10,000 |
| Monsignor Joseph M Mayo | Adv. Comm. | 1 | $10,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In March 2023, the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation provided support to the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation for their Trail Stewardship and Tools Program, which the foundation noted as their most successful, safe, and impactful year to date.
David Kelby Johnson Hope Fund: Honoring a Legacy of Vision and CompassionThe foundation has demonstrated ongoing commitment to supporting educational initiatives, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and community health organizations throughout Utah.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does David Kelby Johnson fund?
The foundation's mission is rooted in the life and legacy of David Kelby Johnson, whose life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver in 1983. The foundation was established by Elizabeth Hope Armstrong, David's grandmother, who became a relentless crusader against drunk driving following his death. Elizabeth Hope Armstrong passed away on March 5, 2014, but her vision for the foundation continues. The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education, particularly technology and equi…
How do I apply for a grant from David Kelby Johnson?
The David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation provides funding exclusively to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation reviews grant requests twice each calendar year in March and October. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500 to $275,000 • Average annual giving: approximately $1.7 million • Recent grantees have included organizations such as Madeleine Choir School ($132,640), Friends of Tracy Aviary ($102,000), The Wildlands Conservancy ($100,000), and Cottonwood Canyon…
Where does David Kelby Johnson make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Utah, with some support extending to the District of Columbia and California.
What size grants does David Kelby Johnson award?
In 2024, David Kelby Johnson awarded 69 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is David Kelby Johnson's EIN?
David Kelby Johnson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1051277. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in David Kelby Johnson'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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