Funding Amount

Up to US $150,000

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Twice a year
Next expected
June 1, 2027
Tracked since
April 2026

Deadlines each year: June 1 · July 1

From the program guidelines: “Applicants who have received a grant in that period may still proceed to the grant application after June 1st.Full applications are due July 1 for all applicants.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

  • The Foundation may award grants to organizations which provide for the care, benefit, support and preservation of guide dogs or other animals trained to assist the sight impaired or otherwise physically handicapped individuals (or that facilitate the use of such animals by sight-impaired or…
  • The Foundation may award grants that provide for the preservation, care and benefit of wildlife and the world’s natural resources.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Requests for funds to support on-going program operations are given a lower priority.
  • Not eligible: Therapy
  • Not eligible: Medical alert
  • Not eligible: Autism
  • Not eligible: PTSD
  • Not eligible: Facility
  • Not eligible: Emotional support animals
  • Not eligible: If your organization funds such animals in addition to animals to assist the physically handicapped, you are strongly encouraged to provide an accounting of how many of each type of animal are placed as part of your application.
  • Not eligible: We do not fund organizations that require recipients to pay (other than a nominal fee) or to do significant fund raising for the organization.
  • Not eligible: Organizations whose primary focus is education
  • Not eligible: Advocacy
  • Not eligible: Animal sanctuaries that are not focused on wildlife rehabilitation

Overview

Funder: Arthur L Bud Johnson In Memory Of Elaine V Johnson Foundation

The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation Grants, established in 1990, aim to support organizations that assist individuals with physical disabilities through guide dogs and other assistance animals. The foundation also prioritizes wildlife conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species and their habitats. Grants are awarded to charitable organizations under specific IRS classifications, focusing on long-term impactful projects. Applications for ongoing operational funding are discouraged, and priority is given to conservation activities that are science-based.

NOTE:
For applicants who have not received a grant in the last 3 years, the deadline for inquiries is June 1st. Applicants who have received a grant in that period may still proceed to the grant application after June 1st.Full applications are due July 1 for all applicants.
Background
Established in 1990, the Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation provides grants to organizations that support guide dogs to assist the visually impaired and other assistance animals that aid people with physical disabilities. We also provide grants to organizations that conserve wildlife, especially threatened or endangered species and their habitats.
Funding Priorities
We desire that the Foundation be a catalyst for change and therefore prefer to fund projects that will assist an organization in a long-term change.
For funding in the area of handicap assistance animals:
Our highest priority is dogs that assist the visually impaired, followed by dogs or other animals individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a physical disability.
For funding in the area of nature conservancy:
Our highest priority is for direct conservation (e.g., preservation or restoration of natural land, animal conservation or preservation) and science-based conservation activities (i.e., research designed to lead to better land and wildlife management).
We give higher priority to applications focused on critical habitat or environments or on threatened or endangered species.

Eligibility

To apply for or recieve a grant, organizatons must meet these criteria:Grant recipients must be charitable organizations as described in Section 501(C)(3) and 509 (a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Foundation may award grants to organizations which provide for the care, benefit, support and preservation of guide dogs or other animals trained to assist the sight impaired or otherwise physically handicapped individuals (or that facilitate the use of such animals by sight-impaired or otherwise handicapped individuals).
The Foundation may award grants that provide for the preservation, care and benefit of wildlife and the world’s natural resources.

Ineligibility

Requests for funds to support on-going program operations are given a lower priority.For funding in the area of handicap assistance animals: We do not fund therapy, medical alert, autism, PTSD, facility, or emotional support animals. If your organization funds such animals in addition to animals to assist the physically handicapped, you are strongly encouraged to provide an accounting of how many of each type of animal are placed as part of your application.
We do not fund organizations that require recipients to pay (other than a nominal fee) or to do significant fund raising for the organization.
For funding in the area of nature conservancy:We do not fund organizations whose primary focus is education or advocacy.We do not fund animal sanctuaries that are not focused on wildlife rehabilitation and release. Wildlife rehabilitation that is not primarily focused on threatened, endangered, or otherwise significant species are rarely funded.

What Arthur L Bud Johnson in Memory actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025

Grants in 2025
31
Total given
$1.49M
Median grant
$25K
Range
$9,000–$351K
  • By dollars: Arizona 28%, California 13%, New York 11%. Top recipient cities: Phoenix, AZ; Atlanta, GA; Smithtown, NY.
  • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 42% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Arizona Center for Nature · Phoenix, AZ

    Nature conservation

    $351K

  • Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind · Smithtown, NY

    Handicap assistance

    $150K

  • Association of Zoos & Aquariums · Silver Spring, MD

    Nature conservation

    $140K

  • Zoological Society of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, OH

    Nature conservation

    $116K

  • Voice of Asian Elephants Society · Los Angeles, CA

    Nature conservation

    $60K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Nonprofits
  • Disabled
  • Wildlife
  • Environmental conservation

Categories

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