M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Grant

M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation
Last Updated: March 06, 2026

Summary

The M.G. & Lillie A. Johnson Foundation Grant, established in 1958, aims to support charitable activities in the Texas Gulf Coast area, particularly in health and education. The Foundation, which has dispensed over $106 million to date, prioritizes nonprofits and institutions that serve Texas communities. Grant requests are reviewed quarterly, and eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS regulations. The Foundation's significant contributions have notably aided the establishment of the Lutheran Hospital Pavilion at M.D. Anderson Hospital.

Overview

NOTE: The Foundation operates on a November fiscal year end. The Board of Trustees review grant requests in March, July and October of each year. Grant requests and all related documentation should be submitted not later than the last day of the month preceding the meeting date. About Us In December of 1958 Marshall G. and Lillie Appelt Johnson established the M.G. and Lillie A. Johnson Foundation, Inc. with the original intention being to use their estates to cause to be built a Lutheran hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. With the help of Dr. Fred Elliott, the then Executive in charge of the Texas Medical Center, contact was made with Dr. Randolph Clark, President of the M.D. Anderson Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Clark was instrumental in contacting the University of Texas Cancer Foundation and, along with Dr. Elliott, arranged to secure an agreement in which Mr. and Mrs. Johnson would transfer their 51,860-acre ranch in Florida to the University Cancer Foundation. The University of Texas would staff and operate the hospital as a teaching hospital and the Texas Medical Center would make available a six acre tract of land adjacent to the M.D. Anderson Hospital within the Texas Medical Center. The Lutheran Central Activities Committee pledged to assist in the building of a non-denominational chapel for the hospital. The University Cancer Foundation arranged for the sale of the donated ranch in Florida for the sum of Sixteen Million Dollars, which sum formed the seed money for the project. Through the efforts of Dr. Clark and Dr. Elliott, other Texas foundations, the Texas Legislature, and federal grants, the 300-bed teaching hospital along with a 1200 patient-per-day clinic was built and operates today. This project eventually comprised an investment approximating one hundred million dollars. Although Mr. Johnson passed away in 1971 before any construction began, he was a party to the original agreement. Mrs. Johnson survived him by a number of years and not only saw the result of their initial contribution, but was honored for such a generous contribution numerous times prior to her death in 1987. The Johnson's contribution provided a nucleus for financing what is now known as the Lutheran Hospital Pavilion at M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston and at that time represented the single largest contribution ever made to the University of Texas Cancer Foundation. Hanging in the Pavilion are portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and a tribute that closes with the words, "to those two distinguished Texans for their generosity and compassion for their fellow man." The Foundation has been administered by a Board of Trustees. Through March 31, 2023, grants have been made to qualifying charities in the amount of $156,934,230.57. Grant Request Procedures and Guidelines established by the Foundation’s Trustees provide that grants be made within in the State of Texas. Historically, grants have been made exclusively in the Texas Gulf Coast area most often referred to as the South Texas Crossroads Area. This would include Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Colorado, Dewitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Waller and Wharton Counties. Primary emphasis will be given to requests for medical or allied health purposes, and institutions of higher education. The Foundation's Board of Trustees presently consist of Russell Marshall, Chairman, Jim Bouligny, Vice Chairman, Dennis Soimons, Secretary/Treasurer, M.H> Brock, Terrell Mullins, Rosemary Rust and Luis Guerra. The Foundation's Executive Vice President and Manager is Robert Halepeska. Dorothy Mikulenka is responsible for accounting and technology.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants are considered for organizations serving the people of the State of Texas and located in the following Texas Gulf Coast Counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Colorado, Dewitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Waller and Wharton. The Foundation supports a variety of charitable activities, including health, education, human services and civic programs.All educational grants have been made to institutions of higher education.All endowed scholarship grants are administered by the individual college or university.To date, all educational grants and scholarships have been made exclusively to the Victoria College, Wharton County Junior College and the University of Houston- Victoria.Grants are made only to nonprofit organizations and political subdivisions that are tax exempt under Section 501(C)(3) or 170(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Ineligibility

The Trustees prefer not to fund organizations that are financially supported by the public, through United Way Campaigns, Government Grants or Subsidies, or nationally sponsored fund raisers. Grants are not made for endowments or development campaigns, research fellowships, conferences, or publications. Loans, grants, scholarships or fellowships are not made to individuals. Rarely are grants made for operational purposes.Grants shall not be made to private foundations.