Supporting Transition Age Youth
The Walter S. Johnson Foundation is focused on assisting young people (ages 14-26) who are disconnected from education and employment in Northern California and Nevada to become successful adults.
About the Walter S. Johnson Foundation (WSJF)
Founded in 1968, the Walter S Johnson Foundation is focused on helping young people succeed in adulthood. We pride ourselves on our ability to be flexible and nimble; to listen to those with lived experience; and to partner well with other foundations and public agencies. We believe in relational grantmaking and supporting sustainable solutions.
We have received recognition for our leadership, including the 2024 John Burton Advocates for Youth Champion of the Year, 2024 Partner of the Year from the California Association of Local Conservation Corps, and the 2018 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year from the Network of California Community College Foundations.
Young People Ages 14-26 Disconnected from Education and Employment
The transition to adulthood is challenging. For youth who are disconnected from education and employment, particularly those involved or at risk of being in the foster care system, this transition is more difficult since most lack the resources needed to reach their full potential. We support education and job training programs, reform policies that support disconnected youth, and research to evaluate the effectiveness of these services and programs.
Education and Career Strategies
Too many vulnerable students fail to achieve their career goals in higher education or post-secondary training programs, whether it’s completing an associate degree, an apprenticeship, a career technical certificate, or a bachelor’s degree. WSJF works with post-secondary institutions to address barriers to completion for this population, as well as career and employment training programs addressing the needs of former and current foster, homeless, and other vulnerable students.
Our Priorities
Since its inception, the Walter S. Johnson Foundation has been committed to supporting vulnerable young people to become successful adults.
California College Pathways and Nevada Foster Youth Success Initiative
Public/Private Partnerships
Employment and Career Opportunities
California College Pathways and Nevada Foster Youth Success Initiative
In Northern California and Nevada, thousands of young people leave foster care and find themselves often without adequate social support or life skills every year. The California College Pathways and the Nevada Foster Youth Success Initiative support current and former foster youth in their post-secondary education and careers through strategies such as college mentorships and coaches; financial aid; housing support and access; and research and data collection.
Public/Private Partnerships
Supporting public-private partnerships can lead to big wins. The need is so great that no single foundation or entity can mend it on its own, no matter how big it is. Some examples of WSJF’s support for public/private partnerships include:
- The Disconnected Youth Coalition of Las Vegas (Workforce Connections of Southern Nevada)
- The Fund for the Education Success of Students Experiencing Homelessness, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice
- The California Local Conservation Corps Foundation
- The TAY-Hub (Transition Age Youth Research and Evaluation Hub housed at UC Berkeley)
- The California College Pathways
- The Nevada System of Higher Education – Foster Youth Success Initiative
- The San Francisco Legal Services Funders Network
- The John Burton Advocates for Youth’s Reducing Homelessness Among Former Foster Youth
- The John Burton Advocates for Youth’s Foster Youth Tax Incentive Program
- The Foundation for California Community College – Student Ambassadors, NextUp, and Fresh Success
- The University of Chicago and the California Department of Social Services’ CalYouth Study
Employment and Career Opportunities
WSJF supports programs and systems that provide employment and career training for opportunity youth.
More and more smart employers are committing to a double bottom line: profitably growing their businesses while providing employment opportunities to foster and other vulnerable transition-age youth. And with the largest labor gap for the next generation of work-ready employees this country has ever faced, a commitment to hiring talented young people is all the more urgent. We believe that by bringing together businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and philanthropy, to support employment and career training opportunities for young people.
Areas Served
We serve counties in Northern California as well as all counties in Nevada.
Northern California
Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco,San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba
Nevada Systems
All counties in Nevada are eligible for WSJF grant funding.
For More Information
The Walter S. Johnson Foundation’s grant application process is by invitation only (after it is determined that your nonprofit organization is eligible). A Letter of Inquiry is often requested before consideration for a proposal invitation. We do not accept or review unsolicited proposals or sales requests. We generally do not make grants to individuals, towards arts or film projects, to international organizations, or contribute to ongoing general operating costs, capital campaigns, or endowments. For county chapters of state organizations, we generally offer proposal invitations only to the state organization.
While we make every effort to get back to emails in a timely fashion, we may not be able to respond immediately to your inquiry. Thank you for your patience.