Grants

For Current Grantees 

What are the reporting requirements for WSJF grantees?

CREDIT: First Star for Youth
CREDIT: First Star for Youth
CREDIT: Foster Kinship
CREDIT: Foster Kinship

Grantee Reporting Requirements

Interim Reports

Multi-year grantees must submit interim reports for every year of the grant life-cycle, and a final report at the end of the grant cycle. Interim reports are due three months prior to the yearly anniversary. Reporting dates will be included in the grant contract. In addition to the narrative report, please submit an update on accomplishments to date on the current year’s accountability plan and a revised accountability plan for the upcoming grant year.

Single-year grantees who are considering applying for renewal funding should contact program staff three to six months prior to the end of the present grant-term. If invited to re-apply, a report on progress toward the present grant year’s goals, objectives, accountability plan, and spending should be submitted with the new proposal application.

Final Reports

All grantees are required to submit final reports, which are due two months after the end of the grant period, unless otherwise specified. For multi-year grants, the final report is a cumulative, comprehensive examination of the entire grant term.  Please note that the Foundation typically provides no more than two or three years of consecutive funding.  Since all reports have been revised recently, grantees should contact Charles “Chuck” Hoblitzelle, Grants Manager for current forms and instructions. choblitzelle(at)whittiertrust.com.

For Potential New Grantees

How can you apply for a grant from the Walter S. Johnson Foundation?

CREDIT: Foundation for California Community Colleges
CREDIT: Foundation for California Community Colleges
CREDIT: Parents by Choice
CREDIT: Parents by Choice
CREDIT: Beyond Emancipation
CREDIT: Beyond Emancipation
CREDIT: SOAR for Youth
CREDIT: SOAR for Youth

How do I apply for a Grant?

Step 1) Determine your eligibility

We support organizations whose work qualifies as charitable, according to the IRS definition. This includes organizations with a 501(c) 3 status, public agencies, and projects sponsored by public charities. Only organizations serving the WSJF’s targeted regions of Northern California and Nevada are generally eligible for grants. We do not make grants to individuals, towards arts or film projects, or contribute to capital campaigns or endowments. We do not make grants to international organizations. For county chapters of state organizations, proposal invitations are generally only offered to the state organization.

Step 2) Determine your project’s fit

Review our funding priorities and list of previous grants to determine whether your efforts advance one or more of the Foundation’s goals and objectives. If you determine that your project/program aligns well with our strategy, please proceed to Step 3. Please review our Funding Priorities.  If you are unsure as to your programs "fit" with our priorities, you can contact us via email (not phone contact).

Step 3) Contact Us

If you have determined that your project is eligible and it is a fit for the WSJF funding priorities, please contact our Program Director: Yali Lincroft (ylincroft@whittiertrust.com) to see whether your organization is a good candidate for a proposal invitation. Often, a Letter of Inquiry is requested prior to a full proposal submission. WSJF does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Step 4) Submit a proposal (by invitation only)

If you have been invited to submit a proposal, a Walter S. Johnson Foundation representative will send a proposal packet electronically. Please submit your application by the deadline that you have been given.  This is typically several months before the board meeting at which your proposal will be considered. When completed, submit the proposal and attachments electronically to our Program Director: Yali Lincroft (ylincroft@whittiertrust.com).  Please send the documents in WORD or EXCEL format (not pdf).

Depending on the grant's size, it can take 2-6 months for program staff to conduct the necessary due diligence (which may include a site visit, reference checks, and program/financial assessment) to present funding recommendations to our Board of Trustees. During the review process, staff will keep you informed about your proposal’s status.

Step 5) Proposal review and funding determination

Program staff will notify you if and when your proposal will be presented to the Board of Directors and when to expect a decision. The Board meets four times each year to make funding decisions (February, May, July/August, and November). Proposals are generally due 3 months prior to the board meeting.  Please note that the Foundation typically provides no more than two or three years of consecutive funding to its grantees.

Grantees

List of current and past Walter S. Johnson Foundation grantees.

CREDIT: Foundation for California Community Colleges
CREDIT: Foundation for California Community Colleges
CREDIT: Side by Side
CREDIT: Side by Side
CREDIT: Foster Kinship
CREDIT: Foster Kinship

Who are our Grantees?

LARGE GRANTS

  • Boosted Diplomas, $150,000 for 2 years (GR24-01Y) - Educational support for foster youth in Washoe County, NV.
  • Children's Advocacy Alliance, $150,000 (GR24-02R) - Addressing the needs of transitional-age youth in Nevada, particularly emphasizing housing and placement challenges.
  • Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, $250,000 for 2 years (GR24-03Y) - Create a job developer position to work with transitional-age youth residing in San Joaquin County, CA.
  • National Center for Youth Law, $150,000 for 2 years (GR24-04Y) - Support for its Reproductive Health Equity Project for Foster Youth program in Sacramento County, CA.

SMALL GRANTS

  • Educate Tomorrow, $10,000 (GR23-72D) - Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide.