Professional Development
Ramp up your skills.
We provide competency-based professional development and capacity building for individuals and organizations.
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The Grantmaking School
On-Demand: LearnPhilanthropy Academy
Free Programs for All
A Closer Look
Competency Models for the Field
Redesigning The Grantmaking School
Why LearnPhilanthropy Academy?
Applied Research & Evaluation
Put research to work.
We can help improve your practice and strengthen your impact with applied research and evaluation.
Family Philanthropy
Community Philanthropy
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Strategic Services in Research & Evaluation
A Closer Look
Understand the impact of 2020 through IRS 990s
GVSU-BCPS outreach program, evaluation partner
Putting Economic Inclusion Data to Work
An in-depth look at Latinx community experiences
Resources & Tools
Find the right tools.
The Johnson Center provides resources and tools to make data and research useful for practitioners.
Curated Resource Collections
Data Tools
Competency Models
A Closer Look
Community Insight: A New Data Platform
The Foundation Review: Journal of Philanthropy
Trends in Philanthropy

Latest from the Blog

Customizing Your Community Insight Experience: How to Save & Share Data
Customizing Your Community Insight Experience: How to Save & Share Data
Explore three ways to easily save and share information from Community Insight, the Johnson Center's free online data tool.
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Meet Aimée Laramore, the Johnson Center’s New Director of Learning Services
Meet Aimée Laramore, the Johnson Center’s New Director of Learning Services
We spoke with Aimée Laramore, our new director of learning services, to learn more about her background and vision for the Johnson Center's professional development and capacity-building services.
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A Nonprofit Guide to Identifying the Right Corporate Sponsor
A Nonprofit Guide to Identifying the Right Corporate Sponsor
In our changing philanthropic landscape, it's increasingly important for nonprofits to select corporate sponsors carefully. Explore these top tips for finding the ideal partner.
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Philanthropy is Entering a New Era of Engagement with Native Communities
Philanthropy is Entering a New Era of Engagement with Native Communities
Institutional philanthropy is starting to recognize the strengths, challenges, and needs that Indigenous people bring to many of our sector’s most pressing areas of work.
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Practical Tools to Help Grantmakers Put Learning First
Practical Tools to Help Grantmakers Put Learning First
Grantmakers who prioritize learning with their grantees ahead of traditional outcomes help to balance power dynamics, promote a shared understanding of the work, and support more equitable and open relationships.
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Using Map Layers in Community Insight
Using Map Layers in Community Insight
Community Insight’s map layer feature allows you to visualize indicator data in a specific geographic area and easily compare data across locations.
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Community Leadership and the Sustainable Development Goals
Community Leadership and the Sustainable Development Goals
Volume 13, issue 4 of The Foundation Review focuses on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they can be used as tools for community leadership.
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Cryptocurrency and Philanthropy: New Donors and New Questions for Nonprofits
Cryptocurrency and Philanthropy: New Donors and New Questions for Nonprofits
For many nonprofits, the concept of cryptocurrency still feels alien and difficult to grasp. Still, its appeal as a donor vehicle and the new wealth it's generating are undeniable, pushing savvy nonprofits to keep up.
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Best Practices for Recruiting Corporate Volunteer Groups
Best Practices for Recruiting Corporate Volunteer Groups
As businesses increasingly realize the benefits of employee volunteer programs and other corporate philanthropy initiatives, this guide offers nonprofits a list of best practices for recruiting and retaining corporate volunteer groups.
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Fund Wellness Opportunities to Help Eliminate Burnout in Nonprofits
Fund Wellness Opportunities to Help Eliminate Burnout in Nonprofits
Jamila Jabulani calls on funders to think more creatively and intentionally about how they can best support the emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing of their nonprofit grantees.
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Upcoming Events
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Tue May 17
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Grantmaking Practice
FREE! This virtual panel discussion will explore how funders can advance diversity, equity, and inclusion when supporting nonprofit leaders, and how this can strengthen more inclusive practices in the field.
11:00 am
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Tue May 24
Beginner's Guide to Reading Form 990
This workshop is designed to ground you in the basics of Form 990 — including practical and purposeful ways to leverage information from a 990 with a nonprofit, financial, or foundation lens.
1:00 pm
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Wed May 25
How Community Foundations Came to (Re)Embrace Community Leadership
FREE! This talk with Eleanor Woodward Sacks will examine how and why community foundations in the U.S., first established in 1914, came to be the community-focused philanthropic organizations of today.
12:00 pm
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In the Media
Tue May 10
With $8.8 Trillion on the Line, Courting and Educating Next Gen Donors Becomes a Crucial Priority for Houston Nonprofits
Source: PaperCity Magazine
Tue April 26
Case Study Highlights Future of Philanthropy Depends on Next Gen Donor Learning
Source: NonProfit Pro
Thu April 21
Nonprofit leaders stress need to recruit, attract young donors and volunteers
Source: Houston Chronicle
Thu April 21
Ottawa County has an internet problem, survey results show
Source: WZZM 13