About Us
Established in 1992 with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Grand Valley State University (GVSU), the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy is an academic center within GVSU’s Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence.
We envision a world shaped by smart, adaptive, and effective philanthropy that helps to create strong, inclusive communities. We provide:
- Competency-based professional development
- Applied research and evaluation
- Resources and tools to transform communities for the public good
Our core values are excellence, inquiry, community, innovation, sustainability, integrity, and inclusiveness.
We are committed to supporting equity in philanthropy.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation helped launch the Johnson Center in 1992 to bring the resources of academic research into communities through the best practices of philanthropy. It continues to do that today.”
La June Montgomery Tabron
President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
La June Montgomery Tabron
President and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Ready to learn more? Let’s talk.
Meet Our Team
We bring passion and experience to our work, drawing on expertise in a variety of fields, including social science research, organizational development, and adult education.
Trish Abalo
Trish Abalo
Trish Abalo joined the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy as a research associate in September 2020. In this role, she supports data ...
Kallie Bauer, M.B.A.
Kallie Bauer, M.B.A.
Kallie Bauer joined the Johnson Center in 2008 and currently serves as a senior project manager. In this role, she is responsible for ...
Teresa (Teri) Behrens, Ph.D.
Teresa (Teri) Behrens, Ph.D.
Teri Behrens joined the Johnson Center in 2009 and currently serves as the executive director. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief ...
Emily Brenner
Emily Brenner
Emily Brenner joined the Johnson Center in early 2018 and currently serves as a program associate. In this role, she assists the learning ...
Sherry Collver
Sherry Collver
Sherry Collver joined the Johnson Center in 2012 and currently serves as the unit coordinator. In this role, she assists the executive ...
Julie Couturier, CPA
Julie Couturier, CPA
Julie Couturier joined the Johnson Center in 2006 and currently serves as the director of operations. In this role, she is responsible for ...
Carol Glanville, M.A.Ed.
Carol Glanville, M.A.Ed.
Carol Glanville joined the Johnson Center as a program manager in 2020. In this role, she is responsible for developing and managing content ...
Tiana Hawver, M.S.
Tiana Hawver, M.S.
Tiana Hawver joined the Johnson Center as office coordinator in 2017. In this role, she oversees the office space, supplies, technology, and ...
Brian Herron
Brian Herron
Brian Herron joined the Johnson Center as a web developer in 2016. In this role, he works in close collaboration with partners in the ...
Karen Hoekstra
Karen Hoekstra
Karen Hoekstra joined the Johnson Center in 2015 and currently serves as marketing and communications manager. In this role, she leads the ...
Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.
Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.
Michael Dennis Layton joined the Johnson Center in September 2020 as the W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair, the nation’s first ...
Tory Martin, M.A.
Tory Martin, M.A.
Tory Martin joined the Johnson Center as director of communications and engagement in October 2017. In this role, she is responsible for ...
Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Michael Moody, Ph.D.
Michael Moody joined the Johnson Center in 2010 as the Frey Foundation Chair for Family Philanthropy, the world’s first endowed chair for ...
Kevin Peterson
Kevin Peterson
Kevin Peterson joined the Johnson Center in 2015 and currently serves as senior program associate. In this role, he helps manage and deliver ...
Pat Robinson, M.P.A.
Pat Robinson, M.P.A.
Pat Robinson joined the Johnson Center in 1997 and currently serves as associate director for special projects. In this role, she ...
Mandy Sharp Eizinger, M.S.
Mandy Sharp Eizinger, M.S.
Mandy Sharp Eizinger joined the Johnson Center as a program manager in April 2020. In this role, she supports sector-wide learning and ...
Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.
Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.
Tamela Spicer joined the Johnson Center in February 2016 and currently serves as senior program manager. In this role, she specializes in ...
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien, M.P.H.
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien, M.P.H.
Melyssa Tsai O’Brien joined the Johnson Center in 2014 and currently serves as a research manager. In this role, she plans, manages, and ...
Jeff Williams, M.A., M.B.A.
Jeff Williams, M.A., M.B.A.
Jeff Williams joined the Johnson Center as the director of the Community Data and Research Lab (CDRL) in February 2020. In this role, he ...
K. Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout, Ph.D.
K. Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout, Ph.D.
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout joined the Johnson Center as research manager in 2017. In this role, he designs, manages, and carries out a variety ...
Meet our Leadership Council
The Johnson Center’s Leadership Council advises our strategic direction. We would like to thank the members for providing their time and expertise to help shape the center’s direction.
Dan Cardinali
Dan Cardinali
Dan Cardinali joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2017. Dan joined Independent Sector, a national membership ...
Rob Collier
Rob Collier
Rob Collier joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Rob was president and CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations ...
David Egner
David Egner
Dave Egner joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008, and currently serves as co-chair. In 2016, Dave was appointed ...
Mae Hong
Mae Hong
Mae Hong joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2019. Mae opened the Chicago office of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in ...
Dorothy A. Johnson
Dorothy A. Johnson
Dorothy (Dottie) Johnson joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Dottie, the center’s namesake, served for 25 ...
Arend D. Lubbers
Arend D. Lubbers
Arend (Don) Lubbers joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. Don served as second president of Grand Valley State ...
Donna Murray-Brown
Donna Murray-Brown
Donna Murray-Brown joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2018. At MNA, Donna leads strategic direction and overall ...
Joel J. Orosz, Ph.D.
Joel J. Orosz, Ph.D.
Joel Orosz joined the Leadership Council in 2011, after retiring from the Johnson Center where he founded The Grantmaking School. Joel has ...
Diana R. Sieger
Diana R. Sieger
Diana Sieger joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2008. In her 30 plus years as President of Grand Rapids Community ...
Paul Stansbie, Ph.D.
Paul Stansbie, Ph.D.
Paul Stansbie joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2020. Since joining Grand Valley State University in 2003, Paul has ...
Kate Pew Wolters
Kate Pew Wolters
Kate Pew Wolters joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2017, and currently serves as co-chair. Kate was reappointed for a ...
Interested in joining our team?
Let’s talk!
As an academic center of Grand Valley State University, we’re proud to play a central role in preparing emerging practitioners to pursue distinguished careers in the nonprofit sector.
We work closely with colleagues in the College of Education and Community Innovation and other departments to develop research projects, leverage institutional assets, and provide world-class learning and job training for undergraduate and graduate students.
Meet Our Leadership at Grand Valley State University
Philomena V. Mantella, Ph.D.
Philomena V. Mantella, Ph.D.
President Philomena V. Mantella brings more than three decades of higher education experience to her role. She not only leads where she is, ...
Chris Plouff, Ph.D.
Chris Plouff, Ph.D.
Dr. Plouff began his appointment as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in January 2016 and then served as Senior Associate Vice ...
Robert P. Smart, Ph.D.
Robert P. Smart, Ph.D.
Robert P. Smart, Ph.D., is Vice Provost for Research Administration and the founding Executive Director of the Center for Scholarly and ...
Explore GVSU’s Programs in Philanthropy
Our university offers a variety of degree-granting programs in philanthropy from the School of Public, Nonprofit, Health, Hospitality and Tourism Management. Several Johnson Center team members serve as educators in these programs.
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Health Administration
- Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership
Undergraduate Programs:
- Major: Public and Nonprofit Administration
- Major: Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Minors: Public and Nonprofit Administration
- Minors: Hospitality and Tourism Management Minors
Charge for Racial Equity & Inclusion
As part of the Grand Valley State University community, we are committed to taking concrete actions to bring about greater justice, equity, and inclusion. Read the official statement from GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella and explore the university’s detailed action plan and anti-racism resources at the link below.
Here at the Johnson Center, you’ll get the unique opportunity to bridge the worlds of foundations, nonprofits, academics, and practitioners to advance the capacity of professionals and organizations working for the common good.
Professionals at the Johnson Center enjoy the benefits and human resource offerings of Grand Valley State University.
Available Positions
Digital Marketing Associate
This full-time role will be responsible for working with colleagues across the Johnson Center to understand our products — what they are, how they work, why they are useful, and who would find them beneficial — and translate that understanding into effective digital marketing campaigns that generate purchases. Successful campaigns will include strategic outreach and partnership development over time, understanding and targeting audiences across digital (and sometimes in-person) platforms, and, most importantly, taking the time and care to fully understand the Johnson Center’s work and why it is impactful for the nonprofit field.
Salary: $40,791–61,187
Director of Learning Services
The director of learning services leads the Johnson Center’s professional development, training, and consulting programs. This full-time position serves as a key leader in our work to understand, strengthen and advance philanthropy in order to create more inclusive communities. The director is responsible for executing and refining our strategic and business plans by designing and delivering engaging, equity-centered competency-based learning experiences for philanthropic professionals.
Salary: $85,000–127,000
Research Manager
This full-time role will focus on program evaluation, quantitative and qualitative analysis, writing, and presentation support for applied research and evaluation projects within the Johnson Center’s Community Data and Research Lab. This person will work collaboratively with research associates, data analysts, and web developers at the lab as well as staff across the center. In addition, the research manager will build relationships with current and potential clients and engage in public speaking and facilitation at workshops, presentations, and conferences. Key to the position is maintaining the highest standards of research quality and ethics, including collaboration with the GVSU’s Institutional Review Board.
Salary: $54,800–82,200
Fellowships in Philanthropic Studies
The Johnson Center’s fellowships are open to GVSU faculty and students. Through original research, publication opportunities, and faculty-student mentorship, fellows are encouraged to explore new approaches to and ways of understanding philanthropy.
Agard Student Fellowships in Community Philanthropy
Kathy Agard retired as executive director of the Johnson Center in 2010, after a career providing leadership for the Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project and Learning to Give. Each year, two Agard Fellows are selected to engage in research in community philanthropy and to contribute to ongoing research at the Johnson Center.
Jay Glover, Graduate Student
Master of Public Administration, emphasis in nonprofit management
SPNHA
Orosz Student Fellowship in Philanthropy
Joel Orosz, distinguished professor of philanthropic studies emeritus at GVSU, founded The Grantmaking School and was a program director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Each year, one Orosz Fellow is selected to engage in research in philanthropy as it relates to their academic discipline and to contribute to research at the Johnson Center.
Alexis Velazquez, Senior
Majoring in public and nonprofit administration
SPNHA
Mawby Faculty Fellowship in Philanthropic Studies
This fellowship honors long-time president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and co-founder of the Johnson Center, Russ Mawby. One faculty member is selected annually to conduct research focused on the intersection of philanthropy and their field of study. The fellow selects two undergraduate student fellows as research assistants.
Patty Janes, Ph.D.
Professor, Hospitality and Tourism Management
My single biggest privilege at GVSU was receiving the Agard/Orosz Fellowship for 2019-2020. Since my first lecture with Dr. Moody, I desired to work with him at the Johnson Center. As an international student, an opportunity to work with individuals of such a high caliber is normally only a dream. The fellowship allowed me to research emerging topics in philanthropy and it gave me an opportunity to be in the same room as some of the most influential philanthropic thinkers in the country.”
Pedro Gomes
2019-2020 Agard Fellow at the Johnson Center
Pedro Gomes
2019-2020 Agard Fellow at the Johnson Center
Interested in joining our team?
Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy
201 Front Ave SW, Suite 200
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
Phone: 616-331-7585
Email: jcp@gvsu.edu
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Use the form below to get in touch! We’ll get back to you within a few business days. Need to reach us more quickly? Call 616-331-7585.