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 ...
Alexandra Akaakar, M.S.
Alexandra Akaakar, M.S.
Alexandra Akaakar joined the Johnson Center as a data analyst in January 2022. In this role, she supports data collection, presentation, and ...
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 Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy in 2009 and currently serves as a senior fellow. She is also the founder ...
Emily Brenner, M.P.A.
Emily Brenner, M.P.A.
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 operations assistant. 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 ...
Emily Dorn Jex, M.S.
Emily Dorn Jex, M.S.
Emily Dorn Jex joined the Johnson Center as a data analyst in January 2022. In this role, she assists the Community Data and Research Lab ...
Brian Herron
Brian Herron
Brian Herron joined the Johnson Center in 2016 and currently serves as senior web developer. In this role, he works in close collaboration ...
Karen Hoekstra
Karen Hoekstra
Karen Hoekstra joined the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in 2015. As marketing and communications manager, she leads the design and ...
Aimée A. Laramore, M.B.A.
Aimée A. Laramore, M.B.A.
Aimée Laramore joined the Johnson Center as director of learning services in May 2022. As owner/lead consultant for ALlyd Image Solutions, a ...
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 in October 2017 and currently serves as director of communications and strategic partnerships. In this ...
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 ...
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 ...
Jackie Smith, Ph.D.
Jackie Smith, Ph.D.
Jackie Smith joined the Johnson Center in July 2022 as a research manager for the Community Data and Research Lab. Working collaboratively ...
Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.
Tamela A. Spicer, M.A.
Tamela is a senior program manager at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, where she has worked since 2016. As a certified ...
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 ...
Angie Vuyst
Angie Vuyst
Angie Vuyst joined the Johnson Center in 2022 as digital marketing associate. In this role, she is responsible for the strategy 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 ...
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout, Ph.D.
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout, Ph.D.
Aaron Yore-VanOosterhout designs and carries out community-based research to help nonprofits, schools, and other organizations better serve ...
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.
M. Gasby Brown
M. Gasby Brown
M. Gasby Brown joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2022. As founder & CEO of The Gasby Group, Inc. (TGG), she leads a team ...
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. In 2022, she joined the National Council of Nonprofits as vice ...
Isaiah Oliver
Isaiah Oliver
Isaiah M. Oliver joined the Johnson Center’s Leadership Council in 2022. As president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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?
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, ...
Fatma Mili, Ph.D.
Fatma Mili, Ph.D.
Fatma Mili, Ph.D., was appointed provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Grand Valley State University in July 2022. ...
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 ...
Grand Valley State University
Degree Programs in Philanthropy
GVSU 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.
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
Available Positions
Office Coordinator
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position in our downtown Grand Rapids office with the opportunity for flexible work arrangements according to GVSU human resources policies. As office coordinator, you will work with the operations director and director of learning services, as well as staff across the Johnson Center to prioritize processes and structures that support our office’s core functions and programs. On-the-job training and professional development opportunities will be available.
Salary: C-3 Level. Minimum starting salary of $18.40/hr.
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.
Maddison Reilly, Graduate Student, Master of Public Administration, GVSU; Winni Walsh, Graduate Student, Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, GVSU
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, two Orosz Fellows are selected to engage in research in philanthropy as it relates to their academic discipline and to contribute to research at the Johnson Center.
Laken Chapin, Undergraduate Student, B.B.A. Marketing, GVSU; Nicole “Knicki” Karsies, Graduate Student, Professional Master of Arts in Social Innovation, GVSU
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.
Elena Lioubimtseva, Geography and Sustainable Planning Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Grand Valley State University
Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy
201 Front Ave SW, Suite 200
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504
Phone: 616-331-7585
Email: jcp@gvsu.edu
Have a comment or question?
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.