The Johansen Larsen Foundation (JLF) is a Canadian private charitable foundation established in 2008 to honour the wishes of Boje Johansen and his commitment to education and social justice. Based in Ontario, the foundation provides grants to qualified donees across Canada, with a strong emphasis on programs that enhance the lives of people and animals who are marginalized in their communities.
Role of the Johansen Larsen Foundation in the funding ecosystem
Since its first grants in 2009, the JLF has awarded hundreds of single- and multi-year grants, disbursing more than $3.8 million to around 180 organizations. Typical support includes single-year grants of up to $10,000 and multi-year grants of up to $7,500 per year for three years. Funding goes to registered Canadian charities and, in some cases, Indigenous-led non-profits that meet all other eligibility criteria. Programs must operate in Canada and serve marginalized children and youth, Indigenous communities, and/or animals at risk.
Focus areas and funding priorities
The foundation’s grant portfolio is organized around three overlapping focus areas: Marginalized Children and Youth, Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and the One Health model linking human, animal and environmental health. Each year, the JLF funds projects related to two of these areas, aiming to balance support between them and encouraging applicants to integrate reconciliation and One Health perspectives into their programming.
Examples of funded initiatives include mentoring and leadership for at-risk youth, arts and music programs for low-income or street-involved young people, inclusive recreation and camp opportunities, food security and outdoor education projects, Indigenous history and reconciliation education, and humane treatment of animals and community-based veterinary care.
General eligibility and assessment
Eligible organizations typically have annual revenues under $2 million and operate programs in Canada that align with JLF’s mission and guiding values of learning and knowledge, equity and inclusion, and community-building. The foundation publishes ineligible expense categories, uses a two-step process with a letter of intent followed by a full application, and maintains a relatively quick decision timeline. Grant recipients must submit post-award reports, which inform consideration of future applications.
Publics served and impact
Approximately 90% of the foundation’s historical funding has supported children and youth facing homelessness, poverty, racism, disability, migration, and other forms of marginalization. Additional resources support humane treatment of animals and programs that explicitly connect human, animal and environmental well-being. While JLF has historically focused much of its giving in Ontario, it also funds organizations in other provinces and seeks to reach underfunded regions, including northern communities.
Although the JLF is not accepting new applications for funding in 2026, it continues to honour all multi-year commitments and to refine its strategic approach to reconciliation, climate-related philanthropy and impact investing.
