President and CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County | Madison
During his 14 years at the helm of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, Michael Johnson has grown the organization’s donor base and cultivated public-private partnerships, resulting in a new workforce center on Madison’s southwest side. Johnson led the $35 million campaign in support of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, a partnership with the Madison Area Builders Association that aims to train young people for careers in the skilled trades. The campaign received a seven-figure challenge grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Throughout his tenure, Johnson has helped raise more than $50 million for the organization, expanded its operations in Fitchburg, Madison, Verona and Sun Prairie and acquired the Boys & Girls Clubs of Walworth County. BGCDC serves more than 7,500 young people across ten locations, including eight school-based sites and two traditional club sites.
Johnson was previously deputy commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and executive director of Lutheran Child & Family Services of Indiana and Northern Kentucky, among several other nonprofit leadership roles.
Education: Bachelor’s, Chicago State University; MBA, University of Phoenix
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Nonprofits and Education
President and CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County | Madison
Michael Johnson leads Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, an organization that serves more than 7,500 young people at 10 locations. During his 12 years at the helm, the organization has emphasized public-private partnerships and recently raised nearly $40 million to create a regional workforce center that will introduce young people to the trades.
Education: Bachelor’s, Chicago State University; MBA, University of Phoenix
One book everyone should read: “‘Action Has No Season’” by Michael Roberts. He is a self-made billionaire from St. Louis, a personal mentor of mine, and the book focuses on taking action no matter the season or circumstances.”
Business leaders you would like to have dinner with: “Jay Z and Jeff Bezos, and (I’d) ask them for transformational major gifts.”
Toughest business challenge you’ve ever faced: “Laying off 700 people when I was (deputy director of Philadelphia’s department of) Parks & Recreation and coming up with my first fundraising campaign to raise millions to keep people employed and the Parks & Recreation Center open in Philadelphia.”
Top of your bucket list: “To organize a stadium concert with 60,000-plus people that would raise millions for local kids.”
