Michael Johnston

Michael Johnston is the Chief Philanthropic Officer for Daniel Lubetzky and President of the Lubetzky Family Foundation. Prior to joining Lubetzky Philanthropies Michael was President and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford (JCF). Among his accomplishments at the Foundation, Michael founded the Center for Innovative Philanthropy whose three part mission was to lead philanthropic innovation, build the capacity of nonprofit institutions and drive a culture of data-driven decision-making. Michael also led a unique, collaborative endowment-raising campaign involving 28 independent nonprofit institutions designed not only to expand endowment, but to build a community culture of collaboration, trust and commitment to service. The effort raised more than $45MM (equal to $1.600 for every resident of the community). Michael joined JCF in February of 2012 after having served as CEO of the United Way of Western Connecticut. During his tenure in the nonprofit sector, Michael has led initiatives in early childhood literacy, childhood obesity, seniors and aging, STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), impact investing and venture philanthropy as well as being involved in a statewide nonprofit initiative in civic engagement and democracy. Prior to joining the philanthropic sector in a professional capacity, Michael spent more than 20 years working in financial services with a variety of firms including Moody’s Investors Service, Kidder, Peabody & Co., Paine Webber & Co., Sandler O’Neill + Partners, GE Capital and two venture capital backed e-commerce businesses. Michael has served on the boards of several synagogues, the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut and the Advisory Board of Drew University’s Center for Civic Engagement as well as the Vice-Chair of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy and currently serves on the Board of The KIND Foundation as Treasurer. Michael is also a trained “end of life Doula” - a program which provides companionship for the terminally ill. Michael holds Masters Degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Urban Planning (MUP) from New York University and has a BA in Political Science from Drew University. He is married to Corinne, his bride of 32 years, and has a daughter, Andrea, who lives with her husband Alec Levin in Baltimore, MD.