UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 21, 2025 / Marquis Who's Who honors Larry C. Johnson as a Top Business Owner for his expertise in the field of fundraising management. With over 35 years of experience, Mr. Johnson is reshaping the future of nonprofit fundraising. As the founder of The Eight Principles®, he empowers organizations to achieve sustainable growth through a values-based approach to philanthropy.
Education and Foundations
Mr. Johnson's journey began with a foundation in systems-based thinking and ethics. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University, he pursued a Master of Divinity in ethics from Yale, an uncommon combination that would later shape his principled approach to philanthropy. He also holds certification as a fundraising executive from CFRE International.
Championing a More Revitalizing Approach
While working at Ketchum Inc., a top-tier fundraising and public relations firm, Mr. Johnson noticed a troubling pattern: the firm's attention often skewed toward wealthy institutions. This sparked his vision for a more revitalizing, democratized model of fundraising-one that empowers nonprofits of all sizes to cultivate meaningful donor relationships and long-term sustainability.
Impact in Higher Education
Mr. Johnson later served as vice president for advancement at several educational institutions, including Houghton College, Niagara University, and The College of Idaho. At Houghton College, he tripled fundraising outcomes from $15 million to $50 million in just three years-a testament to his ability to lead with both strategy and inspiration.
While working with the State University of New York system in the late 1990s, Mr. Johnson also trained as a Covey facilitator, gaining insights into strategic leadership that informed his fundraising philosophy. This experience, paired with his drive to build a culture of philanthropy, culminated in his 2011 book, "The Eight Principles of Sustainable Fundraising: Transforming Fundraising Anxiety into the Opportunity of a Lifetime."
Founding The Eight Principles®
Founded in 2007, The Eight Principles® challenges traditional, transactional models of fundraising. By focusing on long-term donor relationships and internal culture shifts, the platform offers nonprofit leaders a clear roadmap to sustainable fundraising success. Through online and hybrid coaching programs, Mr. Johnson and his team help organizations reimagine how they engage supporters. The company continues to shape industry thinking by introducing new terminology and models centered on relational fundraising.
"Fundraising isn't about asking, it's about inviting people to invest in something that matters," Mr. Johnson explains. "When donors experience the joy of giving, everyone wins."
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Mr. Johnson aims to scale The Eight Principles® to expand its global impact while entrusting day-to-day operations to a team he mentors. Retirement isn't on the horizon; instead, he plans to author new books, deepen his involvement with charitable organizations, and continue equipping nonprofit leaders with the mindset and tools for lasting transformation.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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SOURCE: Marquis Who's Who
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