Precious Johnson
Precious Johnson is an experienced grants and fundraising professional, cultivating support from foundation, corporate, and government donors. Prior to joining the City of Detroit as a fund development officer, she served as a grants officer at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), raising funds for operations, exhibitions, capital projects, and a portfolio of Asian arts and educational initiatives. In research and institutional compliance roles at nationally-recognized organizations, including the Georgetown University Medical Center, the Erikson Institute, and Friends of the Children, she gained valuable experience coordinating nimble, cross-departmental collaborations to advance human wellbeing.
Precious aims to foster partnerships that make significant, long-term investments in education, arts and culture, and environmental and neighborhood initiatives that enhance our collective quality of life, improve conditions in disinvested communities, and honor the more-than-human world. A proud graduate of the James Kanada Fellowship facilitated by Strategic Community Partners, she has channeled her passion for environmental and spatial justice towards establishing and managing a community orchard and developing two neighborhood pocket parks to help expand Detroit's tree canopy. In addition, Precious serves as a contributing editor of Barbed Magazine as well as a writer and advisory board member for Essay’d, a platform spotlighting the Detroit arts and culture ecosystem.
EDUCATION
◘ B.A., The University of Chicago, 2005
◘ M.A., The University of Illinois-Springfield, 2012
◘ Urban Roots Community Garden Leadership Program, 2022
◘ Michigan Conservation Stewardship Program, 2023
◘ Advanced Training Certificate in Ecopsychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute, 2025
MEMBERSHIPS
◘ Board of Directors, Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), 2025-Present
➼ Chair, Fund Development Subcommittee, 2025-Present
◘ Board of Directors, Black to the Land Coalition, 2025-Present
➼ Chair, Fund Development, 2025-Present
◘ Advisory Board Member, Essay'd
◘ Member, Friends of the Detroit River
◘ Member, Friends of Rouge Park
◘ Member, Michigan Lakes and Streams Association (MLSA)
◘ Member, Citizens Research Council of Michigan