Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation
The mission of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation is to manage The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum and the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs. Both institutions are located at the University of Texas, Austin.
In 1969, President Lyndon Johnson invited a group of individuals to join him in supporting these two institutions that were under construction at the time. After President Johnson finished his terms, this group was incorporated as the Health Education and Conservation (HEC) Foundation. The mission of the HEC Foundation was to provide special support to the LBJ School and to the LBJ Library. In 1973, the HEC was rechristened the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation.
The Lyndon B. Johnson Library
The LBJ Library is one of thirteen presidential libraries in the country. The Library has three primary missions: to preserve and give access to the papers and memorabilia of President Johnson; to increase public awareness of the American history through exhibitions and educational programs; and to advance the Library and Museum as a center for intellectual activity and community leadership. It was President Johnson’s wish to make the Library free and open to the public.
The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
The mission of the LBJ School of Public Affairs is to prepare graduate students for leadership positions in an increasingly interconnected world, to organize public policy research, to provide continuing education for professionals, and to foster community involvement. The school draws upon the resources of the University of Texas at Austin, one of the world's leading research universities. For more than 35 years, the LBJ School has awarded more than 2,600 masters of public affairs. The School has awarded 26 doctorates since 1996.
The LBJ School awards many scholarships, including the prestigious Ben Barnes Fellowship in Public Leadership. The fellowship was created in 2000 to honor the politician Ben Barnes’ recent $1 million grant to the LBJ School. The focus of the Ben Barnes Fellowship is to recruit outstanding students from all over the US who have demonstrated an active interest in public leadership.
Several Research Centers are also part of the LBJ School. One such center is the RGK Center. The RGK Center’s mission is to promote and spread awareness of the knowledge about nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and volunteerism, as well as train students and practitioners to make the most effective contributions to their communities. The 'RGK' refers to Mrs. Ronya and Dr. George Kozmetsky, the founders of this center.