A donor advised fund has been established by Mary and Robert Johnson to provide funding for a variety of nonprofit programs in and around Pennington County.  With the assistance of their attorney, Paul Ihle, their wishes for supporting causes in the region became possible with the Robert J. and Mary L. Johnson Charitable Fund.

The Johnson’s main interests are in helping the Northland Community and Technical College Foundation, St. Bernard's Catholic Church, and Thief River Falls Education Foundation in areas such as scholarships, tuition assistance, and musical program needs, along with others not typically financed by the schools. Also of interest is the Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, Erskine; Pioneer Village, and Pennington County Humane Society, Thief River Falls.