Since its founding in 1964, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida has grown from the vision of four Jacksonville civic leaders to an organization that in its 60-year history has administered more than $1 billion in gifts and made more than $750 million in grants to local charitable organizations serving a range of needs.
Originally called “The Greater Jacksonville Area Community Foundation,” one of the founders, Tom McGehee, said it would be “a depository for the people of Jacksonville, both the large and small, the wealthy and the moderate, to be able to give for the betterment of their fellow man, not just today, but in a continuing way.”
The foundation remains true to its roots as it adapts to changing times.
“The mission has stayed the same. We stimulate philanthropy to meet the community’s needs,” foundation President Isaiah Oliver said.
“We help philanthropists find what they want to do and do it in the right way. We have to make responsible decisions about how to deploy resources.”
The foundation works with philanthropists and organizations in Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties. It also works in Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Union and Suwannee counties through an affiliate, the Suwannee Valley Community Foundation.
Major initiatives include advancing public education reform, nurturing early childhood, supporting neighborhoods, fostering the arts, encouraging aging adults and strengthening the nonprofit sector.
The foundation manages more than 700 funds with more than $655 million in assets. Its long-term investments yielded a 19.4% return in 2023.
Oliver said deciding what to do with those assets requires detailed analysis and consideration.
“One of our challenges is there are more gaps to fill than there are resources to fill them. We have to be really thoughtful about prioritizing which challenges to address at a particular time,” he said.
In 2023, The Community Foundation made 3,500 grants totaling $75 million to 1,000 nonprofits. Five hundred grants were made in December alone.
“We see the challenges they are addressing and the passion they have for the work,” Oliver said.
In 2025, the foundation will continue its work to manage the tremendous transfer of wealth that began a few years ago as the baby boomer generation is retiring. They also are passing their assets to their children, to charity or to both.
The net worth of households in Florida is estimated at more than $7 trillion with an estimated $84 billion transfer of wealth in the next 10 years and $11.3 trillion over the next 50 years.
The Community Foundation is encouraging local philanthropists to consider endowments in their estate planning.
“We want to build permanent assets to take advantage of the transfer of wealth. The boomers are retiring and we want to help them connect their estates to nonprofits,” Oliver said.
Looking ahead to the next year, Oliver said the foundation will continue its financial role while expanding its reach in the community.
The organization will work to engage more people to donate their time and talent as well as financial resources.
“Beyond our ability to raise significant amounts of money, community leadership is important. When we call people, they answer. When we put together data, people read it. When we convene meetings, people show up. We are thoughtful about building that muscle for the future,” Oliver said.
Visit jaxcf.org to learn more about The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
1964: On May 1, a Resolution & Declaration of Trust creates the Greater Jacksonville Area Community Foundation, founded by J.J. Daniel, Robert Feagin, Tom McGehee and Laurence Lee.
The foundation receives its first major gift July 1: $45,000 from the sale of the Community Chest-United Fund headquarters building at 314 Market St.
1983: The foundation seats a 67-member advisory board, the first link with donors, corporations and nonprofits.
The foundation had $2.7 million in assets and made grants totaling $983,000.
1984: Led by board of trustees Chair Bob Shircliff, the foundation celebrates its 20th anniversary.
With $3.6 million in assets, the foundation made grants totaling $1.4 million.
1988: With a new name, The Jacksonville Community Foundation hires Andy Bell to be its first president, a post he holds until 2004.
Total assets increased to $4.5 million. Grants totaled $1.7 million.
1989: The foundation receives a $200,000 grant from The National Endowment for the Arts and established the Art Ventures program to develop emerging artists.
Total assets increase to $6.3 million, grants increase to $1.9 million.
1991: With a challenge grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the foundation established its first Venture Philanthropy Initiative: “Promoting Interracial Cooperation and Understanding.”
Assets total $10.1 million with $2.6 million in grants.
1995: The foundation established “Building Our Community,” a multiyear program to support neighborhoods, families and children.
Assets increase to $25.1 million with $2.9 million in grants.
1997: The estate of Harold K. “Bud” Smith donates $10 million to the foundation, the largest gift to a Jacksonville nonprofit at the time.
Total assets: $50.3 million; grants total $6.2 million.
1998: The foundation invests $100,000 to create LISC Jacksonville, a nonprofit that supports locally based redevelopment of at-risk neighborhoods.
Assets increase to $59.8 million with $5.6 million in grants awarded.
1999: Under the leadership of trustees Chair J.F. Bryan IV, the foundation creates the Philanthropic Initiative to educate and develop the next generation of community philanthropic leaders.
Assets grow to $7.3 million with $6.1 million in grants.
2002: With a new name, The Community Foundation Inc., the organization hires Nina Waters to be its executive vice president.
The foundation launches the Women’s Giving Alliance, led initially by Ann Baker, Doris Carson, Helen Lane, Delores Barr Weaver and Courtenay Wilson.
The alliance has grown to more than 400 members and has made more than $7.7 million in grants to support women and girls.
The foundation also supports creation of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.
Total assets are $59.6 million; $8.8 million in grants awarded.
2004: With a $25 million gift from the Lucy Gooding Charitable Foundation Trust, the organization’s total assets increase to $105 million.
The gift created the Henry and Lucy Gooding Endowment, which is advised by the Bryan family.
Grants for the year total $9.5 million.
2005: Nina Waters becomes president of The Community Foundation.
The Eartha M.M. White Fund, Jacksonville’s first African American philanthropy, is established.
Assets increase to $118.2 million with $13 million in grants awarded.
2008: The Senior to Senior Fund is established with a $100,000 grant from Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver with contributions from Amy Baker, John Uible, Jim and Joan Van Vleck and David Stein.
Assets grow to $123.7 million with $16.5 million in grants awarded.
2009: The foundation established the Jacksonville Public Education Fund to connect research with a civic voice to advocate for quality public schools in Duval County.
Assets increase to $141.8 million with $20.4 million in grants awarded.
2012: Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver move the Weaver Family Foundation to The Community Foundation.
With $50 million, Delores Barr Weaver opens the largest advised fund in The Community Foundation’s history.
Assets total $257.2 million with $31.1 million in grants awarded.
2013: With a new name – The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida – the organization launches the $50 million Quality Education for All fund to provide direct support for excellence in teaching in Duval County Public Schools.
Assets total $295.4 million. $36.1 million in grants are awarded.
2014: Marking its 50th anniversary, the foundation has total assets of $312 million and in five decades made $332 million in grants.
It is recognized as the oldest and largest community foundation in Florida.
Awards in 2014 total $53.5 million.
2016: The Frank G. Oliver Jr. Endowment in Putnam County becomes the foundation’s largest Field of Interest Fund with $100,000 in grants to improve the quality of life in Putnam County.
Total assets increase to $344 million with $43 million in community grants.
2019: The foundation supports research focused on women in leadership and provides seed money to create a position at JAX Chamber: Vice president to elevate women.
Assets total $483.4 million with $50.3 million in grants awarded.
2020: The foundation helped raise and distribute $5.4 million for COVID-19 relief in Northeast Florida.
Assets rose to $550 million with $48 million in grants.
2021: The Women’s Giving Alliance marks its 20th anniversary with more than $7.7 million granted to improve the lives of women and girls in Northeast Florida.
Assets grew to $627 million with $42 million in grants awarded.
2023: Nina Waters retires after 22 years with the foundation. The trustees unanimously select Isaiah Oliver to be her successor.
Total assets reach $655.7 million. Grants awarded total $68.8 million.
Source: Community Foundation for Northeast Florida