Forever Forward

On January, 1, Richard Sisisky began a two-year term as chair of the Board of Trustees of The Community Foundation. In this episode, Richard sits down with The Community Foundation President, Isaiah M. Oliver, to talk about how he first came to know the Foundation and why he believes in giving back. Learn more and sign up for email updates at jaxcf.org

In this episode of Forever Forward, Isaiah M. Oliver, President of The Community Foundation, sits down with Ashley Dietz, President and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network, to explore the evolving role of philanthropy in Florida. From collaboration and capacity-building to advocacy, community foundations, and the power of convening in divided times, Ashley shares insights from her unique vant...

In this episode, we dive into a new report on community development corporations (CDCs)—co-funded by The Community Foundation, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, and United Way of Northeast Florida—that offers new insights into this critical partner for affordable housing, economic mobility, and neighborhood revitalization. James Coggin, Senior Director of Grantmaking and Impact Investing, is joined by two...

What role can community foundations play in solving the challenges facing their communities – beyond important contributions of grant funding? In a new episode of our podcast, Forever Forward, President Isaiah M. Oliver sits down with Mary Thomas, President and CEO of CFLeads, and Rose Bradshaw, President and CEO of the North Texas Community Foundation, to talk about the role of community foundati...

In this episode of the podcast, TCF President Isaiah Oliver joins two national leaders whose work has shaped philanthropy at every level—from grassroots communities in the rural South to the largest philanthropic institutions in the country. Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury is president of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation in Arkansas, after previously leading the Foundation for Louisiana and servin...

In our May Donors Forum, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Weaver Philanthropic Initiative with guest, Robyn Schein, senior consultant at 21/64, a national leader on next-generation philanthropy. In this episode, listen as Wanda Willis continues the conversation on next gen philanthropy with Robyn in our studio. Learn more and sign up for email updates at jaxcf.org

This spring, The Community Foundation partnered with the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy to discuss their recent report, 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2025, at our Donors Forum programs for regional grantmakers. In this episode, we invited our guests to share their insights with Wanda Willis, Vice President of Civic Leadership.  The conversation starts with Tory Martin, Director of Comm...

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Over the past nine years, The Community Foundation has made over $1.6 million in grants to foster inclusive prosperity across Jacksonville as part of our key leadership initiative, Supporting Neighborhoods.   One of the stand-out areas of investment has been a body of work we call “heirs property,” led by local nonprofit partners including the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). It’s a c...

Isaiah Oliver talks with Marsha Hatcher about her work, how she's helping emerging artists in Jacksonville, and what it means for her to be selected for the Ann McDonald Baker Art Ventures Award.  Learn more and sign up for email updates at jaxcf.org

The term “urban forest” may sound like an oxymoron. But the newest episode of our podcast, Forever Forward, offers insights into why it’s an aspiration rather than a contradiction. In this episode, Isaiah Oliver sat down with Anne Coglianese, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Jacksonville, and Valerie Feinberg, Executive FUSE Fellow, to learn how their work is helping protect our region fro...

In this episode of Forever Forward, community stewards Gregory Owens and Cleve Warren sat down with TCF’s Vice President of Civic Leadership, Wanda Willis, to discuss the Eartha M.M. White Legacy Fund. The endowed fund has made more than $1.3M in grants since it was created by the sale of Eartha M.M. White’s nursing home, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary here at The Community Foundation. Bo...

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John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St Louis. His latest book is “Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect.” Inazu spoke at Donors Forum in September, and continued the conversation with Wanda Willis, VP of Civic Leadership. Learn more and sign up for email updates at jaxcf.o...

August is Black Philanthropy Month, a time to celebrate the ways that Black communities give their time, talent, and treasure. Dr. Gail Christopher is a past Senior Advisor and Vice President of the WK Kellogg Foundation -- and she's also a friend and mentor to Isaiah Oliver, TCF President. Dr. Christopher visited Jacksonville to speak at our August Donors Forum celebrating Black Philanthropy...

In our first episode of Season 2, TCF President Isaiah M. Oliver sits down with TCF Board Chair Michael DuBow to reflect on his inaugural year as President of The Community Foundation. In July 2023, Isaiah moved with his wife and four children to Jacksonville to become the third president of The Community Foundation. Over the past year, he has tirelessly immersed himself in the community. He has e...

TCF President Isaiah M. Oliver led a conversation former Presidents Nina Waters and Andy Bell to talk about the past, present and future of The Community Foundation during a celebration of our 60th anniversary. Learn more and sign up for email updates at jaxcf.org

In the last episode of our first season, Nina Waters sits down with Isaiah M. Oliver, the new president of The Community Foundation. Isaiah tells the story of his journey to Jacksonville -- how he came into community leadership in Flint, MI, how he fell in love with the work of community foundations, and why he and his family decided to make Northeast Florida home. Learn more and sign up for email...

Nancy and Gary Chartrand are well-known names in our community. Their philanthropy has made a positive impact on many important nonprofits in our area. But not everyone knows their whole story. In Episode 8 of our podcast series, which looks back on our work as we approach our 60th anniversary next year, I sit down with Nancy and Gary to talk about what inspires them to give back through The Commu...

Cindy Edelman is a dear friend, a former chair of our board of trustees, and a champion for public education.   I’ve been privileged to work with Cindy for more than two decades in my role as president of The Community Foundation. Cindy was a visionary leader in the 10-year Quality Education for All Initiative, and she has never wavered in her support for public education since then.  In Episode 7...

Michael Meyers is an attorney, a trustee of The Community Foundation, and the first president of the LGBTQ community Fund for Northeast Florida.   He grew up in Jacksonville, and lived for many years in New York City. Lucky for us, he came back, and quickly committed to improving the community he and his family call now home.  In this conversation, we talk about the interesting work we’ve been pri...

Sherry Magill has been a mentor to me and a partner in crisis for more than two decades.    She led the Jessie Ball duPont Fund as President during much of my time here at The Community Foundation. She had the incredible vision to rescue and renovate the state-of-the-art building where we recorded this podcast series -- the Jessie Ball duPont Center.     In this conversation, you’ll hear about why...

I met Rachael Tutwiler Fortune about 13 years ago. Back then, Rachael had just left the classroom to take a role at the nascent Jacksonville Public Education Fund.   The Community Foundation helped found JPEF as an independent think-and-do tank that works to pilot and scale new approaches to improving the quality of education in Duval County.   In Episode 4 of the Giving Forward podcast, we talk a...

Kathleen Shaw and I go way back.  She and I started our nonprofit careers together at the PACE Center for Girls.   We were working moms together, juggling the multiple responsibilities of parenting and careers, and we have now spent two decades together making grants to nonprofits here in Northeast Florida.  In Episode 3 of the Giving Forward podcast, “Head and Heart,” we talk about our community...

When Bill Scheu was awarded our Prize for Civic Engagement, the selection committee described him as a “Civic Superman.” Bill is one of just two people we have honored with the Prize. A partner at Rogers Towers, Bill has been a trusted mediator on many issues in our community, from pension reform to election integrity. He’s also been a leader in our work as a past trustee and board chair of The Co...