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The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Inc

Annual Giving
$75.0M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $75,000,000
  • Total Assets: $700,000,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $125,000
  • Geographic Focus: Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties in Northeast Florida

Contact Details

Address: 245 Riverside Avenue, Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone: (904) 356-4483
Fax: (904) 356-7910
Email: info@jaxcf.org
Website: https://www.jaxcf.org

Office Hours:
Monday–Thursday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Pre-Application Support: Phone consultations available to determine eligibility; technical assistance appointments offered for Program Support, Capacity Building, and Small Organization grants. Contact Reagan Bass, Program Officer, at rbass@jaxcf.org or (904) 356-4483.

Overview

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is Florida's oldest and largest community foundation, established in 1964. With total assets exceeding $700 million as of December 2024, the foundation has awarded more than $850 million in grants since its inception, serving the citizens of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. In 2023 alone, the foundation provided $75 million in grants to 1,000 nonprofits through 3,500 individual grants. Led by President Isaiah M. Oliver since 2023, the foundation stimulates philanthropy through competitive grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and civic leadership. The foundation has earned a Four-Star rating (100% score) from Charity Navigator. Under Oliver's leadership, the foundation emphasizes equity-centered work and strategic resource allocation to address community needs while building permanent assets through endowment growth.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Competitive Grant Programs (Fixed Deadlines):

  • Women's Giving Alliance: $10,000 (one year) for organizations with budgets ≤$250,000, or $125,000 (two years) for larger organizations addressing violence against women and girls | Opens: December | Deadline: Mid-January | Online portal

  • Small Organizations: Up to $2,500 for nonprofits with annual budgets ≤$150,000 | Opens: December | Deadline: Late January | Online portal

  • Capacity Building Grants: Up to $10,000 for one or two-year projects supporting organizational development, staff/board training, research, planning, evaluation, or facilitation | Opens: Spring | Deadline: May | Online portal | For organizations with budgets ≥$100,000

  • Program Support Grants: Up to $25,000 (one or two years) for programs serving vulnerable populations, aging adults (Duval County), or early childhood (birth to preschool, Duval County) | Opens: Spring | Deadline: May | Decision notification: Late September | Online portal | For organizations with budgets ≥$100,000

  • Aging Adults: Up to $25,000 for supporting older residents or caregivers | Opens: January | Deadline: Early March | Online portal

  • Early Childhood: Up to $25,000 for at-risk children under six in Duval County | Opens: January | Deadline: Early March | Online portal

  • Supporting Neighborhoods: Up to $25,000 for strengthening neighborhood leadership, affordable housing, or economic opportunity for marginalized residents | Opens: January | Deadline: Early March | Online portal

  • Food and Needs Insecurity: $10,000-$20,000 for food/basic needs assistance | Opens: January | Deadline: Early March | Online portal

  • Putnam County Program Support: $10,000-$25,000 (one or two years) for improving quality of life in Putnam County | Opens: January | Deadline: Early March | Online portal

  • A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact Fund: Up to $2,000 for programs in predominantly Black neighborhoods | Opens: January | Deadline: Mid-February | Online portal

  • LGBTQ Community Fund: Up to $10,000 for nonprofits supporting LGBTQ communities | Opens: February | Deadline: Late March | Online portal

  • Art Ventures (Individual Artists): Up to $5,000 for emerging Northeast Florida artists | Opens: Late April | Deadline: Late June | Online portal

Donor-Advised and Designated Funds: Approximately 85% of grants ($60+ million annually) are distributed through donor-advised and designated funds, which do not accept applications.

Discretionary and Initiative Grants: The foundation awards discretionary grants through unrestricted, field of interest, and Presidential grantmaking funds (approximately $3 million annually). These do not accept unsolicited proposals.

Priority Areas

  • Aging adults and caregivers (particularly in Duval County)
  • Early childhood development (birth to preschool, particularly in Duval County)
  • Violence against women and girls
  • LGBTQ communities
  • Food and basic needs insecurity
  • Neighborhood strengthening, affordable housing, and economic opportunity
  • Programs in predominantly Black neighborhoods
  • Visual arts appreciation and education (St. Augustine)
  • Organizational capacity building
  • Collaborative initiatives addressing broad community needs

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside the six-county service area (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns)
  • Athletic associations
  • School-based organizations or schools themselves
  • Fundraising event sponsorships
  • Sectarian religious activities (faith-based organizations eligible for non-religious community programs)
  • Individual relief or services (except professional artists through Art Ventures)
  • Organizations without active 501(c)(3) status
  • Organizations with less than 2 years of operating history (for most programs)
  • Unsolicited proposals for initiative grants

Governance and Leadership

President: Isaiah M. Oliver (appointed 2023), the foundation's third president, succeeded Nina Waters who retired after 22 years. Oliver previously served as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint for nine years, where he developed an equity-centered approach to philanthropy.

Board Chair: The Honorable Brian J. Davis

Executive Leadership:

  • Executive Vice President and CFO: Grace
  • Vice President of Finance: Erin Broderick, MBA (promoted October 2025)
  • Program Officer: Reagan Bass (rbass@jaxcf.org)

Leadership Philosophy (from President Isaiah M. Oliver):

On the foundation's mission: "The mission has stayed the same. We stimulate philanthropy to meet the community's needs."

On strategic priorities: "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."

On community leadership: "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."

On vision: Oliver believes "all children hope to live in a just, equitable world where people have access to the resources they need to be whole," and he's "betting on philanthropy to be a leader in making that vision" a reality.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Grantee Portal: Starting November 2025, all grant applications are exclusively available through the foundation's new grantee portal, described as a "one-stop shop for nonprofits seeking support." Each grant program has a specific online application link.

Pre-Application Steps:

  1. Review the FAQ and User Manual on the foundation's website
  2. Call (904) 356-4483 to confirm eligibility before submitting
  3. Request technical assistance appointment for Program Support, Capacity Building, or Small Organization grants (Reagan Bass: rbass@jaxcf.org)

Application Limitations: Organizations in the six-county service area may apply for EITHER Capacity Building OR Program Support OR Putnam County grants in any given year (one application only).

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by grant program. The foundation states: "This varies by application so please see the timeline for each competitive grant."

Known Timeline (from 2023 Program Support cycle):

  • Application deadline: May 18
  • Grant decisions announced: September 27
  • Time from deadline to decision: Approximately 4 months

Important Note: The foundation advises that "a grant from TCF cannot fully support a project," so applicants must demonstrate how they will secure additional funding beyond the foundation's support.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that receive rejections may reapply. The foundation states: "Each proposal is considered on its own merits. However, be sure that your proposal is considered eligible under the guidelines before re-submitting."

Application Success Factors

Size-Appropriate Application Process:
Organizations with budgets under $200,000 (or $150,000 for Small Organizations program) should use the simplified application designed specifically for smaller nonprofits, which may improve chances by acknowledging capacity constraints.

Demonstrate Additional Funding:
The foundation explicitly states that their grants "cannot fully support a project." Applications must clearly show other funding sources and sustainability plans. Successful applicants demonstrate how the foundation's grant leverages other resources.

Align with Geographic and Focus Area Priorities:
If applying for programs with county-specific restrictions (Aging Adults and Early Childhood programs are Duval County only), ensure clear alignment. For broader programs, demonstrate how the work addresses community needs in the specific counties served.

Recent Successful Projects (2024 Examples):

  • Bebette's Bunny Rescue: Used funding to construct an organic garden to sustainably feed rescued rabbits at lower cost than purchasing produce
  • LISC Property Tax Relief: Preserved $2.3 million in housing value for 23 households in Nassau County; overall program preserved over $6.5 million across its life
  • Hope Haven Early Childhood Development: Bridge to Support Families of Children with Autism Pilot Project ($15,000) - diagnosing developmental delays as early as 18 months and providing early interventions
  • Art with a Heart in Healthcare: $40,000 for art therapy in pediatric in-patient units
  • Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging/Eldersource: $150,000 for financial assistance to seniors across five counties
  • Cummer Museum: $15,000 for capacity building in fund development and executive leadership strategy
  • Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida: $20,000 for comprehensive strategic planning

Strategic Approach:
President Oliver emphasizes thoughtful prioritization of which community challenges to address given limited resources. Applications that demonstrate strategic thinking about community impact and long-term sustainability align with this philosophy.

Equity Lens:
Under current leadership, the foundation centers equity in its work. Applications addressing marginalized communities or explicitly considering equity in program design may resonate strongly.

Collaboration:
Capacity Building grants specifically mention "collaborations addressing broad community needs" as a focus area. Demonstrating partnership approaches can strengthen applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Choose your application carefully: Organizations can only submit ONE application per year from Capacity Building, Program Support, or Putnam County grants - select the best fit strategically
  • Use the right-sized application: Smaller organizations (budgets under $150,000-$200,000) should use simplified application processes designed for their capacity level
  • Call before applying: The foundation strongly encourages phone consultations to confirm eligibility and answer questions before investing time in an application
  • Show the full funding picture: Grants cannot fully fund projects - demonstrate how foundation support leverages other resources and creates sustainability
  • County-specific restrictions matter: Aging Adults and Early Childhood programs are restricted to Duval County only; verify geographic eligibility carefully
  • Equity and collaboration resonate: Under current leadership, applications with equity-centered approaches and collaborative models align with organizational values
  • Portal transition: All applications moved to exclusive online portal in November 2025 - familiarize yourself with the new system and allow time to navigate it
  • Most funding is donor-directed: Approximately 85% of the foundation's $75 million in annual grants come from donor-advised and designated funds that don't accept applications - competitive grants represent a smaller but significant pool (approximately $3+ million annually)

References

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