Isaiah M. Oliver
President, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Photo: Laird
You stepped into your role as a newcomer to the area. What have been your impressions as you’ve gotten to know it over the last year and a half?
I’ve been struck by the warmth and generosity of this community. It’s clear that people here don’t just live in this place—they care deeply for it, invest in its future, and continuously work to make it better. What’s been especially meaningful is how intentional they’ve been about making space for me as a leader. That sense of welcome and shared purpose has been inspiring. I’m truly grateful and look forward to continuing to deepen relationships and collaborate with the amazing people who call this community home.
Why do you think the arts are important in Northeast Florida?
The arts are a personal passion of mine. With a major in art, minor in art history, and concentration in graphic design from Central Michigan University, I still occasionally pick up my graphite sketching pencils. Fortunately, the arts have also become a professional passion. The Community Foundation has been supporting the arts since 1990, when Art Ventures was established.
It’s been fascinating to join this community and witness the vibrancy of arts and culture that was accelerated by the Art Ventures Initiative. Over 35 years, the initiative has provided more than $1.6 million to emerging artists and small arts organizations that create a platform for them to share their work. That brings me a deep sense of pride.
I often say I tap into my creative side when simplifying complex concepts or making the intricate more accessible. This approach helps demystify philanthropy—a word that holds different meanings for different people. It allows me to be creative in how we paint the picture of philanthropy and invite others to join us in creating a beautiful mosaic of collective impact.
For the 60th anniversary celebration of The Community Foundation, you hosted a conversation with the two last presidents, Andy Bell and Nina Waters. What has changed, and what has stayed the same, about The Community Foundation over the past six decades?
It was a great privilege to share the stage with Andy and Nina at the Garden Club and talk about the growth of this institution over the last 60 years. When the board of trustees selected me for this role, I described myself as an architect, not an arsonist. I wanted to learn from the successes of the past and build upon them. I have found that in The Community Foundation. We’re committed to donor intent, exceptional service, and philanthropic expertise, and that commitment will continue, for good, forever. It’s because of my predecessors, our trustees, and the fundholders who have worked to grow this institution that we now manage more than $700 million in assets and were able to make nearly $80 million in grants last year alone.
What do you see in the future for The Community Foundation, or for the community at large?
Local philanthropists have generously opened their homes to me while I’ve been learning to navigate Northeast Florida. I’ve participated in Leadership Jacksonville and traveled on a Chamber trip. Most importantly, I’ve spent significant time touring nonprofits and learning about their work, from food pantries, to museums, to community development corporations. Through all these experiences, I’ve seen the energy and dynamism of this region, and the connectivity between philanthropists and nonprofits. I see growth ahead, and I hope that philanthropy will be part of it.
How does Northeast Florida compare to other places in terms of philanthropy, and how does that influence how you think about your work?
Cities and regions with older foundations have amassed significant assets because they’ve had more years to do so. At 60 years old, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is the oldest in the state, but we’re still much newer than many of our peers across the country. The oldest community foundations are more than a hundred years old.
Given this context, Jacksonville is quickly closing the gap between our city’s population and the philanthropic resources available to it. The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ranks around 50th by asset size out of about 900 community foundations nationwide, and Jacksonville is ranked about 40th in the country by MSA and population. Jacksonville is experiencing rapid growth, so now our goal is for philanthropy to keep pace or even exceed the growth in other sectors.
That goal underscores The Community Foundation’s vital role. We’re uniquely positioned to build relationships with donors—not by soliciting gifts but by partnering with them to achieve their philanthropic goals. Our focus on co-investment and collective impact will help drive sustainable change. Understanding the power of collective giving and its potential for positive impact shapes how I approach this work. I’m excited to lean into that mission and help create meaningful connections that benefit the entire community.
What do you love about Jacksonville?
Jacksonville reminds me of the stars in the night sky, beautiful on their own as individual points of light, but even more beautiful when they come together in constellations, which tell stories, guide travelers, and light the way forward. The true power of the stars lies in their connections, just as it does in a community. Those connections are what I love most about Jacksonville.
