JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — February 26, 2026 — The Eartha M.M. White Legacy Fund, Jacksonville’s first major African-American philanthropy, recently welcomed new leaders to oversee grantmaking from the endowed donor advised fund.
The fund was established at The Community Foundation in 2005 from the proceeds of the sale of a nursing home in Northwest Jacksonville established by Eartha M.M. White, a nationally recognized humanitarian, philanthropist and businesswoman who lived in Jacksonville from 1876 to her death in 1974. The fund recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with more than $1.3 million in grants made to local nonprofits, a milestone which received front-page news coverage in the Florida Times-Union.
“It’s time to pass the torch to the next generation,” said the fund’s outgoing Chair, Cleve Warren, who worked closely with Vice Chair, Gregory Owens, on selecting the new advisors. “The fund has proudly preserved the philanthropic legacy of Eartha M.M. White for two decades, and it will continue to do so in the good hands of its new advisors.”
New advisors include: Clanzenetta “Mickee” Brown (Chair), Marsha Oliver (Vice Chair), Errika Moore, Morgan Owens, Jason Peoples, Travis Williams, Darryl Willie, and Tamara Witherspoon. They will be responsible for overseeing a grantmaking process that aligns with the issues of importance to Ms. White.
In the past, the fund has invested in the Clara White Mission, the University of North Florida, Florida State College, Jacksonville University, Edward Waters University, the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, the Urban Education Symposium, and a number of Duval County public, private, charter and parochial schools. It has also supported Baptist Health and a host of other nonprofits in the community.
The fund will make grants in perpetuity, inspired by White’s mantra, borrowed from John Wesley, to “do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
About The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (www.jaxcf.org), Florida’s oldest and one of its largest community foundations, works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community. The Foundation helps donors invest their philanthropic gifts wisely, helps nonprofits serve the region effectively, and helps people come together to make the community a better place. Now in its 62nd year, the Foundation manages more than $809 million in assets and has made more than $925 million in grants since inception.
###
Contact:
Stephanie Garry Garfunkel
VP, Strategic Communications
904-224-7208 | sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org