Program development and innovation are the pieces of nonprofit work that tug at the heartstrings—donors can see, feel, and experience the impact of direct services to people. But underneath most good program development is a strong nonprofit organization with effective leadership and staff, clear strategies, and sound business practices.
The Community Foundation has long invested in what is sometimes called “capacity-building grants,” in the parlance of the field. Program staff at the Foundation prefer to call them “strengthening grants.” Examples include small organization grants and Art Ventures organizational grants.
According to the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, research has demonstrated that capacity-building grants can improve nonprofit leadership, programs, organization, revenue, and community engagement.
In recent years, capacity building support has expanded through the Nina Waters Nonprofit Leadership Fund, an endowed field of interest fund created by the Board of Trustees at her retirement in 2023 and generously supported by donors under the leadership of President Isaiah M. Oliver.
In 2025, the fund’s second year of grantmaking, the Foundation made grants to seven organizations:
- Palatka Police Athletic League
- Five STAR Veterans Center
- Center for Children’s Rights
- Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network
- Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida
- World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
- Jacksonville History Center
We’re seeing a generational shift in leadership of local nonprofits. Boards are seeking strong successors, and they are seeking funding to support their growth and learning. – James Coggin, Vice President, Programs
FEW STORIES ILLUSTRATE THIS BETTER THAN FIVE STAR VETERANS CENTER, WHICH SERVES VETERANS THROUGH HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN ARLINGTON.
A grant from a donor-advised fund in 2024 helped the organization begin succession planning as Col. Len Loving prepared to step down after serving as CEO for more than 13 years. In June 2025, Retired Navy Cmdr. John Bear (pictured right), stepped in as the new CEO and was awarded a discretionary grant, which paid for donor stewardship training and marketing support to help the organization develop expertise in fundraising and conduct outreach to veterans.
As Cmdr. Bear continues to grow into his role leading the Five STAR Veterans Center, The Community Foundation will know it supported the agency at an important juncture in its development, in turn assisting veterans in our community on their path to self-sufficiency.
The grant allowed me to develop my skills in donor relations, a critical area of my new leadership position. Ultimately, the goal is to make it such that no veteran has to pay to be here, so they can focus on recovery from their situation. – Retired Navy Cmdr. John Bear
This article was originally published in our 2025 Annual Report to the Community. Read the full report.