Co-Founder Delores Barr Weaver invited the community to give through a matching challenge
Jacksonville, Fla. — October 30, 2026 — The Women’s Giving Alliance (WGA), a collective giving initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, announced last night the result of its 25th anniversary fundraising campaign: more than $750,000 in new support for area non-profits working to address violence against women and girls.
The matching campaign was made possible by Delores Barr Weaver, one of WGA’s five co-founders, who gives through a donor advised fund at the Foundation. Weaver offered to match each new gift to the campaign dollar-for-dollar up to $150,000, a goal that was quickly exceeded this summer. The new funds will be put to work in the community through WGA’s grantmaking. Nonprofits can apply for WGA’s next round of grants, which are announced in May 2027, between Nov. 30, 2026 and Jan. 20, 2027. Learn more at wganefl.org.
“We put out a call for the community to join us in taking action to address the problem of violence, which affects our entire community, not just those who are survivors. It’s inspiring to see how donors stepped forward in a big way,” said Sabeen Perwaiz, WGA President. “On behalf of the Women’s Giving Alliance and the nonprofits we support, I want to thank all those who gave. Each and every contribution will make a difference through WGA’s strategic grantmaking and the power of collective giving.”
The campaign results were announced at WGA’s Annual Meeting and 25th anniversary celebration, which took place last night with nearly 200 attendees at the Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic. Mayor Donna Deegan, a longtime member of WGA, presented a proclamation recognizing WGA’s 25th anniversary. In addition, Perwaiz concluded her two-year term as WGA President by handing the gavel to Kirsten Martino, now WGA President.
The campaign was supported by 45 donors with gifts that ranged from $25 to $25,000. In addition, the campaign received an extraordinary gift of $500,000 from a founding member of WGA. Donors included both women and men, who were explicitly invited to participate as an opportunity to help address violence against women and girls.
For 25 years, WGA has supported nonprofits working to improve the lives of women and girls in Northeast Florida as an initiative of The Community Foundation. Since inception, it has awarded more than $10 million in grants to more than 80 nonprofit organizations. Its endowments, which are supported by more than 90 Legacy Members, now total more than $7 million.
“The mission of The Community Foundation is to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community, and WGA is a powerful example of the good we can do when we give together, right here in the community we call home,” said Isaiah M. Oliver, Foundation President. “On behalf of our board of trustees and staff, I’d like to congratulate WGA’s volunteer leaders and members on their success with this campaign. They made this milestone matter.”
About the Women’s Giving Alliance (WGA)
The Women’s Giving Alliance, a collective giving initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, is a dynamic group of diverse women who pool their philanthropic giving to make a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls in Northeast Florida. Since 2001, hundreds of women in Northeast Florida have become WGA members, making an annual contribution of $1,500 each. Through those contributions, WGA has awarded grants totaling more than $10 million to more than 80 nonprofit organizations. It also has built an endowment of more than $7 million to ensure the future of its philanthropic work. For more information: www.wganefl.org.
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 as of 12/31/2025 and has made more than $925 million in grants since inception. For more information: www.jaxcf.org.
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For more information, contact:
Media
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Stephanie Garry Garfunkel, VP, Strategic Communications, The Community Foundation
sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org | (904) 356-4483