Executive Director's Column: Boundless Gratitude and Opportunity

This time of year for LISC Jacksonville is particularly important. Important in the sense that we are easing into the end of our fiscal year, and we are particularly reflective of the work we have done this current year and optimistic around the work we plan to do the next year. While we look ahead in our planning, we are both reflective and thankful for everyone and the agencies that have partnered with us this year. Institutional partners like the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and the United Way of Northeast Florida have leaned-in to help us co-create opportunities that make the communities in which LISC Jacksonville does its work destinations where people want to live. Just as important to our collective work are the residents that invite us to be part of their communal solutions.

To that end, with November being the month of gratitude and giving, we are inviting members of the community to join us alongside the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to once again help us advance the cause of “community forward.” Through your support, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund will match all donations 1:1 to LISC Jacksonville during the month of November with a 2:1 match on Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29th). 

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund has been a supporter of LISC Jacksonville ever since our founding 22 years ago, providing essential operational funds to keep our mission and work going. It has also been essential in allowing us to pivot to reflect the needs of the moment of our larger community in such areas as resiliency. Because of this support and the support of others, LISC Jacksonville made a commitment at the beginning of the year to have a fiscal impact of $20 million in the communities we serve. Year-to-date, we are proud to say we are at $24 million.

With this matching opportunity from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, we are on track to have even greater impact within our most challenged communities next year. Your support will allow us to directly impact issues relative to heirs’ property, home repair, down payment assistance on homes and address the issue of appraisal biasness.

Please consider donating to LISC Jacksonville in November to double or even triple your impact because none of our work happens in a vacuum – it happens only when concerned people are intentional about their involvement.

Thank you for your support of LISC Jacksonville!