Zeta National Education Foundation

In 1973, at the request of the Sorority's Executive Board, Soror Issie Shelton Jenkins, Esq. began woring on documents to establish the National Educational Foundation, with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority as its principal donor.
Under the direction of Soror Dr. Janice Kissner, Grand Basileus and Soror Ione Gibson, Chairman of the National Executive Board, the Trust Agreement was approved and executed by the Executive Board of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on August 23, 1975.

Accepting the Trust as the first Trustees (Board of Managers) were:

Dr. Deborah P. Wolfe

Soror Isabel Herson

Dr. Lullelia W. Harrison

Dr. Mildred Bradham

Soror Evelyn D. Brown

Soror Frances Hawthorne

Attorney Issie Shelton Jenkins

Dr. S. Evelyn Lewis

Soror Arthalia Lott

During the early 1980’s under Past Grand Basileus Dr. Edith V. Francis, financial support from Sorors and Chapters grew. In the late 1980’s Past Grand Basileus Dr. Eunice Thomas designated half of the proceeds from the national fundraising for the Foundation.

The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Educational Foundation was created and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The principle activities and purpose of the Trust are to award scholarship grants to worthy students for the pursuit of higher education; to conduct community education programs which will aid in the educational and vocational improvement of individual and community living standards; to engage in activities which aid in the educational development of all women; and to engage in activities that will aid in the educational development related to the purposes of the Foundation.

One of the Foundation’s primary objective is financial support to needy students for higher education through its scholarships. Scholarships are rewarded annually, for both undergraduate and graduate study, and are processed through the Foundation's Scholarship Committee.

In 1996, Soror Dorothy Perrault, and Omicron Nu Zeta Chapter initiated the Creation of a Perpetual Scholarship Endowment Fund for the Foundation in the amount of $57,000 exceeding the $50,000 goal. The interest for the fund supports scholarship operations of the Foundation and local scholarships awarded by Omicron Nu Zeta Chapter.

The creation of the Soror Mildred Spicer West memorial scholarship was established with provisions from Past Grand Basileus Dr. Barbara West Carpenter, her daughter, and grew to $12,500.

Deborah Wolfe

In 1976, Under the guidance of Dr. Deborah Partridge Wolfe, with the assistance of Issie L. Jenkins, Esq., and Lester K. Katz, Esq., the Foundation was granted 501© (3) status with the IRS.

In addition, The by-laws were established and the Foundation Policies and Procedures were adopted.

While Dr. Wolfe was Chairman, The Foundation Scholarship program was established, with criteria for each of the scholarship categories. Chairman Wolfe was also instrumental in the Foundation becoming an active participant in the Zora Neal Hurston Scholarship.

issiejenkins

Chairman Jenkins set a goal to build the Foundation Endowment Fund. She also wanted to make the Sorority membership aware of the Foundation's policies, procedures, funding needs, scholarships, and programs.

Chairman Jenkins also led the Foundation in improving the scholarship process and the number of awards; and developed proposals and projects for community education/ research programs and funding sources.