ZNEF 2025 ANNUAL REPORT

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

GREETINGSFROMTHE CHAIROFTHEBOARD

Greetings, Sorors, Amicae, Partners, sponsors and supporters!

As we reflect on 2025, we are reminded that even during challenging times, our commitment to education, service, and opportunity remains steadfast. This year brought significant hardships for many families, including the impact of a government shutdown and widespread federal layoffs that affected communities across the nation. Yet, through it all, ZNEF continued to uplift scholars and invest in futures.

In 2025, we proudly awarded more than $240,000 in scholarships to deserving students, including our first-ever $150,000 Chairman’s Scholarship! We also hosted our beautiful 50th Anniversary ZNEF Gala at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our supporters, sponsors, volunteers and members who believe deeply in the transformative power of education. As Chair, I remain inspired by what we can achieve together.

Thank you for standing with ZNEF as we continue building brighter futures for generations to come.

Valerie Hollingsworth Baker Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Educational Foundation Board Chairwoman

EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Valerie Hollingsworth Baker Chairman

Jonathan Mason Vice Chairman

Nichole Gladney Secretary

Stephanie May Financial Secretary

Dr. Keisha Whaley Treasurer

Diana Jordan-Baldwin Parliamentarian

Issie L. Jenkins, Esq. Founding Member Emerita

EX-OFFICIO ALTERIUS ORDINIS

Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. President & CEO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ron Carter Marketing/Public Relations Chair

Dr. Zakia Robbins-McNeal ZNEF 360 Chair

Deborah Harmon-Pugh Governance Committee Member

Pat Jones Logistics Chair

Dr. Rachel Thomas Internal Audit Committee Member

Tia Rideout ZNEF 360 Committee Member

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Dr. Lynntesha Roberts Henley Executive Director

Shantia Fitzgerald Chief of Staff

The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Educational Foundation, Inc, was created to operate exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The principle activities and purpose of the Trust were to award scholarship grants to worthy students for the pursuit of higher education; to conduct community education programs that aid in the educational and vocational improvement of individual and community living standards; to engage in activities that aid in the educational development of all women; and to engage in activities that aid in the educational development related to the purposes of the Foundation. Past programs include the Human Genome Project

One of the Foundation’s primary objectives is financial support to needy students for

1973, at the request of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Executive Board, Soror Issie Shelton Jenkins, Esq, developed documents to establish the National Educational Foundation as the scholarship arm for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, its principal donor Under the direction of Dr. Janice Kissner, International President, and Soror Ione Gibson, Chairman of the Zeta National Executive Board, the Trust Agreement was approved and executed by the Executive Board of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on August 23, 1975 In 1975, ZNEF became a Trust as a private charity under the 501©(3) Internal Revenue Code.

On October 19, 2006, the Foundation became incorporated and earned IRS 501©(3) tax-exempt status on April 23 2008 while at

The Zeta Phi Beta National Educational Foundation actively seeks funds from public and private foundations, companies/corporations, state and local government agencies and various 501C7 organizations for: