Who We Are

Established in 1973 at the behest of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's Executive Board, the National Educational Foundation (NEF) was created by Soror Issie Shelton Jenkins, Esq. to serve as the scholarship arm of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., its primary donor. Under the guidance of Dr. Janice Kissner, International President, and Soror Ione Gibson, Chairman of the Zeta National Executive Board, the NEF's Trust Agreement was approved and executed on August 23, 1975. Initially operating as a private charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the NEF transitioned to incorporation on October 19, 2006, and gained IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status on April 23, 2008, concurrently becoming a public charity. This evolution solidified its commitment to providing financial aid to needy students pursuing higher education.