Approaching Giving with Purpose: Jessica and Sandy Webb benefit from philanthropic partnership

Jessica and Rev. Sandy Webb show how community-rooted philanthropy can be personal and powerful, deepening impact through intentional giving.

Donor Profile

Published: October 1, 2025

Jessica Webb and her husband, the Rev. Sandy Webb, exemplify what’s possible when donors take full advantage of the Community Foundation’s suite of philanthropic tools and opportunities. The couple has grown a personal and purposeful approach to giving—rooted in community, aligned with values, and amplified by the Foundation’s support.

Their journey with the Foundation began more than a decade ago when Jessica joined GiVE 365 in 2012. Having recently returned to Memphis after years working in education in the Northeast, she was seeking connection and a meaningful way to engage with her hometown. GiVE 365, the dollar-a-day giving circle, offered both a welcoming group of civically engaged peers and an introduction to the local nonprofit landscape. Since then, Jessica’s and Sandy’s relationship with the Community Foundation has deepened and evolved.

A man in a blue suit and glasses stands next to a woman with blonde hair in a patterned dress. Smiling and posing indoors by large windows, they embody giving with purpose through their philanthropic partnership.

The organizations we support the most are places where we came of age and places that were and continue to be important in our intellectual, civic, or spiritual formation.

United by a commitment to intentional, values-driven philanthropy, they’ve woven giving into the fabric of their lives. “The organizations we support the most are places where we came of age and places that were and continue to be important in our intellectual, civic, or spiritual formation,” Jessica shared. Sandy added, “We’re also committed to matching time and money,” underscoring the couple’s shared dedication to both volunteering and financial support.

Their hands-on approach is evident across many facets of their community involvement.

Jessica serves on the board of Ballet Memphis, and Sandy chairs the advisory board for the Salvation Army of Memphis and the Mid-South. Jessica is also a member of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, where she brings her background as a high school teacher to the work of selecting and supporting future college students. “I love hearing how students find a sense of purpose and plan to use college as a vehicle for pursuing that purpose,” she said.

As the couple became more intentional about their giving, they turned to the Community Foundation for help in structuring their giving.

With the Foundation’s guidance, they established two charitable funds, one for their current giving and one as part of their estate planning. “We could have used Schwab or Fidelity donor-advised funds for both purposes, but we are rooted here and appreciate the fact that the Community Foundation is, too, and has local knowledge and expertise,” Jessica explained. The flexibility, convenience, and tax efficiency of the foundation’s funds made it an easy choice.

For Jessica, the opportunity to join the 2024-25 Next Gen Philanthropic Initiative was a natural next step. Encouraged by both a financial advisor and a past Next Gen participant, she enrolled in the foundation’s flagship philanthropic education program with enthusiasm. The experience proved to be both enlightening and empowering.

Four people, including Jessica and Sandy Webb, sit around a table covered with various photographs, smiling and discussing the images in a brightly lit office—a warm moment of giving with purpose.

Two Next Gen activities in particular stood out. The Motivational Values™ exercise helped Jessica identify what drives her across giving, work, and life. Another session introduced the Four T’s of time, talent, treasure, and ties— sparking reflection about how she contributes and where she is most impactful. “I realized I love active committees and hands-on projects— contexts for offering thought partnership or getting specific tasks done. It’s made me more thoughtful about organizational cultures where I could be most valuable.”

The program also rekindled the sense of belonging and shared purpose Jessica first found in GiVE 365. “Community foundations have so many authentic stakeholder groups— nonprofits, donors, other civically engaged people. I think that’s powerful for creating authentic, collaborative interchange among people who really care about the city,” she said.

At every stage of their philanthropic evolution, the Community Foundation has served as both guide and partner—offering tools, education, and a local network to deepen their impact.

For those just beginning their journey, the Webbs’ story is a reminder: meaningful giving isn’t something you have to figure out alone. With the right support, it can be purposeful, powerful, and rooted in community.