Grants for Mississippi nonprofits address a wide range of focus areas, from education grants to human services. Learn more about grants for Mississippi with our search tool available on Grant Finder. Become a member.
Giving Trends in Mississippi
While the grantmaking landscape in Mississippi is among the smallest in the Southeast, its grantmakers are productive. In 2018, foundations made $103 million in grants as grantmaking appears to be decreasing in Mississippi. It remains to be seen if grantmaking in Mississippi will increase in a state that continuously ranks in the bottom for education, child welfare, health and economic outcomes. However, the giving that does occur in Mississippi remains fundamental
Knowledge about grantmaking in Mississippi filters through Philanthropy Southeast and Mississippi Alliance for Nonprofits and Philanthropy. Area of grantmaking interest overlap with that of other Southeastern states that are similar in giving profile. Education, nonprofit management, health and religion attract the most funding in the state.
Mississippi’s top funders include a mix of private, public and community foundations, which maintain it’s grantmaking profile. Major funders in Mississippi remain regional, rather than national in scope, and include the Mississippi Common Fund Trust, Oakwood Foundation Charitable Trust, The Bower Foundation, Inc., Community Foundation for Mississippi, The Luckyday Foundation, The Riley Foundation, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, and The Chisholm Foundation, among others.
Foundations in Mississippi
ASBURY FOUNDATION OF HATTIESBURG
The Asbury Foundation of Hattiesburg supports education, health and quality of life in Mississippi.
MARY REYNOLDS BABCOCK FOUNDATION
The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation supports democracy and civic engagement initiatives, such as community organizing, voter education, and voter registration, in eleven southeastern states.
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MISSISSIPPI FOUNDATION
This funder supports exercise and healthy eating programs throughout Mississippi. Letters of inquiries are accepted from local groups all year.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF EAST MISSISSIPPI
The Community Foundation of East Mississippi supports community and economic development, education, children and youth, the arts, animals, health, social services, and historic preservation in five Eastern Mississippi counties.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER MEMPHIS
This is the largest funder in the region, awarding grants in western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi. Top areas of interest are education, human services, and nonprofit capacity building.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI
The Community Foundation for Mississippi supports human services, education, religion, health, and arts and culture in 22 counties in Mississippi.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI
The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi supports education, health, and children in 11 counties of Mississippi.
CREATE: NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI'S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This funder serves 17 counties in Northeast Mississippi and is the oldest community foundation in Mississippi. It supports education, community development, and children and families.
GERTRUDE C. FORD FOUNDATION
The Gertrude C. Ford Foundation supports education, children and youth, human services, health, religion and animals in Mississippi.
PHIL HARDIN FOUNDATION
This funder supports education in Mississippi, especially related to literacy and early childhood education. Grant applications are reviewed every month or two.
LUCKYDAY FOUNDATION
The Luckyday Foundation supports education, human services and religion in Mississippi.
MISSISSIPPI COMMON TRUST FUND
The Mississippi Common Trust Fund invests in education and human services at the local level.
OLD LADIES HOME ASSOCIATION
The Old Ladies Home Association supports health, medical care, hospice, nursing homes and elder care in Mississippi.
PINEBELT FOUNDATION
The Pinebelt Foundation supports education, human services arts and culture, religion, animals, and disaster relief in the pine belt region of Mississippi.
RILEY FOUNDATION
This funder supports education, healthcare, culture, environment, and economic betterment causes in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, with a special emphasis on the city of Meridian.
WEST POINT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The West Point Community Foundation supports arts and culture, historic preservation, economic development, and recreation projects in West Port, Mississippi.
WOODWARD HINES EDUCATION FOUNDATION
This funder supports college access, college completion, and community colleges in the state of Mississippi. WHEF is open to receiving information about your work related to two-year, four-year, apprenticeship, and certification programs.
