Community Foundation for Mississippi
The Community Foundation for Mississippi is a public charity and community foundation established in 1994, originally founded as the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson. The organization rebranded in 2017 to reflect its expanded service area. Based in Jackson, Mississippi, it operates as a philanthropic hub connecting donors, communities, and nonprofit organizations to create meaningful and lasting change across Mississippi.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$90.3M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.2M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
104
-5.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
+7.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: "We connect donors, communities and nonprofit organizations to make meaningful and lasting change - for Mississippi, for good, forever."
The foundation supports a diverse range of focus areas including:
- Education
- Human Services
- Health
- Arts and Culture
- Religion
- Community Development
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The Community Foundation for Mississippi distributes $5-6 million annually in competitive grants and has awarded over $80 million in grants and scholarships since its inception.
Grant Range
$1,000-$15,000
Review Cycle
are August 5 and September 5.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves 22 counties in central and southwest Mississippi, with a national scope for certain grant distributions. The organization has expanded beyond its original Jackson-area focus to serve a broader Mississippi region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $90.3 million (as of 2025)
Annual Giving: $5-6 million annually
Total Revenues: $15.1 million (2025)
Total Expenses: $13.1 million (2025)
Annual Income: $31.9 million
Federal Awards: Received $136,925 in federal awards from the Delta Regional Authority in 2024
Staffing: 6-7 employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $90,343,422 | $89,151,374 | $79,928,621 |
| Revenue | $15,122,630 | $15,838,728 | $12,986,215 |
| Expenses | $13,146,999 | $15,782,051 | $12,388,679 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,766,107 | $3,567,580 | $2,055,136 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Community Foundation for Mississippi
Anthony “Tony” Gobar Juvenile Justice Scholarship Fund Grant
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI
Amount
Up to US $2,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund Grant
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI
Amount
US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Booker T. Jones Scholarship Fund
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jane C. Alexander - President and Chief Executive Officer
- Jackie P. Bailey - Chief Operating Officer
- Cynthia Buchanan - Vice President of Operations
- Melody Moody Thortis - Director of Strategic Impact and Programs
- Susan Frazier - Director of Donor Development and Grant Services
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEIDRA S BELL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| FELICIA D GAVIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MACY HART | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARCUS WARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARK FIELDS | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MARK HOSEMANN | CHAIR ELECT | 1 | — |
| RAY HARRIGILL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RAVI RAJU | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ROBBIE KEMP | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LURLENE IRVIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STEVE ORLANSKY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| WARWICK ALLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| WILL CROSSLEY | CHAIRMAN | 2 | — |
| JEFF GOOD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BILL REED | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ARNOLD TAYLOR JR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JODY VARNER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JUDY WIENER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JANE C ALEXANDER | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $130,812 |
| CYNTHIA BUCHANAN | VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIO | 40 | $110,037 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Community Foundation for Mississippi announced 2025 Community Impact Project Grants and 2024 Community Impact Grant Recipients. The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi, administered through the foundation, announced 2025-2026 grant recipients. The organization received reaccreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations in 2024.
Turning Local Ideas into Lasting Impact: CFM Announces 2025 ...Contact Information
Address: 119 South President Street, 1st Floor, Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-974-6044
Email: info@formississippi.org
Grant Inquiries: melody@formississippi.org
Website: formississippi.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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