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
**
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation for Mississippi?
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
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Mississippi Symphony Orchestra ($551,573), University Press of Mississippi ($448,785), Program Believe ($323,750).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND INC SAN RAFAEL, CA | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $17,000 |
| SOARING SOCIETY OF AMERICA INC HOBBS, NM | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| LENA FOUNDATION LOUISVILLE, CO | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $136,000 |
| FAMILY LEGACY MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL DALLAS, TX | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| EXPLORE MINISTRIES LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS FOUNDATION LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| MUSEUM OF THE SOUTHERN JEWISH EXPERIENCE NEW ORLEANS, LA | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $6,100 |
| KANSAS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION LAWRENCE, KS | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| MARION MEDICAL MISSION MARION, IL | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| MISSISSIPPI GLOBAL ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPER SUPPORT | $75,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Community Foundation for Mississippi fund?
**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
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation for Mississippi?
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 Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000-$15,000 • Community Impact Grants: up to $5,000 • Largest recent grants: up to $800,000 • Decision timeline: 6-8 weeks for Community Impact Grants **Active Grant Programs:** • Woodward Hines Education Foundation Calling Panther Award • The Blake Coghlan Memorial A…
Where does Community Foundation for Mississippi make 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.
What size grants does Community Foundation for Mississippi award?
In 2025, Community Foundation for Mississippi awarded 104 grants totaling $6.2M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Community Foundation for Mississippi's EIN?
Community Foundation for Mississippi's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0845750. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation for Mississippi's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc
ALPHARETTA, GA
Assets
$6.1B
Grants
16,327
Total Given
$2.6B
Ergon Foundation Inc
JACKSON, MS
Assets
$210.7M
Grants
158
Total Given
$10.8M
Van Devender Family Foundation
JACKSON, MS
Assets
$137K
Grants
47
Total Given
$760K
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund
ST PETERSBURG, FL
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
6,906
Total Given
$288.7M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
WK Kellogg Foundation
BATTLE CREEK, MI
Assets
$454.4M
Grants
1,778
Total Given
$286.5M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Community Foundation for Mississippi on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities