Innovate Mississippi
The mission of Innovate Mississippi, formerly known as Mississippi technology alliance, is to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the state of Mississippi.
Innovate Mississippi at a glance
In short: Innovate Mississippi gave $164K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Mississippi. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $163,500
- +9.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,875
- +118.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $18,750
- Total assets
- $6,595,770
- -2.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Innovate Mississippi funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cobuilders Fund LLC ($120K). Together the top 4 received $164K.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 61 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Innovate Mississippi gives
- Giving fell 76% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2024) to $686K (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $164K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cobuilders Fund LLC Jackson, MS | See Part IV | $120,000 |
| Rebornc LLC Hattiesburg, MS | See Part IV | $27,500 |
| Garner Holdings Madison, MS | See Part IV | $10,000 |
| Blueiq Harvard, MA | See Part IV | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,595,770 | $4,641,378 | $4,535,357 | $163,500 | 4 | — |
| 2024 | $6,776,335 | $4,612,877 | $1,984,973 | $150,000 | 8 | $136,917 |
| 2023 | $1,521,742 | $1,998,207 | $1,683,360 | $519,500 | 15 | — |
| 2022 | $972,487 | $1,747,154 | $1,837,164 | $685,614 | 24 | — |
| 2021 | $937,142 | $1,482,573 | $1,742,792 | $549,000 | 10 | — |
| 2020 | $997,815 | $1,855,161 | $1,922,009 | $420,000 | 6 | — |
About Innovate Mississippi
Based on IRS filings
Innovate Mississippi is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Jackson, MS. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $164K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Innovate Mississippi is led by James Anthony Jeff Jr., President on every filing since 2020; 5 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Anthony Jeff Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$138K (2020) → $152K (2025)
Robert H Buseck
Ms Coding Academies Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$116K (2024) → $122K (2025)
Lindsey W. Benefield
Investment Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $114K (2025)
Ashby Foote
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad McMullan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerard Gibert
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Henderson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nashlie Sephus
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R. Mayo Flint III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Walters
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Hipp Mayer
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel M. Devaughan-Patrick
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Miller
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Donovan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebekah Staples
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Parker
Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $65K (2025)
Victor Robinson
Investment Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$110K (2025)
Former officers (14)
- Former: Allyson M Best (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Almesha L Campbell (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Rayburn (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Brian Cuevas (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Colby Lane (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Dave Dennis (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg Cronin (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jan Farrington (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeremy Clay (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kim Gallaspy (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mike Forster (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: R Barry Cannada (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rachel M DeVaughan (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard Sun (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $152K, to James Anthony Jeff Jr (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Innovate Mississippi
How much does Innovate Mississippi give each year?
Innovate Mississippi gave $164K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $150K across 8 grants.
What is Innovate Mississippi's typical grant size?
Innovate Mississippi's median grant in 2025 was $18,750, and its average grant was $40,875, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Innovate Mississippi give grants?
Innovate Mississippi gives mostly in Mississippi: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Innovate Mississippi give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Innovate Mississippi's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part IV" (4 grants).
How large is Innovate Mississippi?
Innovate Mississippi reported $6.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What is Innovate Mississippi?
Innovate Mississippi is a public charity focused on Science & Technology, based in Jackson, MS. It holds $6.6M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Innovate Mississippi's EIN?
Innovate Mississippi's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0901569. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 21, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
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