Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
The Mississippi Humanities Council Inc is a public charity based in Jackson, Mississippi. It supports public humanities programs that help communities explore and share history and culture, and says its grant recipients should make programs accessible to as many Mississippians as possible.
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc at a glance
In short: Mississippi Humanities Council Inc gave $209K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Mississippi. 55% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $208,690
- +39.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +17.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,435
- +18.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $9,800
- Total assets
- $2,515,656
- -9.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (11 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
- How to Apply
-
Apply through the Council’s grant application portal. Contact the Council’s assistant director to discuss a project before submitting; follow the applicable program requirements for timing and UEI.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3825 Ridgewood Road 311, Jackson, MS 39211
Phone: (601) 432-6752
Website: https://mshumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
Minigrants
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Up to $2,500
Deadline
Rolling
Mississippi Humanities Minigrants Grant
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Up to US $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Mississippi Humanities Oral History Grants
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Mississippi Humanities Council Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center ($19K). Together the top 10 received $127K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Council says it strives to serve all regions of Mississippi. In 2024, 87% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Mississippi; the remaining reported shares went to Oregon (5%), Minnesota (4%), and California (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mississippi Humanities Council Inc open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 20 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $98K (2022) to $869K (2021). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $209K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center Jackson, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $18,641 |
| Friendly City Books Columbus, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $17,500 |
| Create Foundation Inc Tupelo, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $17,210 |
| Dr Jane Ellen McAllister House Foundation Vicksburg, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $12,000 |
| Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $11,935 |
| Hancock County Library System Bay St Louis, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $10,040 |
| Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $10,000 |
| Emmett Till Interpretive Center Tutwiler, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $10,000 |
| The Rosa Foundation McMinnville, OR | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $10,000 |
| The Walter Anderson Museum of Art Ocean Springs, MS | To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mississippi Humanities Council Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,515,656 | $1,347,926 | $1,621,501 | $208,690 | 20 | $53,376 |
| 2023 | $2,782,397 | $2,346,651 | $1,421,550 | $149,350 | 17 | $14,148 |
| 2022 | $1,961,520 | $1,028,502 | $1,101,930 | $97,528 | 13 | $308 |
| 2021 | $2,093,721 | $2,182,571 | $1,619,455 | $868,521 | 62 | $257 |
| 2020 | $1,394,528 | $1,457,990 | $1,262,050 | $488,615 | 40 | $1,510 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Council’s mission is to create opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the wider world, and to enrich communities through civil conversations about history and culture. Its stated values include serving people across Mississippi, promoting informed discussion, collaborating with partners, and treating the humanities as essential to addressing issues in the state.
The Council describes grant-supported activities as public humanities lectures and panel discussions, historical and photographic exhibits, oral histories, planning for larger projects, and original productions in film and online content. Eligible applicants include nonprofit-purpose entities such as nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, community and cultural organizations, museums, libraries, public agencies, and noncommercial radio and television stations. The Council says applicants need not be incorporated or tax-exempt, but must not be for-profit enterprises.
Among the 2024 grantees, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center describes its work as preserving and educating the public about civil rights history and its legacy; the Walter Anderson Museum of Art says it educates and exhibits the work of Walter I. Anderson and his family; and the Create Foundation describes itself as a community foundation supporting projects in education, health and human services, cultural enrichment, and leadership development. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not stated Council program areas.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Council reported 20 grants totaling $208,690. Grants ranged from $5,300 to $18,641, with a median grant of $9,800. The largest awards included $18,641 to the Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center, $17,500 to Friendly City Books, and $17,210 to Create Foundation. Other notable grants included $12,000 to the Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister House Foundation, $11,935 to Mississippi State University, and $10,000 each to Coahoma Community College, the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, and The Rosa Foundation.
The Council’s website currently lists Minigrants of up to $2,500 and state-funded Mississippi Stories Grants of up to $5,000. It says Regular Grants have been canceled because of reduced federal funding. Minigrants are accepted on a rolling basis, and applications must arrive at least four weeks before the project or grant period begins. The Council advises applicants to discuss a project with its assistant director before applying and says it can review drafts submitted at least a week before the deadline. Minigrant applicants need a Unique Entity ID but do not need to register for SAM; a UEI is not required for Mississippi Stories Grants. The website lists Mississippi Stories deadlines of January 15, May 1, and September 15; those 2026 dates have passed, and no later cycle is specified in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dr. Douglass Sullivan-Gonzalez as chair, Dr. Mary Graham as vice chair, and Dr. Ebony Lumumba as secretary. It also lists Amanda Clay Powers, Betty Lou Jones, Brian Perry, Carla Sorrells Wall, Dr. Deanne Stephens, Dr. Donald Shaffer, and Dr. Miranda Freeman as board members.
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc is led by Stuart Rockoff, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 25 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stuart Rockoff
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $120K (2024)
Douglass Sullivan-Gonzalez
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty Lou Jones
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla Sorrells Wall
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deanne Stephens
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Shaffer
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ebony Lumumba
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Deas
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Preselfannie McDaniels
Board Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronnie Nettles
Board Member
Secretary → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Warnock
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Temika Simmons
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Perry
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly Lange
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Graham
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Clay Powers
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judge Lakeysha Greer Isaac
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Henry
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Lampkin
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blake Thompson
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Bassi
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Wesley
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Fondren
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miranda Freeman
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nina Parikh
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Colonel Sheila Varnado (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: William Brother Rogers (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ivy Taylor (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Alisea McLeod (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Tullos (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Bill Luckett (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Brian Pugh (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: J. Brad Pigott (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Sharman Bridges Smith (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Wilma Mosley Clopton (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Amile Wilson (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kathryn Lewis (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Major General Erik Hearon (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $120K, to Dr Stuart Rockoff (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Mississippi Humanities Council Inc
How much does Mississippi Humanities Council Inc give each year?
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc gave $209K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $149K across 17 grants.
What is Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's typical grant size?
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's median grant in 2024 was $9,800, and its average grant was $10,435, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mississippi Humanities Council Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Mississippi Humanities Council Inc give grants?
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc gives mostly in Mississippi: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, MS (4 grants).
Does Mississippi Humanities Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Promote Humanities in Mississippi Public Life" (20 grants).
Who are Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's largest grantees?
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center ($18,641), Friendly City Books ($17,500) and Create Foundation Inc ($17,210), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mississippi Humanities Council Inc?
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What does Mississippi Humanities Council Inc fund?
The Council’s mission is to create opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the wider world, and to enrich communities through civil conversations about history and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mississippi Humanities Council Inc?
Apply through the Council’s grant application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's EIN?
Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0561264. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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 August 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mississippi Humanities Council Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mississippi-humanities-council-inc-morg_d68bdad06e3844e7b0aa2cd0b2c6df85
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_640561264_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mississippi Humanities Council Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mississippi-humanities-council-inc-morg_d68bdad06e3844e7b0aa2cd0b2c6df85},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Mississippi Humanities Council Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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