The Riley Foundation
The Riley Foundation is a private foundation based in Meridian, Mississippi, established in 1998. It emerged from the sale of Riley Memorial Hospital to Health Management Associates and represents the modern evolution of a vision of service that began in 1930 when Dr. Franklin Gail Riley established Mississippi's first pediatric and maternity hospital. The foundation is one of the largest foundations in Mississippi and has been described as an "ultraphilanthropic" organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$93.4M
Annual Giving
$4.9M
Grant Count
23
Avg Grant Size
$212K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Riley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Riley Foundation focuses exclusively on improving healthcare, education, and cultural, environmental, and economic conditions for the people of Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The foundation emphasizes transformational projects that create lasting community impact.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health
- Community and economic development
- Sustainable development
- Human services
- Performing arts
- Scholarships
Grantmaking
The Riley Foundation Summer Intern Program, established in 2004, provides resources to assist local nonprofit organizations in hiring college students to accomplish special projects. The program has granted over $1.3 million and paired more than 325 college students with various local nonprofit organizations.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$560
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds exclusively in Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi, with some projects extending to nearby areas including Mississippi State and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $93.4–$106+ million (figures vary by reporting year)
Annual Activity:
- Total revenues: $2,073,903 (2024)
- Total expenses: $2,252,763 (2024)
- Annual giving: $2,962,863–$3.0 million
- Annual revenue: $16.8–$17.3 million
Staffing:
- 5–8 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $93,438,730 | $77,877,509 | $106,706,164 |
| Revenue | $2,073,903 | $6,202,403 | $2,375,468 |
| Expenses | $2,252,763 | $5,231,158 | $4,859,923 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,544,990 | $4,597,137 | $4,022,112 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,232,798 | $13,207,032 | $9,414,242 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,265,235 | $3,862,139 | $4,531,508 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ms State University Foundation ($3,756,397), Ms Arts Entertainment ($504,000), Mississippi Childrens Museum ($404,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| YOUTH EXCITEMENT TEAM INC Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERNPROGRAM | $4,000 |
| FREE CLINIC OF MERIDIAN Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAMOPERATING | $9,000 |
| LOVE INC Meridian, MS | OPERATING EXPENSES | $5,000 |
| MERIDIAN ART ASSOCIATION Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAMOPERATING | $39,000 |
| MS METHODIST SENIOR SERVICES Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF EAST MS Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| MCC FOUNDATION Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| MERIDIAN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION Meridian, MS | SUMMER INTERN PROGRAMCONCERT SERIES | $41,500 |
| MS STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Mississippi State, MS | PROGRAMSSUMMER INTERNSCHOLARSHIPPERFORMING ARTS | $3,756,397 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Marty Davidson – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
- Becky G. Farley – Executive Director
- Christy S. Buckalew – Controller
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDY R DEEN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $22,000 |
| MARTY DAVIDSON | CHAIRMAN CEO | 20 | $196,641 |
| MALCOLM PORTERA | VPSECRETARY | 10 | $95,663 |
| BECKY G FARLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $144,558 |
| EDWIN DOWNER | DIRECTOR | 5 | $20,000 |
| TOMMY DULANEY | TREASURER | 10 | $74,405 |
| MANNY MITCHELL | DIRECTOR | 5 | $22,250 |
| CHRISTINE RILEY | DIRECTOR | 5 | $22,000 |
| GAIL W RILEY | DIRECTOR | 5 | $21,500 |
| RICHARD F RILEY Jr | DIRECTOR | 5 | $22,000 |
| WAYNE HENSON | DIRECTOR | 5 | $22,250 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Summer Intern Program:** The foundation announced participants in the 2025 Riley Foundation Summer Intern Program, continuing its commitment to pairing college students with local nonprofit organizations.
Riley Children's Foundation unveils $300M fundraising ...**$6 Million Nursing Program Grant:** The Riley Foundation contributed over $6 million to Mississippi State University–Meridian's Riley Campus for the Accelerated Master's Graduate Entry Nursing Program, demonstrating commitment to addressing educational and healthcare needs in the region.
Riley Children's Foundation unveils $300M fundraising ...**25-Year Milestone:** On January 20, The Riley Foundation celebrated 25 years of making significant investments in the community that have stimulated a renaissance of activity and energy.
Riley Children's Foundation unveils $300M fundraising ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Riley Foundation fund?
The Riley Foundation focuses exclusively on improving healthcare, education, and cultural, environmental, and economic conditions for the people of Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The foundation emphasizes transformational projects that create lasting community impact. Primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Education • Health • Community and economic development • Sustainable development • Human services • Performing arts • Scholarships
How do I apply for a grant from The Riley Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 20 grants in 2024 • Made 23 grants in 2023 • Over 25 years, the foundation has awarded more than $76 million in grants **Grant Sizes:** • Typical range: $10,000–$100,000 • Grant range: $10,000–$6,000,000+ • Average grant size: $560 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Mississippi Children's Museum (MCM): $404,000 for construction, exhibits, and summer intern program • Multi-County Community Service Agency: $50,000 for homeless outreach • Meridian Symphony Association: $41,500 …
Where does The Riley Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds exclusively in Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi, with some projects extending to nearby areas including Mississippi State and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Riley Foundation award?
In 2024, The Riley Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $4.9M — an average of about $212K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Riley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Riley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Riley Foundation's EIN?
The Riley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0707746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Riley Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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