The United Way of Southeast MS Inc
The United Way of Southeast Mississippi is a public charity based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It supports community programs and local nonprofit organizations serving Forrest, Lamar, Marion, and Perry counties, with work focused on youth opportunity, healthy communities, financial security, and community resiliency.
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc at a glance
In short: The United Way of Southeast MS Inc gave $371K across 11 grants in 2026 (avg $34K), mostly in Mississippi. 0% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $371,300
- -24.7% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $33,755
- -24.7% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $27,583
- Total assets
- $2,624,296
- +6.8% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The United Way of Southeast MS Inc
- Review Cycle
- The Partner Agency application period for April 2025–March 2027 has closed. The next cycle is scheduled to open in Fall 2026; no specific deadline is stated. Community Development Grant applications are reviewed quarterly, with no specific submission deadline stated.
- Deadline
- The Partner Agency application period for April 2025–March 2027 has closed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 16 Office Park Drive Ste 6, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Phone: (601) 545-7141
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The United Way of Southeast MS Inc
Who The United Way of Southeast MS Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Edwards Street Fellowship Center ($72K). Together the top 10 received $361K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 64 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated service and grantmaking area is Forrest, Lamar, Marion, and Perry counties in Mississippi. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2026 went to recipients in Mississippi.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The United Way of Southeast MS Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $371K (2026) to $543K (2023). In 2026 it made 11 grants totaling $371K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Edwards Street Fellowship Center Hattiesburg, MS | — | $71,565 |
| Hope Community Collective Columbia, MS | — | $65,741 |
| Shafer Center for Crisis Interventi Hattiesburg, MS | — | $41,013 |
| Kids Hub Advocacy Center Hattiesburg, MS | — | $38,815 |
| Children's Center for Communication Hattiesburg, MS | — | $32,831 |
| Dubard School for Children with Lan Hattiesburg, MS | — | $27,583 |
| Domestic Abuse Family Shelter Laurel, MS | — | $25,979 |
| Assoc for the Rights of Citizens Hattiesburg, MS | — | $24,978 |
| Pine Belt Foundation Hattiesburg, MS | — | $19,899 |
| Christian Services Inc Hattiesburg, MS | — | $12,896 |
Ready to take the next step with The United Way of Southeast MS Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $2,624,296 | $1,132,358 | $1,075,309 | $371,300 | 11 | $55,043 |
| 2025 | $2,456,358 | $1,397,741 | $1,178,398 | $493,190 | 11 | $236,376 |
| 2024 | $2,365,777 | $1,356,315 | $1,037,095 | $431,935 | 13 | $62,669 |
| 2023 | $1,992,621 | $977,616 | $1,188,399 | $542,748 | 14 | $-40,878 |
| 2022 | $2,197,084 | $1,319,222 | $1,070,519 | $524,390 | 15 | $8,598 |
| 2021 | $2,034,599 | $1,390,067 | $1,139,350 | $531,834 | 17 | $217,651 |
| 2020 | $1,812,359 | $1,077,196 | $1,058,339 | $482,200 | 16 | $-38,764 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to improve lives by cultivating partnerships that advance youth opportunity, healthy community, financial security, and community resiliency. Its stated focus also includes improving health, expanding education, growing livelihoods, and addressing essential needs for individuals and families in its four-county service area.
Its website says it funds nonprofit programs aligned with those areas and offers small development grants for qualifying projects. Among its 2026 grantees, Edwards Street Fellowship Center describes its mission as helping poor, underserved, and suffering people in the greater Hattiesburg area. Hope Community Collective describes work in life-skills and educational classes, mental health and wellness, anger management, drug recovery, and services for underserved children. Domestic Abuse Family Shelter says it works to break the cycle of abuse and support victims of domestic violence.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the organization reported 11 grants totaling $371,300. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $71,565, with a median of $27,583. Its largest reported awards included:
The organization describes two grant opportunities. Partner Agency Grants support nonprofit programs aligned with its focus areas. The application period for April 2025–March 2027 has closed; the next cycle, for April 2027–March 2029, is scheduled to open in Fall 2026 and may be limited to current Partner Agencies. Applicants must have operated for at least one year, have a volunteer board or advisory council that meets at least quarterly, be incorporated and registered as a charity with the Mississippi Secretary of State, and provide services in one or more of the four counties.
Community Development Grants of up to $5,000 support one-time expenses or short-term projects benefiting a nonprofit organization. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations or community groups conducting a project that benefits a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered as a charity with the Mississippi Secretary of State. Projects must serve people in the four-county area and address youth opportunity, healthy community, or financial security. Funds must be used within 12 months. They are not for ongoing program expenses, event sponsorships, or capital campaigns. Recipients must submit a status report within six months and a final impact report at the end of the 12-month grant period. The organization says these applications are reviewed at the beginning of each quarter: July, October, January, and April. A nonprofit may receive only one approved grant per fiscal year, which runs April–March.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2026 filing include Jerry DeFatta, Board Chair; Katie Anthony and Celeste Brown, Vice-Resourc.; Jaclyn Baylis, Past Board C; and members Chase Barnes, Jana Causey, Phyllis Chambers-Berry, Shameika Donaldson, Tori Geiger, and Jeffrey George.
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc is led by Jerry Defatta, Board Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 26 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Jerry Defatta
Board Chair
Vice Chair R → Resource Development, 2024
Resource Development → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Celeste Brown
Vice Resourc
Member → Community Im, 2023
Community Im → Vice Resourc, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Karen Griffis
Secretary & T
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alexis Rutland
Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Annie Jackson
Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jeffrey George
Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Katie Anthony
Vice Resourc
Communications → Community Im, 2024
Community Im → Vice Resourc, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Adam Schraeder
Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Phyllis Chambers-Berry
Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Shameika Donaldson
Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Teresa Poole
Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Chris Miles
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Frank James
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jaclyn Baylis
Past Board C
Resource Development → Chair, 2024
Chair → Past Board C, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jana Causey
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Ryan Hinton
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Cher Harvey
Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Kevin Morris
Audit Committee
Member → Audit Committee, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Tyler Lofton
Community Im
Member → Community Im, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Ann Claire Kelly
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Chase Barnes
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Kyle Napier
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Ned Nelson
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Tori Geiger
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Tristian Washington
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Zach Howell
Member
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Allen Anderson (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Chase Blankenship (2020–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Ken Crumpton (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Shane Germany (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Tawnya Holliman (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Bill Dyer (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Corey Proctor (2023–2024) — Member
- Former: Todd Jackson (2020–2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Allen Bonner (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Rebecca Geiger (2021–2023) — Audit
- Former: Jaclyn Adams (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Janet Mitchell (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Jermaine Brown (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Rebecca Brown (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Ryan Kelly (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Traci Rouse (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Alejandro Barquero (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Bo Pennebaker (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Tony Reimonenq (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Julie Russum (2021) — Member
- Former: Benny Waddle (2020) — Director
- Former: Brad Wood (2020) — Director
- Former: Greg Hodges (2020) — Board Chair
- Former: Julie Breazele (2020) — Director
- Former: Kristy Gould (2020) — Director
- Former: Marcia Line (2020) — Director
- Former: Rick Wilemon (2020) — Director
- Former: Shawn Harris (2020) — Director
- Former: Terrell Grindle (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The United Way of Southeast MS Inc
How much does The United Way of Southeast MS Inc give each year?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc gave $371K across 11 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $493K across 11 grants.
What is The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's typical grant size?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's median grant in 2026 was $27,583, and its average grant was $33,755, across 11 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Where does The United Way of Southeast MS Inc give grants?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc gives mostly in Mississippi: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hattiesburg, MS (9 grants).
Who are The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's largest grantees?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Edwards Street Fellowship Center ($71,565), Hope Community Collective ($65,741) and Shafer Center for Crisis Interventi ($41,013), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The United Way of Southeast MS Inc?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does The United Way of Southeast MS Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to improve lives by cultivating partnerships that advance youth opportunity, healthy community, financial security, and community resiliency. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The United Way of Southeast MS Inc?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's EIN?
The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0410475. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 3, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The United Way of Southeast MS Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The United Way of Southeast MS Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-united-way-of-southeast-ms-inc-morg_bc464d00c9db449c85ac9e63c37bcc5f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_640410475_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The United Way of Southeast MS Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-united-way-of-southeast-ms-inc-morg_bc464d00c9db449c85ac9e63c37bcc5f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 The United Way of Southeast MS 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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