Third Ward Zen
Third Ward Zen is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Greenville, MS. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1K.
Third Ward Zen at a glance
In short: Third Ward Zen gave $1K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $312.5), mostly in Mississippi. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,250
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- Average grant
- $313
- Median grant
- $325
- Total assets
- $1,115
- -63.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Third Ward Zen funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sankofa Food Sovereignty Alliance ($500). Together the top 4 received $1K.
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $350 (2023) to $1K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $1K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sankofa Food Sovereignty Alliance Greenville, MS | To support their Union Street Community Garden summer youth project. Funds were used to assist in providing small stipends for participating youth. | $500 |
| Support Sports in Sierra Leone Inc Atlanta, GA | To support Hill Station Clean Cooking Project to fund two short videos and general operations. Project is part of Sports in Sierra Leone Inc. which works with youth to promote playing tennis. Through their work theyve discovered food security and environmental health are major issues. The goal of the project is to upgrade the stoves that mothers of the children in the low-income Hill Station neighborhood of Freetown Sierra Leone use to cook their meals. The expected outcomes from providing upgraded cookstoves to cook with are a reduction in the consumption of charcoal a reduction in the amount of money spent on charcoal as fuel to cook food and a reduction in breathing problems caused by cooking with traditional cookstoves; thus helping to improve food security and environmental health. | $500 |
| Greenville Arts Council for Step Afrika Greenville, MS | To support general fund for the Step Afrika! Presents The Evolution Tour; performance by dance group that promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people focusing on teamwork academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. | $150 |
| MS Food Network Jackson, MS | To support their mission to distribute food and feed vulnerable people in MS. Donations are used to distribute food and goods through 430 member agencies; who in turn distribute to recipients in their respective communities. | $100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,115 | $8,940 | $11,090 | $1,250 | 4 | — |
| 2024 | $3,064 | $163 | $2,706 | — | — | — |
| 2023 | $5,017 | $8,698 | $5,336 | $350 | 1 | $350 |
| 2022 | $5,075 | $5,433 | $7,598 | — | — | — |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Third Ward Zen is led by Ellen Harris, Chair Secretary since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen Harris
Chair Secretary
Chair → Chair Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cassandra Atley
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deirdra Chester
Member
Secretarresigned * 2022y → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Voss
Member
Board Member → Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Phelps Steele
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dominique Joseph MD
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Third Ward Zen
How much does Third Ward Zen give each year?
Third Ward Zen gave $1K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Third Ward Zen's typical grant size?
Third Ward Zen's median grant in 2025 was $325, and its average grant was $313, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Third Ward Zen give grants?
Third Ward Zen gives mostly in Mississippi: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (40%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, MS (2 grants).
Does Third Ward Zen give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Third Ward Zen's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Third Ward Zen?
Third Ward Zen reported $1K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $9K.
What is Third Ward Zen?
Third Ward Zen is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Greenville, MS. It holds $1K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Third Ward Zen's EIN?
Third Ward Zen's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1287109. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work Third Ward Zen funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Third Ward Zen's focus areas in our free grants database
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