Ware Foundation Inc
Ware Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Madison, Mississippi. In 2024, it made 32 grants totaling $698,974 to charitable organizations, including recipients in Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, and other states.
Ware Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Ware Foundation Inc gave $699K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), top state Mississippi. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $698,974
- -1.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,843
- -13.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $18,290,066
- +4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (18 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ware Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Applications must be in writing; the filing says the application process and portal access are outlined on the foundation’s website. Telephone inquiries are not accepted. The foundation states that there are no restrictions or limitations on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation states that there are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- The foundation states that there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: The Ware Foundation
Mailing address: 1888 Main Street, Ste C 439, Madison, MS 39110
Phone: (601) 898-4321
Website: https://www.warefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ware Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Madison Ridgeland Academy ($50K). Together the top 10 received $413K.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 103 grants of 136 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Of 2024 grant dollars, 34% went to recipients in Mississippi, 30% to Georgia, 17% to North Carolina, 7% to Florida, and 7% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ware Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 32 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $699K (2024) to $867K (2021). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $699K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Ridgeland Academy Madison, MS | 2024 Donation | $50,000 |
| One Hope Refuge Wake Forest, NC | 2024 Donation | $50,000 |
| Sisu Integrated Learning Gainesville, GA | 2024 Donation | $50,000 |
| St Dominic Hospital Jackson, MS | 2024 Donation | $50,000 |
| Womens Source Gainesville, GA | 2024 Donation | $50,000 |
| YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Black Mountain, NC | 2024 Donation | $50,000 |
| Soldier Fund Madison, MS | 2024 Donation | $37,615 |
| Childline Atlanta, GA | 2024 Donation | $25,000 |
| Mississippt Basketball Madison, MS | 2024 Donation | $25,000 |
| Real Christian Foundation Richland, MS | 2024 Donation | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ware Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,290,066 | $708,710 | $1,403,790 | $698,974 | 32 | $963,378 | $268,298 | $890,467 |
| 2023 | $17,552,370 | $477,780 | $1,415,977 | $710,409 | 28 | $896,241 | $78,889 | $821,987 |
| 2022 | $16,716,675 | $551,604 | $1,326,756 | $719,709 | 30 | $774,301 | $243,578 | $858,012 |
| 2021 | $19,998,403 | $1,419,723 | $1,533,984 | $866,850 | 24 | $933,485 | $1,095,087 | $915,710 |
| 2020 | $17,916,959 | $446,262 | $1,381,359 | $811,750 | 22 | — | $110,034 | $802,554 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ware Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $890K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including education, health, community development, and services for children and families. For example, the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly describes its mission as helping staff and guests—especially young people—develop their potential in spirit, mind, and body. Real Christian Foundation says it ministers to and assists the rural poor through community redevelopment. SISU of Georgia describes providing educational, therapeutic, nursing, and family support services for children with disabilities and their typical peers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $698,974. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest grants included $50,000 each to Madison Ridgeland Academy, One Hope Refuge, SISU Integrated Learning, St. Dominic Hospital, Women’s Source, and YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Other recipients included Soldier Fund ($37,615), ChildLine ($25,000), and Real Christian Foundation ($25,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Eason as president, Morgan Ware Soumah as vice president, John Edwards as secretary/treasurer, and James Odom as trustee.
Ware Foundation Inc is led by Elizabeth Eason, President on every filing since 2020; all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Eason
President
On filings since 2020
$89K (2020) → $100K (2024)
James Odom
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$40K (2020) → $37K (2024)
John Edwards
Secretary
On filings since 2020
$106K (2020) → $100K (2024)
Morgan Ware Soumah
Vice President
On filings since 2020
$70K (2020) → $100K (2024)
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 $100K, to Elizabeth Eason (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ware Foundation Inc
How much does Ware Foundation Inc give each year?
Ware Foundation Inc gave $699K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $710K across 28 grants.
What is Ware Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Ware Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $21,843, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ware Foundation Inc that year got $19K on average.
Where does Ware Foundation Inc give grants?
Ware Foundation Inc's top state is Mississippi, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (30%) and North Carolina (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Gainesville, GA (8 grants), Madison, MS (5 grants), Jackson, MS (3 grants) and Atlanta, GA (3 grants).
Does Ware Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on Ware Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2024 Donation" (32 grants).
Who are Ware Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Ware Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Madison Ridgeland Academy ($50,000), One Hope Refuge ($50,000) and Sisu Integrated Learning ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ware Foundation Inc?
Ware Foundation Inc reported $18.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $963K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $890K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ware Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including education, health, community development, and services for children and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ware Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ware Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ware Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7286585. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ware Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ware Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ware-foundation-inc-morg_3fd8a97d31794796b56dab5a5cf53705
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237286585_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ware Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ware-foundation-inc-morg_3fd8a97d31794796b56dab5a5cf53705},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Ware Foundation 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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