Woodward Hines Education Foundation logo

Woodward Hines Education Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Jackson, MS EIN: 64-0860939 Website

The Woodward Hines Education Foundation (WHEF), based in Jackson, Mississippi, works to expand equitable access to postsecondary education and help learners complete credentials that lead to meaningful employment. It describes its role as including grantmaking, direct service, policy partnership, and research convening.

Key facts about Woodward Hines Education Foundation

In short: Woodward Hines Education Foundation gave $1.0M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $74K), mostly in Mississippi. 71% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
64-0860939
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,041,808
Grants made (2024)
14
Average grant
$74,415
Median grant
$50,000
New grantees (estimate)
71% first-time grantees (10 of 14, 2024)
Total assets
$225,111,352
Primary geography
Mississippi (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
WHEF does not accept unsolicited requests; proposals are accepted by invitation only. Full details ↓
Deadline
Invitations and grant decisions are handled on a rolling basis, with grants typically awarded quarterly.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$225.1M

+5.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.0M

-11.4% YoY

Grant Count

14

-12.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$74K

+1.3% YoY

Is Woodward Hines Education Foundation open to new grantees?

71%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 10 of 14 grantees (71%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $78K; repeat grants $65K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 21% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

WHEF’s stated mission is “to expand equitable access to and completion of postsecondary credentials, certificates, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment for more Mississippians.”

Its grantmaking supports access and entry to postsecondary education, persistence and completion, and connections between education and family-sustaining work. The foundation describes an emphasis on college advising and financial-aid access, course completion and credit accumulation, transfer pathways, and support for working students. Its website also identifies Mississippi’s Ascent to 55% attainment goal as a guide for its investments.

Recipients in the 2024 filing illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Itawamba Community College Foundation, which received $80,000, says it supports Itawamba Community College, a state-supported two-year college. The Parents’ Campaign, which received $50,000, describes its work as promoting better public schools through parent advocacy. Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, which received $49,971, says it works to improve children’s well-being through the design, promotion, and improvement of systems and services. Jackson Medical Mall Foundation, which received $30,000, describes its work as leasing space for education and medical care while fostering care for underserved people and promoting community and economic development.

Grantmaking

WHEF’s 2024 filing reports 14 grants totaling $1,041,808. Grant amounts ranged from $11,500 to $250,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Among the largest awards were $250,000 to Propel Education Forum of Mississippi for statewide coordination toward the Ascent to 55% goal; $170,200 to Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi on behalf of Global Te for rural STEM coursework and student achievement; and $133,774 to Coahoma Community College for student-success professional development and data fluency. Other reported awards included $80,000 to Itawamba Community College Foundation for retention and persistence efforts for African American males, and $50,000 to The Parents’ Campaign for work toward a P-12 system that prepares students for college or careers.

Review Cycle

Invitations and grant decisions are handled on a rolling basis, with grants typically awarded quarterly. WHEF says staff provide application status and next steps within 30 days of submission.

Open Grants

3 open opportunities from Woodward Hines Education Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

WHEF’s mission and website describe a focus on Mississippi. Its 2024 filing shows that 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Mississippi and 5% to recipients in Washington, DC.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

JacksonMississippi StateClevelandColumbusForestHattiesburgItta BenaUniversityClarksdaleRidgelandFultonOxfordHernandoIndianapolisLormanSummervilleSunflowerWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M12 grants2020 14 grants2021 15 grants2022 16 grants2023 14 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $752K (2021) to $1.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $1.0M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Propel Education Forum of Mississippi Inc: $250KPropel Education Forum ofMississippi Inc$250KCommunity Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNM) on behalf of Global Te aching Project: $170KCommunity Foundation ofNorthwest Mississippi (CFNM)…$170KCoahoma Community College: $134KCoahoma Community College$134KItawamba Community College Foundation Inc: $80KItawamba Community CollegeFoundation Inc$80KThe Parent's Campaign: $50KThe Parent's Campaign$50KMississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy: $50KMississippi Alliance ofNonprofits and Philanthropy$50KMississippi State University Foundation: $50KMississippi State UniversityFoundation$50KMB Swayze Educational Foundation: $50KMB Swayze EducationalFoundation$50KNCAN National #DoTheFAFSA Social Media Campaign: $50KNCAN National #DoTheFAFSASocial Media Campaign$50KChildren's Foundation of Mississippi: $50KChildren's Foundation ofMississippi$50K

The largest 2024 recipient was Propel Education Forum of Mississippi Inc ($250K). Together the top 10 received $934K.

Grant Size Distribution

71 grants across all recorded years

29<$50K27$50–100K13$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 71 (41%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Propel Education Forum of Mississippi Inc Jackson, MSTo identify a Mississippi-based organization to coordinate the work needed for the State to reach the Ascent to 55% statewide attainment goal$250,000
Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNM) on behalf of Global Te aching Project Forest, MSTo expand access to rigorous STEM coursework, which is not currently available in rural, low-income schools, and raise student achievement throughout the state of Mississippi, particularly the Delta$170,200
Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, MSTo support student success through professional development and data fluency$133,774
Itawamba Community College Foundation Inc Fulton, MSTo increase retention and persistence efforts for African American males at Belden, Tupelo and Fulton campuses$80,000
The Parent's Campaign Jackson, MSTo ensure a P-12 system that prepares Mississippi children to exit secondary school with the skills needed to thrive in college and/or career$50,000
Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Jackson, MSTo support the general operations of the Alliance as it serves the needs of the philanthropic sector in the state of Mississippi$50,000
Mississippi State University Foundation Mississippi State, MSTo provide personnel support for diversity programming, recruiting and retention$50,000
MB Swayze Educational Foundation Jackson, MSTo develop on-going work for creating education opportunities for Mississippians$50,000
NCAN National #DoTheFAFSA Social Media Campaign Washington, DCTo increase the number of students completing the FAFSA$50,000
Children's Foundation of Mississippi Jackson, MSTo help determine needed supports for youth eligible to participate in the FAITH ACT scholarship program$49,971

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $225,111,352 $5,858,250 $8,784,059 $1,041,808 (14)
2023 $213,624,016 $2,725,028 $7,830,632 $1,175,745 (16)
2022 $202,416,655 $705,522 $7,323,373 $1,144,312 (15)

Filing type: 990T.

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$225,111,352$213,624,016$202,416,655
Revenue$5,858,250$2,725,028$705,522
Expenses$8,784,059$7,830,632$7,323,373
Net Investment Income$2,226,915$389,679$-1,132,459

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Nathan Slater as Board Chair and Debra McGee as Board Vice Chair. Other listed board members were Camille Young, Cedric Bradley, David Martin, and Haley Fisackerly. The filing also lists Andrew Mullins and Eddie Carlisle as board members through May 28, 2024, and Carla Kirkland and Errick Simmons as board members beginning May 28, 2024.

Woodward Hines Education Foundation is led by James E. McHale, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; all 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • James E. McHale

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $254K (2020) → $294K (2024)

  • Nathan Slater

    Board Member & Board Chair

    Board Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2023

    Board Chair → Board Member & Board Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $4K (2020) → $11K (2024)

  • Morgan Miller

    Director of Communications

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $103K (2024)

  • Andrew Mullins

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $5K (2020) → $3K (2024)

  • Camille Young

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $4K (2020) → $2K (2024)

  • David Martin

    Board Member

    Board Chair → Director, 2021

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $7K (2020) → $6K (2024)

  • Debra McGee

    Board Member & Board Vice Chair

    Director → Board Vice Chair, 2023

    Board Vice Chair → Board Member & Board Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $4K (2020) → $7K (2024)

  • Haley Fisackerly

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $3K (2020) → $2K (2024)

  • John F. Hill

    Board Member

    Board Chair → Director, 2023

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $6K (2020) → $8K (2024)

  • Minette D. Ketchings

    COO & Secretary

    Director of Operations & Controller → COO & Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $145K (2020) → $167K (2024)

  • Robert Leard

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $6K (2020) → $7K (2024)

  • William F. Alvis

    CFO & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $185K (2020) → $206K (2024)

  • Michael Cormack Jr.

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    $1K (2021) → $6K (2024)

  • Cedric Bradley

    Board Member

    Director & Begin → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    $4K (2023) → $7K (2024)

  • Carla Kirkland

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    $4K (2024)

  • Eddie Carlisle

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2024)

  • Errick Simmons

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    $4K (2024)

  • Mike Highfield

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    $3K (2024)

  • Shanell Watson

    Chief of Staff

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $119K (2024)

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Edward Carlisle (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Ann Hendrick (2020–2021) — Director of Get2college Di
  • Former: W. Stan Pratt (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Ended 52521
  • Former: Regina Young Hyatt (2021) — Director · Filing note: Ended 11/2021

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

James McHale — President/CEO: $294KJames McHalePresident/CEO$294KWilliam Alvis — CFO/Treasurer: $206KWilliam AlvisCFO/Treasurer$206KMinette Ketchings — COO/Secretary: $167KMinette KetchingsCOO/Secretary$167KShanell Watson — Chief of Staff: $119KShanell WatsonChief of Staff$119KMorgan Miller — Director of Communications,: $103KMorgan MillerDirector of Communications,$103KNathan Slater — Board Member/Board Chair: $11KNathan SlaterBoard Member/Board Chair$11KJohn Hill — Board Member: $8KJohn HillBoard Member$8KRobert Leard — Board Member: $7KRobert LeardBoard Member$7KDebra McGee — Board Member/Board Vice Chair: $7KDebra McGeeBoard Member/Board Vice Chair$7KCedric Bradley — Board Member: $7KCedric BradleyBoard Member$7KDavid Martin — Board Member: $6KDavid MartinBoard Member$6KMichael Cormack — Board Member: $6KMichael CormackBoard Member$6KErrick Simmons — Board Member Beg 5/28/24: $4KErrick SimmonsBoard Member Beg 5/28/24$4KCarla Kirkland — Board Member Beg 5/28/24: $4KCarla KirklandBoard Member Beg 5/28/24$4KMike Highfield — Board Member Beg 5/28/24: $3KMike HighfieldBoard Member Beg 5/28/24$3KAndrew Mullins — Board Member Through 5/28/24: $3KAndrew MullinsBoard Member Through 5/28/24$3KCamille Young — Board Member: $2KCamille YoungBoard Member$2KEddie Carlisle — Board Member Through 5/28/24: $2KEddie CarlisleBoard Member Through 5/28/24$2KHaley Fisackerly — Board Member: $2KHaley FisackerlyBoard Member$2K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $294K, to James McHale (President/CEO). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 5008, Jackson, MS 39296-5008
Phone: (601) 321-5555
Website: https://woodwardhines.org

Frequently asked questions about Woodward Hines Education Foundation

How much does Woodward Hines Education Foundation give each year?

Woodward Hines Education Foundation gave $1.0M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 16 grants.

What is Woodward Hines Education Foundation's typical grant size?

Woodward Hines Education Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $74,415, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Woodward Hines Education Foundation that year got $78K on average.

Where does Woodward Hines Education Foundation give grants?

Woodward Hines Education Foundation gives mostly in Mississippi: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, MS (9 grants).

Does Woodward Hines Education Foundation give general operating support?

Occasionally: 7% of Woodward Hines Education Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Who are Woodward Hines Education Foundation's largest grantees?

Woodward Hines Education Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Propel Education Forum of Mississippi Inc ($250,000), Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNM) on behalf of Global Te aching Project ($170,200) and Coahoma Community College ($133,774), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Woodward Hines Education Foundation?

Woodward Hines Education Foundation reported $225.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.

What does Woodward Hines Education Foundation fund?

WHEF’s stated mission is “to expand equitable access to and completion of postsecondary credentials, certificates, and degrees that lead to meaningful employment for more Mississippians.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Woodward Hines Education Foundation?

WHEF does not accept unsolicited requests; proposals are accepted by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Woodward Hines Education Foundation's EIN?

Woodward Hines Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0860939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Woodward Hines Education Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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