The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) has announced fourteen recipients through its 2025 Community Impact Project Grants program to nonprofit organizations making meaningful change across CFM’s 22-county region.
From literacy events and wellness programming to placemaking projects and workforce development initiatives, this year’s grant projects highlight the innovative solutions being utilized by CFM’s nonprofit partners. These grants, made possible through the Community Trust Fund, provide up to $5,000 in support for projects within CFM’s focus areas: children and families, community partnerships and placemaking.
Children and Families:
- Community Students Learning Center (Lexington) to support “Books & Bonding Family Literacy Pop-Up Series,” hosting three mobile literacy pop-up events in Holmes County neighborhoods. Each event will include interactive sessions led by trained facilitators, free book giveaways for children ages 0–12, parent literacy stations with practical strategies, community resources and family engagement activities such as story circles, games and take-home kits.
- Bridge Builders Leadership Initiative (Pearl) to support “Builders in Action: A Servant Leadership Series,” a tuition-free program for nearly 50 youth in grades 6–12. Students will take part in weekly workshops on goal setting, teamwork, public speaking, servant leadership and healthy habits, led by community leaders and volunteers. They will also research community needs, then work in teams with mentors to design and lead a large-scale service project, such as a clean-up, food driv, or neighborhood beautification.
- End It For Good (Ridgeland) to support the creation of a 12-module online skills training curriculum for families of individuals struggling with substance use and addiction. The curriculum will provide practical strategies to help families maintain connection and support their loved one’s recovery, while also fostering their own healing. The training will be available statewide through community partners and EFG’s outreach, laying the foundation for broadening its family support program.
- Global Gateways (Jackson) to support “Global Fest: A Cultural and Language Enrichment Project.” The project brings together English-speaking students and those whose first language is not English, creating a shared learning environment that fosters cross-cultural understanding, empathy and communication skills.
- Grant Me Justice/Jackson Leadership Foundation (Jackson) to support “The Endzone: Beyond the Court, A Day of Support for Men Impacted by Homicide.” This sports-themed healing event combines basketball, meals, workshops, and dialogue circles, as well as follow-up events throughout the year, connecting participants to healing circles with peers and support from professional counselors.
- Jackson Medical Mall Foundation (Jackson) to support “STEAM into Action with the Young Futurists” Project. This project empowers youth as innovators while prioritizing strong family and community engagement through meaningful resources and connections. Events include dedicated themes including Family Nutrition, Family Financial & Literacy, Mental Health & Mindfulness and STEAM, with interactive exhibits and problem-solving challenges.
- Midtown Partners (Jackson) to support the “Art of Wellbeing,” a nine-month project that supports Midtown families through free, family-centered wellness programming. Activities include six pop-up sessions in schools and clinics, nine monthly integrated classes combining yoga, breath work, and creative arts, and three seasonal community events that connect movement, art, and nutrition. Together, these offerings promote healthier habits, stress management, and stronger family and community connections.
Community Partnerships:
- Bean Path (Jackson) to support the “Pathways to Tech: Workforce Readiness,” a project that will equip residents with the skills, certifications and employer connections needed to access high-growth careers in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data science. The project is designed to serve both adult learners and opportunity youth (ages 18–24), with targeted outreach to women, low-income residents, returning citizens and other historically excluded groups. Each participant receives individualized support, including career coaching, mentorship and access to industry-recognized certifications.
- Extra Table (Holmes County) to support the organization providing Holmes County families with 10,000 nutritious meals over the first three months of 2026.
- The Lily Pad (Ridgeland) to support a 12-week workforce development initiative (2026 cohort) that equips underserved individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with job readiness skills and direct pathways to employment.
- Zoo Area Progressive Partnership (ZAPP) (Jackson) to support “Paths of Discovery: A Community-Created Welcome Space” at the Jackson Zoo. This project focuses on bringing together the community surrounding the Jackson Zoo in an engaging effort to work with families, children, local schools and neighborhood partners to transforming the zoo’s entrance into a vibrant, community-designed mural. Local artists, students, and children will co-create murals, mosaics, interactive art, and playful seating inspired by Mississippi’s wildlife and culture.
Placemaking:
- Brandon Main Street Association (Brandon) to support “Light and Life: Illumination, Activation and Creativity.” This project will transform a downtown courtyard into a welcoming and vibrant gathering space. By improving visibility, walkability and evening activity, the project and its use of lighting will highlight public art and create conditions for small markets and art strolls, encouraging people to linger, explore, and support local businesses.
- Downtown Natchez Alliance (Natchez) to support “Downtown Unlocked 2.0: A Placemaking Project for Real Estate Revitalization.” This two-day placemaking project will activate vacant downtown Natchez properties, connecting investors and families to reimagine spaces for housing, jobs and community pride. The initiative will open properties for tours, provide on-site consultations with architects, lenders, and contractors, offer shuttles and bilingual guides to enhance accessibility, and share storytelling and renderings to help residents and investors envision revitalization.
- Pine Grove Association, Inc. (Canton) to support HOPE Grounds Placemaking Initiative. The project seeks to activate the 5-acre site of the future HOPE Center in Canton into an active, creative and welcoming space while construction is underway. The initiative will use placemaking principles to transform the five-acre grounds through beautification (flowers, seating, murals, signage), community activation (outdoor movies, performances, youth showcase, pop-up festivals) and local storytelling (a community chalkboard wall, art panels with narratives and historic photos, and facilitated public dialogues).
“CFM’s Community Impact Project grant is our largest competitive grant each year and this year we received more applications than ever before. With so many worthy project submitted, we are thrilled to see the meaningful changes being made by all applicants,” said Melody Moody-Thortis, CFM’s Director of Strategic Impact and Programs. “This year’s grantees have shown great leadership in the areas of children and families, community partnerships and placemaking and we are pleased to use our Community Trust Fund to support their truly innovative ideas.”
Since launching the Community Impact Project Grants, CFM has awarded funding to over 50 organizations across central and southwest Mississippi, supporting their efforts to making meaningful and lasting change in their communities. Mississippians can support the work of the Community Trust Fund and expand CFM’s programs like these by donating here.
Learn more about the Community Impact Project Grant program and other ways CFM supports Mississippians for good at formississippi.org/grants.