News

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) will begin accepting applications for its annual Community Impact Project Grants on August 1, which provide up to $5,000 to support innovative projects in one of three focus areas: Placemaking, Children and Families, and Community Partnerships. 

Celebrate the 55 students selected as the Community Foundation for Mississippi’s 2026 scholarship and award recipients, and see where their educational journeys will take them next.

The Anthony “Tony” Gobar Juvenile Justice Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi marks 20 years of supporting students pursuing careers in juvenile justice and related fields.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi earned reaccreditation through Community Foundation National Standards, a national accreditation program for community foundations. The reaccreditation affirms strong practices in donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration.

Sophie McNeil Wolf, APR, Director of Communications and Insights for the Community Foundation for Mississippi, received the PRAM Professional Achievement Award, the organization’s highest honor. The award recognizes a public relations practitioner whose accomplishments have made a major contribution to the profession.

Twenty-five years after his death, a new project is opening the door to Samuel Mockbee’s unseen work. The Mockbee Better Together Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi offers a way to bring that vision to life.

After a sudden health crisis, Donovan Duffy launched the Manors Foundation to help Mississippi dialysis patients access reliable transportation to life-saving treatment. By opening funds at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, he’s building a trusted path for donors to support this work and expand its impact.

Students can now apply for scholarships through a new, streamlined application from the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

A simple request for classroom books has sparked a new literary fund at CFM, honoring a mother’s legacy and helping Natchez students build a love of reading.

Planning your 2025 year-end giving? Review important CFM deadlines, tax updates, and details from the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

Through the Community Trust Fund, CFM is investing in projects that empower nonprofits to create lasting, positive change in their communities.

The Helping Friends and Neighbors Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi is now open to ensure these front-line organizations have the resources they need when demand rises.

Under this new partnership, Atlanta Consulting Group will take on the discretionary management of the Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) investment portfolios, bringing specialized expertise and operational efficiency to the organization’s investment program.

The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi has awarded more than $133,000 in 2025 grants to nonprofits serving LGBTQ Mississippians across the state.

The Jackson-Hinds Library System is investing in the future with a new endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi. The fund will support long-term maintenance and improvements, helping libraries remain accessible, welcoming spaces for their communities.

The 2025 Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship awarded two $10,000 scholarships to Warren County students pursuing higher education, continuing a legacy of educational opportunity and community impact in Vicksburg.

Kate Bowen is the inaugural recipient of the Samuel Eric Storm Memorial Scholarship, established to honor Eric Storm’s legacy of healing and service. Currently pursuing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, Kate embodies the compassion and commitment the scholarship celebrates.

The Rick Ross Madison Avenue Upper Elementary Honorary Scholarship at CFM recently announced its 2025-2026 recipients: Grace “Gracie” Pringle and Elizabeth Argrett.

The Jerrelyn Redmond Jackson Veasley Lifetime Athletic and Scholastic Award Endowed Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi has reached an exciting milestone: awarding its first scholarship.

Strategic investments by the Community Foundation for Mississippi are helping communities across the state thrive through placemaking, connectivity, and opportunity.

Thank you to all who attended Giving Forward: CFM’s Annual Celebration of Impact on March 24, 2025! If you couldn’t make it, a recording of the presentation is now available online. 

A $1 million grant from the Community Foundation for Mississippi’s John and Lucy Shackelford Fund will help bring Margaret Ann Crigler Park to downtown Jackson, creating a new public green space near the Two Mississippi Museums.

Devastating tornadoes ripped through southwest and central Mississippi on Saturday, March 15, 2025. To support local disaster efforts, the Helping Friends and Neighbors Fund at CFM will direct gifts to immediate response and longer-term relief in Walthall and Smith Counties.

Eric Storm dedicated his life to helping others through physical therapy. His legacy continues with the Samuel “Eric” Storm Memorial Scholarship, supporting aspiring physical, occupational, and speech therapists in pursuing their dreams.

After Bettye’s passing in the fall of 2020, her daughters Adrienne and Fayedra knew her work was unfinished. To honor her support at such a pivotal point in their life, the sisters have established the Bettye Smith Brown Memorial Scholarship at the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

The end of the year will be here soon! The Community Foundation for Mississippi has several important dates for you to keep in mind as you think about year-end giving to ensure your financial contributions make an impact with nonprofits by December 31, 2024.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Director of Communications and Insights, Sophie McNeil Wolf, APR, was recently awarded a Lantern Award (Short Term: Special Events) by the Southern Public Relations Federation for her contributions to CFM’s inaugural Friendsgiving event.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi announces eighteen grant recipients through its Community Impact Grants to support projects aligned with CFM’s focus areas: children and families, community partnerships and placemaking.

On October 9, Ask for More Jackson celebrated ten Jackson Public Schools (JPS) educators. The awards were made possible by a generous donor through the Outstanding Educator Award Funds at the Community Foundation for Mississippi. Each honoree received financial support that could be used for professional or personal purposes.

Five art teachers from around Mississippi are the latest recipients of art supply grants from the Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Friends of Andrew Bucci Fund, which was created to honor the memory of Andrew Bucci (1922-2014), one of Mississippi’s most celebrated and prolific visual artists.

The Woodward Hines Education Foundation Calling Panther Award Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, designed to support the educational aspirations of high school seniors from Hazlehurst and Crystal Springs High Schools, is proud to announce it has granted three awards for the 2024 season.

Jerrelyn Redmond Jackson Veasley was a force to be reckoned with – a beloved educator, coach, and community leader whose energy and positivity touched the lives of countless students and families in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Her legacy will live on through the Jerrelyn Redmond Jackson Veasley Lifetime Athletic and Scholastic Award Endowed Fund, established by her family at the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

To help continue the legacy of the James and Madeline McMullan Family Scholarship, the family has moved operations to a fund at CFM. The scholarship program provides financial support to students from Newton and Pass Christian, Mississippi, for their entire four-year college journey.

Jason “Smiley” Abrams has a vision for creating a sustainable community in Jackson, Mississippi. The newly established Mississippi Reparative Actions Fund will empower college students and young professionals to grow as leaders and invest in the city they call home.

As the Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit approaches, some of you may or may not be familiar with the term “placemaking.” Let’s dive into what placemaking means to us and what you might learn during the summit next week.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) announces the hiring of Jay Philpott as Vice President of Growth and Development.

Join the Community Foundation for Mississippi and community partners on August 1, 2024 for the Mississippi Rural Placemaking Summit in downtown McComb, a unique conference experience where attendees from small and rural communities can connect with other individuals, organizations, and government entities using placemaking techniques to celebrate and strengthen the places they live, work and play.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Director of Communications and Insights, Sophie McNeil Wolf, was recently awarded a PRism Award (Short Term: Special Events) by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi for her communications efforts for CFM’s inaugural Friendsgiving event.

LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi at the Community Foundation for Mississippi 2024 – 2025 Grant Cycle is now accepting submissions through June 28. This fund transforms donations into action by providing grants that support organizations across the state, aiming to improve the lives of LGBTQ Mississippians.

The Friends of Andrew Bucci Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi was created to honor the memory of the late Andrew Bucci, one of Mississippi’s most celebrated and prolific visual artists. The fund’s purpose is to help Mississippi public, parochial, and private school art teachers acquire supplies that support visual arts instruction for grades PreK-12.

What do you want your neighborhood to be? Through resident meetings and walking the neighborhood together, Mid City residents were able to identify opportunities and the changes they want to see in their community.

The Robert Malouf Jr. Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi has made its first grant from the fund, which will benefit the lives of individuals participating in the Mississippi Harm Reduction Initiative’s (MHRI) Recovery Housing Program.

What started as a story told by Talamieka Brice’s grandmother as a young child has now blossomed into a film project about the brutal lynching of Bootjack and Red in Mississippi, a historical marker and a new fund at CFM to support the work.

The JXN Water Scholarship was established at the Community Foundation for Mississippi to provide financial assistance to high school seniors attending a public school in Hinds County interested in pursuing a degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) discipline that could lead to a career in water and wastewater operations and management.

The legacy continues for the Mid-City Community Development Corporation. What began as Horace Kelly’s vision for his neighborhood is now getting new life thanks to his son Akili and wife, Ashlee, and a new fund at CFM.

The Anthony “Tony” Gobar Juvenile Justice Scholarship Fund will provide an annual scholarship based on both merit and need for a full-time junior or senior at a public university in Mississippi or at Southern University in Louisiana majoring in criminal justice, political science, social work, pre-law or counseling.

The Blake Coghlan Memorial Ag Scholarship Fund was created at the Community Foundation for Mississippi to encourage young people who share his passion for farming and agriculture. The scholarship provides financial assistance to a graduating high school senior from Yazoo County or Sharkey County intending to study Agriculture or Agriculture-related degree at a Mississippi 4-year or 2-year institution. The award is for a period of one academic year.

WellsFest, the annual music festival of Wells United Methodist Church, has been a long-time staple of the Jackson fall event scene. Now, a group has come together to give back to local musicians and create more programming to keep the spirit of WellsFest alive all year long through the WellsFest CARES Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

The end of the year will be here soon! The Community Foundation for Mississippi has several important dates for you to keep in mind as you think about year-end giving to ensure your financial contributions make an impact with nonprofits by December 31, 2023.

The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi at the Community Foundation for Mississippi announced 2023 annual funding commitments today totaling more than $131,000. The fund’s Grants Review Committee, chaired by Michael Martella, used information from the current Needs Assessment and from proposals submitted by applicants to make funding recommendations.

If you could help Mississippi children in abusive situations have a streamlined experience to report trauma, would you? That’s a question the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi (CACM) asks often.

With a new endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, CACM hopes to support its mission to revolutionize child abuse – forever.

Robert Malouf, Jr.’s life was full of promise. In January 2017, at the age of 25, Robert died from an accidental opioid overdose. To honor his legacy and to assist many struggling with addiction, his mother has opened the Robert Malouf, Jr. Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

The Mississippi Film Society a launching pad to educate, inspire and entertain Mississippians through community screenings, film curriculum, lectures, workshops and, in the near future, a film festival. To help bring their vision to life, the organization opened the Mississippi Film Society Fund and Mississippi Film Society Endowment Fund to support operations and ensure sustainability for generations to come.

In 2023, the Community Foundation began researching the methods of Constructive Journalism, as defined and advocated by the Denmark-based Constructive Institute. This method of journalism aims to help societies come together and find common ground, as opposed to emphasizing conflict and opposing viewpoints. The goal is not to smooth over problems, but rather to add hope.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi announces twenty grant recipients through its Community Impact Grants to support projects aligned with CFM’s focus areas: children and families, community partnerships and placemaking. This grant program supports project grants up to $5,000 for organizations within CFM’s 22 county service area.

The Jackson Association of Neighborhoods (JAN) content creator is a community-focused education and engagement effort funded by Community Foundation for Mississippi through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This project seeks to keep Jackson residents informed about issues affecting their daily lives and equipped to participate in collaborative solutions. 

At Briarwood Arts Center (BAC), what may seem impossible becomes possible. BAC is building a bigger table for entrepreneurs and hobbyists to explore an interest and for the community to gather. With the creation of two funds at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, the Briarwood Arts Foundation Fund and Briarwood Arts Foundation Endowment Fund, Brown recognizes BAC is starting out on the right foot from inception and getting the back-end support from CFM he needs.

Funded through the University Press of Mississippi New Horizons Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi and established with the support of individuals and partner Wildlife Mississippi, the Initiative is dedicated to the publication of new books on Mississippi’s natural history, conservation, and public outreach.

What began as a science project is now a fully functioning skatepark reality, thanks to the hard work of Chance Mohawk and Grant Finch and the Crystal Springs community. The young skateboarders concepted the idea of building a skate park two years ago as part of their environmental science project.

Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival, the city’s annual celebration of spring and Jackson’s culture and heritage, has once again shown its support for Children’s of Mississippi by raising over $100,000 after event expenses for the state’s only children’s hospital and its life-saving medical care and treatment.

Informed by learning from the Needs Assessment, grants are where the LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi at the Community Foundation for Mississippi transforms donations into action, pooling funds to support organizations across Mississippi that are improving things for LGBTQ Mississippians.

Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) is pleased to announce that they have recently received reaccreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This accreditation indicates that CFM meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence.

The Jackson Friends of the Library (JFOL) is relaunching after a hiatus, including a new fund, the Jackson Friends of the Library General Fund, at the Community Foundation for Mississippi to support their growth. CFM recently talked with JFOL board member Emmaline Smith to get the skinny on their relaunch and their kick-off event, A Night with Wright, on June 1 at The Cedars.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Events and Administration Manager Sandy Quinn was recently honored for completing the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofit and Philanthropy’s Emerging Leaders: Fundraising Executives program.

Congratulations to Olivia Davidson and Nia Jones for receiving the 2023 award! The fund was established at the Community Foundation for Mississippi to honor long-time Madison Avenue Upper Elementary principal Rick Ross by that school’s Parent Teacher Organization in 2011.

What does the Community Foundation for Mississippi, the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and Blind and the Mississippi Office of the Treasurer have in common? Zeita Parker. Yet, several months ago, these links were a mystery.

Two grants will launch on May 15: Community Impact Grants and Nonprofit Capacity Building Mini-Grants. There are two Community Impact Grant rounds throughout the year, while Nonprofit Capacity Building Mini-Grants will be open year-round.

Can five dollars make a difference? For 629 Humana employees, individual five and ten dollars donations, pooled together through Humana Foundation employee giving, are making a massive difference in Jackson, Mississippi through the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Director of Communications, Sophie McNeil Wolf, was recently awarded a PRism Award (Short Term: Crisis Communication) by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi for her communications efforts during the Jackson water crisis.

The JXN Water Scholarship was established at the Community Foundation for Mississippi to provide financial assistance to JPS high school seniors interested in pursuing a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or discipline that could lead to a career in water and wastewater operations and management. Applications are open to seniors currently enrolled at a Jackson Public School District high school who will attend Hinds Community College.

It’s a fact that charitable donors prefer to give to those causes closest to home to improve the lives of those in their own local area. To help residents in Yazoo City and Raymond, Methodist Senior Services (MSS) recently created two new endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Mississippi that will allow donors to give directly to help senior residents at its local senior communities.

Ted Henifin, interim third-party manager of the City of Jackson’s water system, recently announced the JXN Water Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi. The scholarship is designed for JPS high school seniors interested in pursuing a degree in a STEM discipline that could lead to a career in water and wastewater operations and management.

When you hit a milestone like 50 years, it is natural to start thinking about the future. What lies ahead 50 or 100 years from now?

In 2021, the Mississippi Humanities Council had this very question. Pair that with a quest to better utilize special reserve funds and a relationship with the Community Foundation for Mississippi and a dream was born.

Sophie McNeil Wolf, the Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Director of Communications, has been selected as the 2022 Outstanding Practitioner of the Year by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), Central Chapter. She was recognized Wednesday, January 25, during the January chapter meeting by her peers.

The UPM First Author’s Initiative, established through generous gifts from our authors, supports the publication of books by emerging scholars, nontraditional authors, and authors from a wide variety of backgrounds. The UPM First Author’s Initiative, funded through the University Press of Mississippi New Horizons Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, supports the work of these authors so they can achieve success regardless of their academic status or access to resources.

Today, the Community Foundation for Mississippi announced seven nonprofits as recipients of the Rapid Response Mini-Grant program. This mini-grant is a reimbursement program for charitable organizations, covering expenses that nonprofits incurred related to rapid response service during Jackson’s boil water notice that lasted between July 29 and September 15, 2022.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi is proud to announce the 2022 recipients of the Friends of Andrew Bucci Fund grant, Emily Murff of New Albany High School and Renna Moore-Edwards of Ida B. Wells Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC).

For too many K-12 students in Mississippi – most from income-insecure households – computer science courses are non-existent in schools. For JJ Townsend, that’s a serious problem not only for students but also for our state. Townsend is tackling this problem head-on with a new fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, CS for Y’all, to make computer science accessible to all.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi works with donors to simplify and streamline their charitable giving through personal giving accounts such as donor advised and scholarship/award funds. See how our community is working through CFM to connect legacy to generosity. 

Congratulations to Jane Alexander, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Mississippi, for recently being named to the Council on Foundation’s Community Foundation Advisory Group! The advisory group provides a new mechanism for community foundation leaders to collaboratively influence the Council’s programs, resources, and services for community foundations.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi is not only committed to the long-term sustainability of nonprofits, but also work with national partners to contribute to positive systemic change in our state. To see societal outcomes truly shift, we must do the work to know our communities, to bring together thought partners, to listen to community needs and to adapt solutions that work. See some of CFM’s long-term investments with national partners.

As the City of Jackson and its surrounding communities continue to recover from the recent water crisis, Atmos Energy has announced support for ongoing relief efforts by making a $25,000 contribution to the Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) for Jackson Public Schools (JPS) through the Foundation’s JPS Response Fund. Atmos Energy is also making a $25,000 contribution to the Helping Friends and Neighbors Fund (Disaster Response Fund) at CFM to support nonprofits.

While the boil water notice and immediate water crisis have ended in Jackson, the question remains for many, “Is my water safe to drink?” For women – especially those of childbearing age and expectant mothers – and children, the threat of lead in water is of increased importance.During the Jackson water crisis, the Community Foundation for Mississippi immediately identified water filtration as a gap and barrier to health outcomes for citizens of Jackson. CFM is partnering with Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) to distribute countertop Zero water filtration systems and teach households about methods of water boiling and filtering commonly recommended by the City of Jackson.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi celebrates the work of the state’s nonprofit sector by providing opportunities for its growth and sustainability. By enabling organizations to grow their vision, increase their financial resources and expand their long-term reach, CFM provides a valuable resource that can ultimately lead to increased nonprofit capacity both now and forever. Here are a few nonprofits who began turning the page by working alongside CFM to create funds that will lead to their success for many years to come. 

Are you a nonprofit that was affected by the Jackson water crisis?The Community Foundation for Mississippi’s Nonprofit Rapid Response Mini-Grant is a reimbursement program for 501c3 nonprofits residing in the Jackson area who have been directly affected by the Jackson water crisis. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Awards will be announced in early November.

With one of the highest food insecurity rates in the nation, Mississippi has over 450,000 households without daily reliable access to affordable and nutritious food. The onset of COVID-19 caused this need to intensify, leaving many wondering how they might feed themselves and their families during the pandemic. See how the community came together with CFM to find new ways to bring food to those most in need. 

The Community Foundation for Mississippi is proud to announce the 2022 recipient of the Bill Hunsberger Scholarship is Mia Robertson of Starkville. Mia Robertson is a Senior Presidential-Endowed Scholar and John C. Stennis Scholar majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with minors in Pre-Law and International Relations at Mississippi State.

Jackson, Mississippi has experienced increased rain and subsequent flooding of the Pearl River, impacting the city. This flooding has exacerbated the city’s water issues, causing failures at the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant. Here are ways to stay up-to-date on the water crisis and where to help support Jacksonians during this time.

Stories are a universal way to relate and understand each other better. And, all of us have school stories. Ellen Ann Fentress knows this firsthand as a storyteller, author and documentarian. Sharing her own story, in fact, about her experience attending a segregation academy in the 1970s has brought others to remember and tell their own story, too.

Book lovers unite! It’s National Book Lovers’ Day and we have plenty of ways to celebrate. From libraries to the Mississippi Book Festival, the Community Foundation for Mississippi has ways to support organizations that are creating more book lovers every year.

The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi at the Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) announced 2022 annual grants totaling $135,000 for ten programs around the state of Mississippi. Decisions were informed by the Needs Assessment from the Mississippi LGBTQ Study.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi and the Mississippi Golf Association are proud to announce the 2022 recipient of the Janet Leach Scholarship is Hannah Grace Hinckley of McComb. A 2022 graduate of Parklane Academy, Hinckley is an active golfer and plans to attend Mississippi College in the fall and will play on the MC women’s golf team.

For many children, the summer months mean cookouts, frozen treats, trips and summer camps. But for over 55,000 school-aged kids in Mississippi, summer camps have never been an option due to special needs. Until now. Mississippi’s Toughest Kids Foundation (MTKF) is constructing Camp Kamassa, Mississippi’s first and only year-round fully handicap-accessible camp facility for children and adults with serious illnesses, physical and mental challenges and other special needs.

The late Andrew Bucci left a creative legacy as one of Mississippi’s most celebrated and prolific visual artists. To honor his memory and the centennial anniversary of his birth, the Friends of Andrew Bucci Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi was recently created to help Mississippi public, parochial and private school art teachers acquire supplies that support visual arts instruction for grades PreK-12.

The Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center hosts its first-ever Victory Celebration Dinner in honor of the Juneteenth national holiday on Friday, June 17. This event kicks off support for the Friends of the Smith Robertson Museum Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, where donations directly support the museum’s mission of preserving and showcasing African-American culture and history.

Keath Killebrew, co-owner and farmer with the Killebrew Cotton Company in Tchula, Mississippi, dreamed about farming and ranching as a young boy. To honor his legacy, the Killebrew family has set up an award fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi in his name to support education for young men and women interested in agriculture.

Central Mississippi Blues Society (CMBS) has kept the Blues alive and promoted the culture of the Blues for over 15 years. To continue the mission of the organization and ensure stability for the future, CMBS recently created an endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi.

The Leland R. Speed Scholarship for JROTC Top Cadets is proud to announce the 2022 recipients, Cadet Elizabeth Hawkins and Cadet Brandon Brown, both of Murrah High School. The two were honored at Murrah High School’s Senior Showcase and Award Ceremony on May 19.

What paves the way for new trails and sidewalks in communities? Many meetings, partners and sweat equity. Melody Moody Thortis, Director of Strategic Impact at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, reflects on the work it took to bring the Museum Trail to life.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi is proud to support and partner with museums around the state in many ways. On International Museums Day, take a look at just a few museums (and their funds!) close to our hearts. Perhaps you will even get out and discover them for yourself, learning more about our great state.

It would not be an exaggeration to call the path to realizing the Museum Trail in Jackson as long and winding. After years of hard work, a six-figure donation from the John and Lucy Shackelford Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi was essential in filling in the funding gap needed to complete the project, because it unlocked additional funds from public and private sources.

The Rick Ross Madison Avenue Upper Elementary Scholarship is awarded to outstanding Madison Central High School seniors who have attended Madison County schools throughout their K-12 career, including Madison Avenue Upper Elementary.

For Robert Luckett, education and encouraging young people was the passion of a lifetime. A scholarship fund – the Robert E. Luckett Scholarship at the Community Foundation for Mississippi – is keeping his memory alive, encouraging students to further their education and pursue a college degree.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) announces the hiring of Sophie McNeil Wolf as Director of Communications. Wolf will oversee content development for the non-profit organization, as well as implement an integrated communications strategy and enhance brand development.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) announces the hiring of four key personnel to enhance operations, strengthen strategic planning to support stakeholder’s grantees and position for growth to continue its mission of making meaningful change to Mississippi.

Jackson Public Schools (JPS), the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) today announced their continued partnership to transform the public education system in Jackson, Mississippi.

The University Press of Mississippi recently established the Jane Hiatt Fund for Books in the Arts and Humanities, in honor of Dr. Wood Hiatt. The grant is an endowed fund supporting the publishing activities of University Press of Mississippi.

It is time for the flag to be changed. More than a gesture, replacing the flag demonstrates that Mississippi intends to be a place and a people that represents and celebrates the humanity, history, and heroism of all Mississippians. We stand For Mississippi, For Good. Forever.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM), working with Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (Volunteer Mississippi), established the Mississippi Community Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund as an initiative to create a state-wide pooled fund to respond to disasters in Mississippi, including COVID-19. Governor Tate Reeves announced that he has officially designated the Mississippi Community Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi as the official state-wide disaster fund.

As Mississippi communities take steps to protect citizens from the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) is working with a growing network of partners to ensure the resources for responding to and recovering from crises are available to meet the current and future needs of the state’s residents.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) recently granted $125,000 to the City of Jackson to support the construction of the Museum Trail—a 2.5-mile walking, running, and biking trail that will connect several museums and attractions to the Mississippi Farmers Market in the capital city.

Tournament inspires Sarah Broom to work with Chastain to improve the school’s tennis program.

The Community Foundation for Mississippi, a leader in central Mississippi philanthropy, elected a new slate of officers to the 2019 Board of Trustees and introduced several new Trustee members.

The seven community foundations of Mississippi asked the Legislature for $2.5 million in tax credits over five years to start the Endow Mississippi Program.

Jane Alexander, executive director of the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and restaurateur Jeff Good came up with a development proposal. The foundation now has $55 million in endowments, according to Alexander.

Molina Healthcare sponsors Family Literacy Program with $5K gift to Children’s Museum Representatives from Molina Healthcare of Mississippi recently presented the Mississippi Children’s Museum with a $5,000 contribution to sponsor one of the museum’s most successful and longest running programs, “Planting the Seeds to Read.” Improving childhood literacy has always been one of the cornerstones […]

Unframed Images at MSU, Millsaps College Players at the Arts Center and Edible Book Festival at USM Mississippi State University Libraries is partnering with Tuskegee University in Alabama and the Southern Literary Trail to host “Unframed Images,” an art exhibition honoring the work of African American photographer P.H. Polk. Tuskegee University archivist Dana Chandler will […]

Pamela Joy Swanson Pamela Joy Swanson, 67, of Madison went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 18, 2019. She was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church, an Animal Rescue Activist, General Parts Manager at Stribling Equipment, a former substitute teacher at Madison Ridgeland Academy, and a faithful and godly servant […]

MAC Accepting Grant Applications The Mississippi Arts Commission is accepting applications for the agency’s annual grants program. Operating and project grants are available for organizations and schools, and fellowships, apprenticeships, artist roster and teaching artist roster applications are available for individual artists. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 1, 2019, at 5 p.m. Grants […]

The Mississippi Arts Commission will host “Meet the MAC — Grants 101,” an overview of the agency’s grant programs, on Jan. 18 at noon, at the MSU Riley Center. The program is targeted to Mississippi-based artists, arts organizations and other nonprofit organizations. At each session, MAC staff will present an overview of the agency’s grant […]

Grant Awarded for Arts Center Renovation A $250,000 grant from the John F. and Lucy Shackelford Charitable Fund through the Community Foundation for Mississippi will be earmarked for renovations to the Arts Center of Mississippi. The Greater Jackson Arts Council (GJAC) made the announcement. The renovations will include permanent public spaces honoring former First Lady […]

JPS Schools Get a Big Surprise from Community Leaders The Junior League of Jackson and the Community Foundation of Mississippi awarded grants to 10 schools in the (JPS)  Jackson Public School District. It was a surprise that brightened many faces at Sykes Elementary today. Award winning teachers, administrators, and students received a check for more than […]

Mississippi Writers Trail Unveils First Marker, Honors Eudora Welty The Mississippi Writers Trail begins with the dedication of the inaugural marker honoring Eudora Welty outside her former home in Jackson Monday. “An international treasure in the literary world, Eudora Welty’s works stand the test of time, influencing generations of writers and sharing Mississippi with the […]

Mississippi Writers Trail to Unveil Eudora Welty Marker The Mississippi Writers Trail will kick off with the dedication and unveiling of the inaugural marker honoring author Eudora Welty. Born in 1909 in Jackson, Welty lived in the capital city for the majority of her life. An award-winning author of short stories and novels, Welty was […]

Mississippi Writers Trail Builds on Success of Book Festival If it weren’t for a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker, you might not know that a section of Jackson’s Capitol Street was once the scene of a significant civil rights protest, Woolworth’s sit-in. If it weren’t for a Mississippi Blues Trail marker, you might not know that […]

USA IBC A global welcome means a local bonus with the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, and not just in the thrill of world-class dance. There’s a concrete reward, too. It just got pressure-washed. The IBC continues through June 23 at Thalia Mara Hall with three rounds of competition in classical and contemporary ballet. Tickets […]

IBC Moves Beyond Tutus and Pointe Shoes with Competition Fierce Tutus and pointe shoes were scarce during round two of the USA International Ballet Competition, as dancers performed contemporary pieces. To qualify as contemporary, the dances had to be choreographed in 2014 or later and no longer than 4 minutes—one performance was to a Justin […]

Southeastern Council of Foundations appoints Community Foundation for Mississippi President and CEO Jane Alexander to Board Jane Clover Alexander, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Mississippi, was recently appointed to the Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF) Board of Trustees, joining a roster of philanthropic executives and leaders from organizations across the southeastern region. […]

State Lands Grant for Mississippi Writers Trail The Mississippi Arts Commission, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Mississippi, Mississippi Humanities Council, Mississippi Book Festival, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Mississippi Library Commission, is pleased to announce the creation of a Mississippi Writers Trail to honor the most acclaimed […]

The trail they blazed: Mississippi authors to be honored with writer’s trail William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Margaret Walker Alexander, Tennessee Williams and Richard Wright. These names should sound familiar to most Mississippians. Now, with the assistance of a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, these literary heroes and many others will be celebrated for […]

Mississippi wins grant to create Writers Trail Mississippi is well known for its literary heritage, and thanks to a $30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the state will be commemorating its authors with the Mississippi Writers Trail. The Writer’s Trail is a project of the Mississippi Humanities Council, the Mississippi Arts Commission […]

New trail will track Mississippi’s literary history The first markers on the new Mississippi Writers Trail will be be unveiled in August during the 2018 Mississippi Book Festival. Similar to the Mississippi music trails, the Writers Trail will be a compilation of historical markers honoring acclaimed and influential writers throughout the state, including William Faulkner, Jesmyn […]

New Stage Theatre Presents SILENT SKY New Stage Theatre presents Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky February 13-25, 2018. Curtain times and dates for performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices are $30.00 with discounts available for students, senior citizens and groups. Tickets can be purchased at the box […]

Tax Changes Could Change Charitable Giving The holiday season is traditionally the time of year where donations to charity increase. But as MPB’s Mark Rigsby reports, possible federal tax changes could change the way Americans give to charitable causes. The tax code overhaul, currently under consideration by Congress, could result in a decrease in charitable […]

Foundation Receives Gift of Millions Earmarked for Downtown Improvements A gift to the Community Foundation for Mississippi means more good news for downtown Jackson. The foundation recently announced it had received a $10 million donation, which has been set aside for quality of life improvements downtown. “This was an incredible, game-changing gift that clearly shows […]

A Midwife’s Tale: Saving the Scott Ford Houses People sit at a black folding table in a front yard playing cards, while others watch cars pass with an occasional wave. The scene is common throughout much of Jackson, but it is a rare sign of life on Cohea Street in the once-vibrant Farish Street district. […]

Museum of Mississippi History The Community Foundation of Greater Jackson has made a $750,000 contribution to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Two Mississippi Museums project. The gift, made possible by a bequest from John F. and Lucy Shackelford, will sponsor the permanent exhibit gallery at the Museum of Mississippi History. During a news conference the group […]

The Community Foundation of Greater Jackson Expands Work and Changes Name CFGJ Marks Expansion of Mission with Major Gift to Museum of Mississippi History  Jackson, Mississippi (October 24, 2017) — The Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, a nonprofit philanthropic organization that provides charitable donors with tools to invest in the communities and causes they care […]