Mississippi Private Grants

This award recognizes and rewards Mississippi landowners who implement outstanding conservation practices to enhance soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on their agricultural or forest lands.

This program provides financial assistance to eligible business owners in downtown Ocean Springs for improving the appearance and condition of their commercial building facades to boost tourism and support local businesses.

This program provides funding to organizations in Mississippi that support underserved LGBTQ communities, including people of color, youth, seniors, and transgender individuals, to help them live safely and openly.

This program provides funding for community projects that promote the cultural heritage of the Mississippi Hills region through education, preservation, and development initiatives.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Mississippi to support projects that improve economic security and health for women and girls, particularly in underserved communities.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Mississippi Delta that are working to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and promote child development for children from birth to age three.

VisitHATTIESBURG’s Tourism Grant Program (TGP) is an annual allocation designed to enhance visitor and tourism promotion efforts in Hattiesburg. Donor Name: VisitHATTIESBURG State: Mississippi County: Forrest County (MS), Lamar County (MS) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: TGP provides funds for marketing and other qualified expenses for projects/events that fulfill VisitHATTIESBURG’S mission and, ultimately, increase overnight travel to Hattiesburg. Eligible applicants for funding include an organization/event/project whose objective is to promote Hattiesburg’s tourism industry to out-of-town visitors by generating overnight travel and economic stimulus to the city. The target audience should be outside the immediate Hattiesburg area (over 50- mile radius or out-of-state).  Qualifying entities may be attractions, associations, organizations, or governmental agencies which promote their event, products, and/or services to visitors from outside the area. Qualified grant projects must be held in Hattiesburg and should be classified in one of the following categories:  Festival / Event  Attraction / Public Use Facility Museums, historical buildings, meeting space, sporting facilities, etc. Other organizations / associations with a primary objective of promoting tourism in Hattiesburg. TGP funds may be used for a variety of expenses, including traditional and digital advertising, brochures and signage, event or exhibit production costs, and marketing and promotional activities. Disallowable expenses include utilities, general operating expenses, administrative expenses (including salaries, travel, meal and lodging), loan payments, personal benefits, cash awards, expenses not directly related to the approved project, and any illegal activities. Eligibility Requirements Applicants should fulfill the following requirements:  The project for which grant funds are requested must be primarily located within Hattiesburg (includes Forrest and Lamar Counties).  Projects should promote Hattiesburg as a destination by highlighting local lodging, dining, shopping, and attractions.  The proposed project must comply with all applicable laws, permits, licenses and regulations.  Each project must maintain financial records to document the use of TGP funds. These records should be filed and made available for inspection by VisitHATTIESBURG for a period of not less than three (3) years.  If funding is granted, the current VisitHATTIESBURG logo and/or TGP badge must be included on all collateral, advertisement, digital media, and signage in relation to the funded project. In addition, a hyperlinked VisitHATTIESBURG logo must be placed on the project website upon grant selection and remain for a period of no less than 12 consecutive months.  In cases where sponsorship packages are available, a sponsorship equivalent to the dollar amount of TGP funds awarded must be provided to VisitHATTIESBURG. This information should be included in application submissions.  Grants for individual organizations cannot exceed $5,000 in a Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30).  An organization receiving TGP funding is responsible for paying all applicable taxes.  Additional guidelines may be required on an individual project basis and will be outlined in the TGP award letter and agreement. For more information, visit VisitHATTIESBURG.

The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi (CFM) is offering up to 10 small planning grants to establish local Early Childhood Councils (ECCs). Donor Name: Children’s Foundation of Mississippi (CFM) State: Mississippi County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The purpose of an Early Childhood Council (or committee) is to invite community leaders from all industries interested in improving conditions for children ages 0-5 and families in their neighborhoods, cities, and counties. Early Childhood Council Goals Communities that want to build a committee with a focus on one or more of the following areas should apply: Work to expand and deepen civic engagement with policymakers on children’s issues identified in their communities Support or advocate for policies and programming that continue to expand state funding for high‐quality public Pre‐K in Mississippi Serve as a facilitator and connector to build partnerships with existing non-profits/programming with established track records such as Excel By 5; Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, Parents Campaign Research and Education Fund, United Ways, Reach Out and Read, Mind in the Making/VROOM, Resource and Referral Centers, etc. Implement unique early childhood programs or resources in areas with a lack thereof Determine what programs or services are not currently in their communities but need to be accessed. Funding Information Assist grants of $2000. Eligibility Criteria These grants will be made to agencies or organizations that want to lead the community in determining needs and promoting the advancement of early childhood programming in their local communities. The planning grants will be awarded to local, community-based entities in two categories: Groups that are currently meeting, formally or informally, to address early care and education needs at the local level (whether it is within a municipality or across a county) Communities that do not currently have groups working on early care and education needs but want to explore more possibilities for children in their communities/counties are also encouraged to apply for the planning grants Non-profit organizations, community-based groups, educational institutions, and other relevant entities are eligible to apply. For more information, visit CFM.

The LGBTQ Grant Program award grants to support planning, research, and general operations that address priority needs of LGBTQ Mississippians as they strive to live safely, openly and without alienation, isolation, prejudice and/or discrimination. Donor Name: LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi State: Mississippi County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/28/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The LGBTQ Grant Program, which receives resources from a Fund held at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, provides resources that align with and support the vision, mission, and beliefs defined by the Advisory Board of The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi. Special attention will be paid to the following:  proposals that demonstrate a commitment to addressing the needs of LGBTQ communities that have been most demonstrably underserved, including but not limited to, communities of color, youth, seniors, and persons in rural communities;  intersectional programs addressing faith and acceptance; and  efforts serving transgender and gender non-conforming persons.  Geographic Area Applicants must be in Mississippi or provide services that have a positive direct impact on Mississippi’s LGBTQ population. Eligibility Criteria Applicants for grants from the LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi include the following:  nonprofit organizations with current tax-exempt status under Section 501c3 of the IRS code that are in compliance with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s charity registration, fee payment, audit (if required), and reporting requirements; units of local government (including schools school districts, public-private partnerships, and quasi-governmental entities);  research centers (independent and those associated with universities);  public and private institutions of higher learning; and  federally recognized Indian tribes. For more information, visit LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi.

Mini-Grants for Community Impact are offered to bolster local initiatives in Choctaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and/or Winston Counties. Donor Name: United Way of the Golden Triangle Region State: Mississippi County: Choctaw County (MS), Lowndes County (MS), Noxubee County (MS), Oktibbeha County (MS), Webster County (MS), Winston County (MS) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This agreement is based on the mutual beliefs of both the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region and the participating organization that: The goal of meeting the human needs of the people of Choctaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston Counties demands the united efforts of all segments of the commuity. Human services planning, community-wide fundraising and the allocation of funds based upon citizens’ review of services are the most effective and efficient means of meeting the human needs of the community. Clear understanding and mutual acceptance of the respective roles of the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region and the participating organization are essential to their joint effort to meet the human needs of the aforementioned counties. Funding Information The awarded amount ranges from $500 to $1,500, with a maximum of $1,500 per entity (non-profit, organization, program, business, or community group). Funds cannot be allocated towards salaries, reimbursements, matching funds, capital campaigns, operational expenses, consulting fees, or lobbying. Instead, they must be directed towards fulfilling a specific community need. Criteria This application welcomes registered 501(c)3 non-profits, organizations, businesses, programs, or community groups committed to advancing Education, Health, Financial Stability, Children/Family, and/or Disaster relief in this region. For more information, visit United Way of the Golden Triangle Region.

The Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities is accepting Innovative Quality of Life Grant applications for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025). Maximum funding amount for each grant is $25,000. MSCDD expects to fund five or more new grants. Deadline for the application is June 5, 2024 at noon. Eligibility and more details are stated in the application. Applications should address one or more of the following expected outcomes from the current state plan: Developing and Strengthening Self-Advocacy and Leadership Developing or Improving Approaches to Services and Systems Meeting Other Needs of People with Developmental Disabilities and Families Planning of the Future Care for Aging Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Mini-Grants for Community Impact are offered to bolster local initiatives in Choctaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and/or Winston Counties. Donor Name: United Way of the Golden Triangle Region State: Mississippi County: Choctaw County (MS), Lowndes County (MS), Noxubee County (MS), Oktibbeha County (MS), Webster County (MS), Winston County (MS) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This application welcomes registered 501(c)3 non-profits, organizations, businesses, programs, or community groups committed to advancing Education, Health, Financial Stability, Children/Family, and/or Disaster relief in this region. This agreement is based on the mutual beliefs of both the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region and the participating organization that: The goal of meeting the human needs of the people of Choctaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston Counties demands the united efforts of all segments of the commuity. Human services planning, community-wide fundraising and the allocation of funds based upon citizens’ review of services are the most effective and efficient means of meeting the human needs of the community. Clear understanding and mutual acceptance of the respective roles of the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region and the participating organization are essential to their joint effort to meet the human needs of the aforementioned counties. Funding Information The awarded amount ranges from $500 to $1,500, with a maximum of $1,500 per entity (non-profit, organization, program, business, or community group). For more information, visit United Way of the Golden Triangle Region.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and cultural groups in Mississippi to create documentary films that explore and reflect on the state's rich history and culture.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local entities in Mississippi to support health promotion and community wellness programs that benefit the state's residents.