What Jackson Heart Foundation does

Jackson Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in August 2009 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, whose mission is to lead the fight against cardiovascular disease in Mississippi through education, prevention, and early detection. The organization serves two primary beneficiary segments: Mississippi residents at large — particularly those in Jackson and surrounding communities facing above-average rates of cardiovascular disease and limited access to safe outdoor exercise space — and children across the state reached through its Get Heart Smart educational program. Leadership comprises a board chaired by Dr. Harper Stone with Vice Chairman Dr. Clay Hays, Executive Director Morgan Geary, and additional members drawn from local medicine, business, and civic life.

The foundation's core "products" are community health infrastructure and educational programs rather than a technology platform. The flagship asset is the Museum Trail, a paved multi-use greenway currently spanning 2.5-3 miles connecting the Belhaven neighborhood to the LeFleur Museum District and providing access to four museums and three parks, with planned expansion beyond 6 miles through the Capitol Green Connector. Supporting assets include the Keith Haring Fitness Court at Belhaven Heights Park — one of only ten in the nation under license from the Keith Haring Foundation via the National Fitness Campaign — the Get Heart Smart interactive exhibit at the Mississippi Children's Museum (a larger-than-life heart-and-lungs floor map plus a virtual cycling installation), the Mission First Playground, and the UMMC-partnered Public Health Study 2025 designed to quantify trail impact on community health.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a community nonprofit: voluntary donations accepted via Venmo and mail, branded merchandise sales (hats, t-shirts, tote bags, and 40 oz. tumblers priced $30-$55), foundation and corporate grants (including the Federal Highway Administration Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Planning Grant, AARP, Entergy Mississippi, Community Foundation for Mississippi, and Trustmark), and the annual Young at Heart fundraising gala. The organization does not disclose revenue, operates with 11-50 staff from a P.O. Box address, and reinvests all inflows into infrastructure buildout, educational programming, and statewide outreach.

Name

Jackson Heart Foundation

Legal name

Jackson Heart Foundation

Website

https://jacksonheartfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jackson Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that fights cardiovascular disease in Mississippi through the Museum Trail multi-use greenway, Get Heart Smart children's education program, Keith Haring Fitness Court, and supporting community fitness infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Public Health Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ), Health Equity & Social Determinants Program Funding (HLAJALAK), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community health programs
• Heart disease prevention
• Public health education
• Multi-use trail infrastructure
• Nonprofit health initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation accepts donations via Venmo (venmo.com/jacksonheartfoundation) and mail (P.O. Box 5021, Jackson, MS 39296). Donations support the organization's mission to promote heart health and cardiovascular health for the Mississippi community.
2. Merchandise Sales: The foundation sells branded merchandise including Museum Trail hats ($45), t-shirts ($35), tote bags ($30), and 40 oz. tumblers ($55) through its e-commerce storefront to raise funds and promote awareness.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: The foundation receives grant funding from government sources including the Federal Highway Administration's Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Planning Grant for trail development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jackson Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that fights cardiovascular disease in Mississippi by building community exercise infrastructure (the Museum Trail multi-use greenway and the Keith Haring Fitness Court) and delivering heart-health education (the Get Heart Smart program for children). It also funds playground installations and conducts public-health research in partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Product overview

Jackson Heart Foundation offers a portfolio of community health programs centered around physical activity promotion and heart health education. The core initiative is the Museum Trail, a multi-use trail system currently spanning 2.5+ miles with expansion phases underway. Supporting programs include the Get Heart Smart educational outreach for children, Mission First Playground equipment installations, and the Keith Haring Fitness Court. The foundation also operates merchandise sales under the Museum Trail sub-brand to support fundraising. The Public Health Study 2025, conducted in partnership with UMMC, researches the trail's health impacts. Annual programming includes the Young at Heart fundraising event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Trail Multi-use trail connecting museums, parks, and neighborhoods that promotes outdoor exercise, mental health, and quality of life. Currently spans 2.5+ miles with ongoing expansion phases including the Capitol Green Connector. Free public access for Jackson residents and visitors.
• Get Heart Smart Program Educational outreach program that teaches children about heart anatomy and health through an interactive larger-than-life heart and lungs floor map. Travels throughout Mississippi schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, libraries, and community organizations, reaching 4,600+ children since launch.
• Mission First Playground Playground equipment initiative installed at early learning centers and after-school programs (such as Missions First) providing children safe outdoor play environments that encourage physical movement.
• Keith Haring Fitness Court Outdoor fitness court at Belhaven Heights Park featuring licensed Keith Haring artwork, one of only ten in the nation. Provides free public access to exercise equipment along the Museum Trail.
• Museum Trail Merchandise Branded merchandise sold via the foundation's e-commerce storefront, including Museum Trail hats ($45), t-shirts ($35), tote bags ($30), and 40 oz. tumblers ($55). Proceeds support the foundation's heart-health initiatives.
• Public Health Study 2025 A research partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to study the health impacts of the Museum Trail on Jackson residents, gathering user experiences to document health benefits and support future trail expansion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2013, over 4,600 children have experienced the Get Heart Smart educational program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Jackson Heart Foundation partnered with UMMC to launch the Public Health Study 2025 focused on understanding the impact of the Museum Trail on community health. Researchers are gathering stories and experiences from trail users to study how access to green space and safe paths encourages physical activity and wellness.
• National Fitness CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024National Fitness Campaign selected Jackson as one of few host cities for the Keith Haring Fitness Court, one of only 10 in the nation. The foundation served as lead organization coordinating the installation at Belhaven Heights Park along Museum Trail.
• Keith Haring FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024The Keith Haring Foundation licensed artwork for the Fitness Court, making Jackson one of only 10 cities nationwide to feature the iconic artwork on a fitness court.
• Junior League of JacksonsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Contributed to the collective effort establishing the Keith Haring Fitness Court at Belhaven Heights Park.
• Greater Belhaven FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Partner in the Keith Haring Fitness Court project supporting the Belhaven neighborhood community.
• EPS EnergysupportingOthers · 26 September 2024Partner organization contributing to the Keith Haring Fitness Court installation project.
• CDFL Architects + EngineerssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 September 2024Architecture and engineering firm providing design services for the Keith Haring Fitness Court project.
• Visit JacksonsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2024Jackson's tourism organization participated as a partner in the Keith Haring Fitness Court project.
• Federal Highway AdministrationcoreOthersThe Capitol Green Connector project is supported by the Federal Highway Administration's Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Planning Grant, aimed at bridging historic barriers to mobility and opportunity through equitable infrastructure investments.
• City of JacksoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity leadership including Mayor John Horhn participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Capitol Green Connector. The city is a key partner in trail development and infrastructure projects.
• Entergy MississippimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntergy Mississippi CEO Haley Fisackerly noted the project's benefits for walkability, sustainability, and economic advancement in downtown Jackson, indicating corporate partnership support.
• Community Foundation for MississippimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key partner in the Capitol Green Connector project, providing support alongside the foundation to advance community health and economic growth initiatives.
• Great City Mississippi FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the Capitol Green Connector project and downtown Jackson revitalization efforts.
• Mississippi Department of Archives and HistorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization highlighted at the Capitol Green Connector groundbreaking, emphasizing the trail's power to connect people and honor Jackson's heritage.
• Capitol Complex Improvement DistrictsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Capitol Green Connector project representing capital city infrastructure interests.
• Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT)supportingOthersMDOT information indicates the first 2.5-mile section of Museum Trail follows the abandoned GM&O Railroad from Downtown Jackson through Greater Belhaven along LeFleur's Bluff State Park.
• Mississippi Children's MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermanent home of the Get Heart Smart exhibit and Ride the Trails installation. The foundation sponsors interactive fitness displays and heart health education programming at the museum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Heart Association: The dominant national nonprofit fighting cardiovascular disease through research, education, and prevention. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary population (cardiovascular patients and at-risk communities), though vastly larger in scale and reach.
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit that converts abandoned rail corridors into multi-use trails. Highly comparable model: Museum Trail follows an abandoned GM&O Railroad corridor, mirroring Rails-to-Trails' core conversion thesis applied at city scale.
• National Fitness Campaign: Operates the Fitness Court program through which Jackson Heart Foundation installed one of only 10 Keith Haring-branded courts nationally. Directly comparable built-environment model promoting outdoor fitness in underserved communities.
• Community Foundation for Mississippi: A key partner on the Capitol Green Connector and a fellow Mississippi-based philanthropic grantmaker. Directly comparable as a community foundation operating in the same geography and overlapping donor base.

Others

• Entergy Mississippi: Corporate sponsor and partner on the Capitol Green Connector. Comparable as a regional stakeholder supporting community infrastructure in Jackson, though operating in a different sector (utility) — relevant as a funder and partner rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Kaiser Permanente: Integrated health system with substantial community-health programming, including investments in active living, healthy eating, and built-environment interventions. Comparable strategy of addressing cardiovascular risk via community-level interventions rather than clinical care alone.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Largest U.S. philanthropy focused solely on health, with significant emphasis on health equity and the social determinants of health. Comparable overarching thesis of addressing community conditions that drive cardiovascular outcomes.
• American Cancer Society: Large national disease-focused nonprofit with parallel operating model (research funding, prevention education, community outreach). Comparable in scale and donor-development playbook, though focused on oncology rather than cardiovascular disease.

Emerging players

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for communities. Comparable in building community health-supporting green infrastructure, with overlapping interests in trail development and equitable access to outdoor space.

Regional players

• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation: State-level health philanthropy focused on Mississippi population health. Comparable mission (community health improvement in Mississippi) and overlapping geographic footprint, though delivered through grantmaking rather than direct programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/jacksonheartfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/JacksonHeartFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jackson Heart Foundation