Foundation for the Mid South
Foundation for the Mid South is a regional philanthropic foundation founded in 1990 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, that deploys grants and convenes partnerships across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to address poverty, education, health, economic opportunity, and racial healing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersJackson, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Foundation for the Mid South does
Foundation for the Mid South is a regional philanthropic foundation founded in 1990 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. It serves the three-state Mid South region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, an area that accounts for nearly 30% of the nation's poverty. The foundation operates as a private nonprofit, deploying charitable contributions through grantmaking, community convening, and strategic partnerships with educational institutions, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and local leaders. Over its 35-year history, FMS has invested more than $800 million in the region across priority areas of education, health, economic opportunity, and racial healing.
The foundation's core offerings are organized into priority program areas: Educational Opportunities (K-12 improvement, college readiness via the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership), Healthy Opportunities (maternal health, mental health, chronic disease), Economic Opportunities (workforce, financial security, affordable housing), and Racial Healing (Mississippi TRHT Alliance). Signature initiatives include the $15 million Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership serving 10 rural school districts, the Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Alliance, the Giving Circles collective giving program, and the Mississippi Truth, Poverty and Democracy Tour. Revenue is derived from philanthropic contributions and institutional co-funding rather than product sales, with major funding partners including the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and Woodward Hines Education Foundation. The foundation is currently operating under a Strategic Sprint period and a 2025-2030 strategic plan under President & CEO Greg Johnson and Board Chair Theo Bunting.
Foundation for the Mid South firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foundation for the Mid South
- Legal name
- Foundation for the Mid South
- Website
- https://fndmidsouth.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Foundation for the Mid South is a regional philanthropic foundation founded in 1990 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, that deploys grants and convenes partnerships across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to address poverty, education, health, economic opportunity, and racial healing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foundation for the Mid South industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
Keywords
Where Foundation for the Mid South is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jackson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Foundation for the Mid South business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Grantmaking: As a regional foundation, FMS raises and deploys charitable funds from donors and institutional partners to support community programs in education, health, and economic development across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Revenue is derived from contributions, not product/service sales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Foundation for the Mid South product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Foundation for the Mid South is a regional philanthropic foundation that raises and deploys charitable funds through grantmaking and programmatic initiatives to address poverty, educational disparities, healthcare gaps, and economic inequality across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It manages signature initiatives such as the Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Alliance, the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership, and Giving Circles, alongside three priority program areas: Educational Opportunities, Economic Opportunities, and Healthy Opportunities.
Product overview
The Foundation for the Mid South operates as a regional philanthropic organization managing a portfolio of community development programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include: the Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Alliance which promotes racial healing through narrative change and community dialogue; the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership supporting college and career readiness in rural schools; the Giving Circles initiative enabling collective philanthropy; and three priority program areas covering Educational Opportunities, Economic Opportunities, and Healthy Opportunities. Additional offerings include a Grants Program for funding community solutions and Resources/Publications providing research and guides for community development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Alliance: An initiative focused on racial healing through narrative change, storytelling, relationship-building, and economic transformation, launched with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership
- Giving Circles
- Mississippi Justice Fund
Products and services
- Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Alliance A community-based initiative that promotes racial healing through narrative change, storytelling, relationship-building, and economic transformation, following a national model aimed at empowering communities to address systemic challenges. Launched with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership A $15 million initiative managed in partnership with Casey Family Programs, Delta State University, and Woodward Hines Education Foundation, designed to resource and support 10 rural Mississippi school districts with emphasis on college and career readiness.
- Giving Circles A collective giving initiative that invites community members across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to pool resources and collectively decide how to support causes they care about, enabling collective philanthropy regardless of individual wealth level.
- Grants Program A multi-stage grantmaking program supporting high-quality solutions that promote education, physical and mental health, financial security, and community growth and prosperity across the Mid South region. Includes concept development, pre-proposal (direct solicitation, discussion and dialog, grant inquiry, RFP), and proposal development stages.
- Educational Opportunities Program Initiative focused on improving high school graduation rates, college preparedness, and life outcomes of students through early childhood education, literacy programs, and student support.
- Economic Opportunities Program Programs building the skills and knowledge of communities to transform themselves, including workforce training, financial education, and economic development initiatives.
- Healthy Opportunities Program Initiatives to improve individual and community health outcomes in chronic disease, mental health, and access to care, including maternal healthcare access and doula program support.
- Resources and Publications Reports, guides, and research publications including the Mississippi Reentry Guide, Black Male report, Testing Positive education study, and philanthropy building materials available for download.
Quantifiable outcome
- Holmes County Consolidated School District improved from 'F' to 'B' rating in three years, with 55% increase in high school Algebra proficiency and 51% proficiency gains in fifth grade science
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Foundation for the Mid South
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Foundation for the Mid South technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Foundation for the Mid South partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, key collaborator, signature initiative and demonstration project.
- Hope Credit Union and Hope Enterprise CorporationcoreLong-standing partnership helping families build financial strength and stability. Hope Credit Union offers financial education, access to affordable loans, and resources that empower families to achieve economic independence. Previously known as Enterprise Corporation of the Delta.
- Casey Family ProgramscorePartner in the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership, which manages a $15 million initiative supporting rural school communities with college and career readiness programs.
- Delta State UniversitycorePartner in the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership, providing support for rural school communities emphasizing college and career readiness.
- Woodward Hines Education FoundationcorePartner in the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership, contributing to college and career readiness initiatives for rural school communities.
- Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)flagshipLead organizer of the Mississippi Truth, Poverty and Democracy Tour (October 2024), a statewide listening tour featuring community roundtables, expert clinics, and legislative hearings to voice issues and concerns to state and local leaders.
- NAACP Legal Defense Fundkey collaboratorCollaborator in the Mississippi Truth, Poverty and Democracy Tour, helping to amplify voices of Mississippi families and highlight economic needs.
- One Voicekey collaboratorCollaborator in the Mississippi Truth, Poverty and Democracy Tour representing community interests.
- ACLU-MSkey collaboratorCollaborator in the Truth and Poverty Tour partnership.
- Mississippi Poor People's Campaignkey collaboratorCollaborator in the Truth and Poverty Tour partnership.
- Mississippi Legislative Black Caucuskey collaboratorCollaborator in the Truth and Poverty Tour helping connect community voices with legislative processes.
- Mission MississippicoreLeading TRHT Alliance partner running the 'One Community' dialogue series focused on faith and building relationships in communities including Biloxi, Hattiesburg, and Picayune.
- Millsaps CollegecoreTRHT Alliance partner hosting 'Changing the World with Stories' events in collaboration with Narrative 4, engaging students from Millsaps College and Jackson State University.
- Jackson State UniversitycoreTRHT Alliance partner collaborating on storytelling and racial healing initiatives with Millsaps College and Narrative 4.
- Tougaloo CollegecoreTRHT Alliance partner with deep community ties and commitment to racial healing work.
- Neshoba Youth CoalitioncoreTRHT Alliance partner focused on youth engagement in racial healing and community transformation.
- The Alluvial CollectivecoreTRHT Alliance partner organizing Jackson Water Crisis Awareness events to address environmental racism and effects of long-term neglect on Mississippi's capital.
- Narrative 4 (N4)key collaboratorPartner in storytelling initiatives with Millsaps College, hosting events focused on the power of storytelling with students.
- Mississippi Justice Fundsignature initiativeSignature initiative of FMS addressing justice reform and related community challenges.
- Boss Lady Transportationdemonstration projectPartnership example demonstrating how local solutions build regional progress, focused on transportation access.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights10 records
Foundation for the Mid South competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Kresge Foundation: National foundation focused on expanding opportunities for low-income people across health, education, environment, and community development. Comparable to FMS because it funds place-based equity work in the South and overlaps on health equity and economic opportunity themes.
- Ford Foundation: Large national foundation tackling inequality across multiple issue areas through grantmaking and mission-aligned investments. Comparable to FMS as a broader incumbent that funds overlapping themes—racial equity, economic opportunity, and inclusive growth—with a substantially larger endowment but less regional concentration.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation: One of the largest US foundations, anchoring the national Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation framework that FMS implements locally in Mississippi. Comparable as a broader-incumbent parent of the TRHT model and a major funding partner for FMS programming.
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Largest US philanthropy dedicated to health and health equity, including maternal and rural health initiatives. Comparable to FMS because of overlapping priorities on health access, maternal mortality, and rural community health in the Mid South, though its scale and national reach make it a broader incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
Direct peers
- Marguerite Casey Foundation: National equity-focused foundation supporting low-income communities and communities of color through place-based and movement-building grantmaking. Comparable to FMS because of its alignment on economic equity, racial justice, and community-power themes under a similar foundation-scale budget.
- Annie E. Casey Foundation: Major national foundation investing in children, families, and community change, with deep partnerships in Mississippi through Casey Family Programs. Comparable to FMS because it co-invests in the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership and shares the education-outcomes and family-economic-security focus.
- Woodward Hines Education Foundation: Mississippi-based education foundation focused on college access, readiness, and postsecondary completion. Comparable to FMS as a co-investor in the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership and a peer organization operating in the same state on overlapping K-12-to-college-pipeline objectives.
- Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation: Arkansas-rooted philanthropy investing in economic, education, and equity outcomes for rural and low-wealth communities. Directly comparable to FMS because of its place-based regional model addressing poverty in an overlapping Mid-South state, with similar foundation size and program structure.
- Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation: Southeast-focused foundation working to lift rural poverty out of persistent disadvantage through place-based grantmaking in education, economic opportunity, and racial equity. Comparable to FMS because it operates in a similar overlapping geography with a comparable multi-state, community-led strategy.
Others
- Hope Credit Union / Hope Enterprise Corporation: Mississippi-rooted community development financial institution providing financial services, credit, and enterprise support in underserved Deep South communities. Comparable to FMS as a longstanding strategic partner on economic opportunity and asset-building within the same Mid-South geography and demographic.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Foundation for the Mid South social profiles
Digital presenceFoundation for the Mid South financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foundation for the Mid South leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Foundation for the Mid South funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Foundation for the Mid South M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for the Mid South
What does Foundation for the Mid South do?
Foundation for the Mid South is a regional philanthropic foundation that raises and deploys charitable funds through grantmaking and programmatic initiatives to address poverty, educational disparities, healthcare gaps, and economic inequality across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It manages signature initiatives such as the Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Alliance, the Mississippi Delta GEAR UP Partnership, and Giving Circles, alongside three priority program areas: Educational Opportunities, Economic Opportunities, and Healthy Opportunities.
Is Foundation for the Mid South a public or private company?
Foundation for the Mid South is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Foundation for the Mid South founded?
Foundation for the Mid South was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Foundation for the Mid South based?
Foundation for the Mid South is headquartered in Jackson, United States, in the North America region.
How does Foundation for the Mid South make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Grantmaking.
Who are Foundation for the Mid South's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Kresge Foundation, Ford Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Direct peers are Marguerite Casey Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Woodward Hines Education Foundation, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. Hope Credit Union / Hope Enterprise Corporation is listed as an others.
Does Foundation for the Mid South have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foundation for the Mid South.
What industry is Foundation for the Mid South in?
Foundation for the Mid South's product category is Philanthropic Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.