Create Foundation
CREATE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation in Tupelo, Mississippi, managing $199.8M in charitable assets across 17 Northeast Mississippi counties. It serves individual donors, businesses, local nonprofits, and students through endowment funds, donor-advised funds, scholarships, and regional development programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersTupelo, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Create Foundation does
CREATE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, established in 1972 by George A. McLean and Anna Keirsey McLean. It is the oldest community foundation in Mississippi and serves as the region's primary philanthropic infrastructure across 17 counties in Northeast Mississippi. The foundation's $199.8 million in assets under management (2025) supports a portfolio of charitable giving programs, including permanent endowment funds (minimum $5,000 to establish, 4% annual distribution rate), donor advised funds with online access via an FCSuite portal, scholarship funds (both permanent endowment and pass-through structures), and special project funds providing fiscal sponsorship for emerging nonprofits awaiting 501(c)(3) status.
The foundation operates a multi-program platform rather than a single product line. Core revenue-generating activities include administrative fees on managed funds (2% on scholarship endowments, $150 flat on pass-throughs) and facilitation of the Endow Mississippi state tax credit program (offering donors a 25% Mississippi state income tax credit on permanent endowment gifts). Beyond fund management, the foundation executes regional development initiatives through The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi (17-county leadership coalition), the Community Affiliates network (13 county-based affiliate boards), the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund (2007 partnership with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi supporting career coaching), the Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation (student-led grantmaking since 2001), and the Community of Excellence quality improvement program. In 2025, the foundation achieved a first-in-the-world milestone as the first foundation globally to earn CEFEX (Center for Fiduciary Excellence) certification, alongside sustained 4-star Charity Navigator ratings and Council on Foundations National Standards compliance.
The customer base spans four segments: individual donors and families (primary), businesses seeking corporate philanthropy vehicles, local nonprofits (grant recipients and fiscal-sponsorship clients), and students (scholarship beneficiaries). Distribution is hybrid: direct relationship-based fund management with professional staff, an online FCSuite donor portal, and physical presence through 13 county affiliates. The foundation is governed independently as a private nonprofit with no parent company, though it is the sole stockholder of Journal Publishing Company, Inc. (publisher of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal) following George McLean's death.
Create Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Create Foundation
- Legal name
- CREATE Foundation
- Website
- https://createfoundation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- CREATE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation in Tupelo, Mississippi, managing $199.8M in charitable assets across 17 Northeast Mississippi counties. It serves individual donors, businesses, local nonprofits, and students through endowment funds, donor-advised funds, scholarships, and regional development programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Create Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Foundation Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where Create Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tupelo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Create Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Fund Management: CREATE Foundation manages charitable funds for donors, including endowment funds, donor advised funds, and scholarship funds. Revenue is generated through administrative fees on fund balances and services provided to donors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Endow Mississippi Tax Credit Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Endowment Fund Establishment |
| Subscription | Annual | Scholarship Pass-Through Fund |
| Subscription | Annual | Scholarship Endowment Fund |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Create Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Create Foundation is a community foundation that manages charitable funds on behalf of individual donors, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, administered through endowment funds, donor advised funds, scholarship funds, and special project funds. In addition to fund stewardship, the foundation operates regional community development programs across Northeast Mississippi, including the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi, Toyota Wellspring Education Fund, Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation, and a network of Community Affiliates.
Product overview
CREATE Foundation is a community foundation offering a comprehensive suite of philanthropic services centered around fund management and regional development. The core product portfolio includes endowment funds, donor advised funds, and scholarship funds (available as either endowment or pass-through structures), along with special project funds providing fiscal sponsorship. Supporting programs include the McLean Legacy Society for planned giving, the Endow Mississippi tax credit program, and the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund for career development. Regional impact is driven through The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi, the Community Affiliates network, and the Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation. Additional initiatives include the Community of Excellence quality improvement program, the National Civics Bee, and recognition awards including the McLean Award for Philanthropy. Donors access fund management through an online portal. Together, these products enable charitable giving, scholarship support, youth leadership development, and regional economic/educational advancement across 17 counties in Northeast Mississippi.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi: Regional leadership initiative formed in 1995 to strengthen regional unity and cooperation through community development across 17 counties.
- Community Affiliates
- Toyota Wellspring Education Fund
- Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation (NEMYF)
- Endow Mississippi
- McLean Legacy Society
Products and services
- Endowment Funds Permanent pooled funds established by donors where the principal is preserved and investment returns are distributed as grants to charitable causes.
- Donor Advised Funds Flexible giving accounts that allow donors to recommend grants to qualified nonprofits over time while receiving an immediate tax deduction.
- Scholarship Funds Designated charitable funds that award scholarships to students based on criteria specified by the establishing donor.
- Special Project Funds Restricted funds that support specific community projects or initiatives as defined by the establishing donor.
- Endow Mississippi Tax Credit Program Mississippi state tax-credit program that allows donors to receive a partial state tax credit for qualifying gifts to endowed funds at the foundation, reducing the net cost of charitable giving.
- The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi Regional community impact initiative convened by the foundation to address long-term community and economic development priorities across Northeast Mississippi.
- Toyota Wellspring Education Fund Education-focused fund supporting local education, student success, and workforce development initiatives in Northeast Mississippi.
- Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation Youth-focused initiative supporting youth development, leadership, and engagement programs in Northeast Mississippi.
- Community Affiliates Program Network of local affiliate funds extending the foundation's philanthropic reach into individual counties across the Northeast Mississippi region.
Quantifiable outcome
- $199.8 million in assets under management
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Create Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Create Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Create Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing MississippicoreEstablished Toyota Wellspring Education Fund in 2007 as a long-term investment in Northeast Mississippi education and workforce development. Originally focused on Pontotoc, Union, and Lee counties (PUL Alliance), expanded to broader region. Fund supports career coaches, exposes students to career pathways, and connects students with workforce opportunities.
- Journal, Inc.corePartnered with Anna Keirsey McLean and Journal, Inc. to establish Community Affiliates program in 1997, providing each county with $100,000 challenge grant to establish community affiliates.
- Mississippi State UniversitycoreStrategic partnership through The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi. Collaboration on regional community development initiatives and Communities of Excellence program.
- University of MississippicoreStrategic partnership through The Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi. Collaboration on regional community development initiatives and Communities of Excellence program.
- Tennessee Valley AuthoritymajorPartnership supporting Communities of Excellence initiative and regional economic development across Northeast Mississippi.
- Appalachian Regional CommissionmajorFederal-state partnership supporting Communities of Excellence initiative in Northeast Mississippi through grants and strategic guidance.
- Community Development FoundationmajorPartnership to lead the National Civics Bee for Mississippi, empowering students with civic knowledge and skills through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
- Press ForwardminorInitiative to strengthen local news so communities stay informed, connected, and engaged.
- Junior AchievementminorPartnership to bolster access to financial literacy, career preparation, and high-quality programming for students across Northeast Mississippi.
- YMCAminorPartnership supporting youth development programming and career preparation for students across the region.
- Mississippi Development AuthorityminorPartnership through Aspire Initiative to promote Megapop Digital Innovation conference exploring digital transformation and emerging technology trends.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Create Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fidelity Charitable: Largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor and direct competitor for donor charitable dollars; competes with CREATE's donor-advised fund offering but at national scale and without the regional Mississippi state tax credit advantage.
- Schwab Charitable: Major national donor-advised fund program serving as a competing giving vehicle for high-net-worth donors; overlaps with CREATE's DAF product but lacks the local-convening, scholarship, and education-workforce capabilities.
Direct peers
- Tulsa Community Foundation: Community foundation managing roughly comparable AUM with strong endowment, donor-advised fund, and scholarship programs serving a multi-county region. Similar fund types, fee structure, and focus on regional community development.
- Greater Kansas City Community Foundation: Mid-size regional community foundation with donor-advised funds, scholarship administration, and affiliate-style local funds across a metro region. Directly comparable service mix and target donor segments.
- Community Foundation of Greater Memphis: Regional community foundation serving a multi-county Tennessee/Mississippi/multi-state area with donor-advised funds, endowments, and scholarship administration. Closely comparable structure, fund products, and regional grantmaking model to CREATE.
- Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: Large regional community foundation administering donor-advised funds, scholarship programs, and competitive grant cycles across Middle Tennessee. Highly comparable operating model including community affiliates-style local funds and education/workforce programs.
- Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta: Regional community foundation administering donor-advised funds, scholarship endowments, and community grantmaking across a multi-county region with comparable fund types and nonprofit infrastructure programs.
- The San Diego Foundation: Regional community foundation with comparable AUM scale and a similar blend of donor-advised funds, scholarship programs, and county-affiliate models. Operates as a regional philanthropic convener analogous to CREATE's Commission role.
Regional players
- Foundation for the Mid South: Regional foundation serving Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas with grantmaking, donor services, and community development programs. Adjacent geography and overlapping funder base with CREATE's Northeast Mississippi region.
- Mississippi Community Education Foundation: State-level foundation focused on community education initiatives across Mississippi. Overlaps with CREATE's scholarship and education/workforce development programs in the same state geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Create Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCreate Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Create Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Create Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Create Foundation 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 Create Foundation
What does Create Foundation do?
Create Foundation is a community foundation that manages charitable funds on behalf of individual donors, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, administered through endowment funds, donor advised funds, scholarship funds, and special project funds. In addition to fund stewardship, the foundation operates regional community development programs across Northeast Mississippi, including the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi, Toyota Wellspring Education Fund, Northeast Mississippi Youth Foundation, and a network of Community Affiliates.
Is Create Foundation a public or private company?
Create Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Create Foundation founded?
Create Foundation was founded in 1972. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Create Foundation based?
Create Foundation is headquartered in Tupelo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Create Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Fund Management.
Who are Create Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fidelity Charitable and Schwab Charitable. Direct peers are Tulsa Community Foundation, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and The San Diego Foundation. Regional players are Foundation for the Mid South and Mississippi Community Education Foundation.
Does Create Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Create Foundation.
What industry is Create Foundation in?
Create Foundation's product category is Community Foundation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.