Greater Belhaven Foundation

What Greater Belhaven Foundation does

Greater Belhaven Foundation (GBF) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit neighborhood foundation established in 1999 and headquartered at 954 E. Fortification Street, Jackson, Mississippi. It serves the residents, businesses, and institutions of two adjoining historic neighborhoods — Belhaven and Belhaven Heights — which together form Mississippi's largest historic district with 1,306 contributing structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2012. GBF's mission is to enhance, protect, and improve the Greater Belhaven area through historic preservation, parks and trails maintenance (58 acres, 4+ miles of trails, three parks), neighborhood security initiatives (including Flock Safety license-plate-reader cameras), beautification, traffic calming, and a year-round calendar of more than ten community events such as Bright Lights, Art for the Park, Belhaven Hills Classic, Belhaven Boo, Cleanup Days, and Shakespeare in the Park.

The foundation's core products and services are delivered through a Wild Apricot-powered website that functions as a donation portal, membership platform, event registration hub, and merchandise storefront (Buy Belhaven). Operational sub-brands include the Belhaven Business Coalition (50+ member businesses engaged in legislative advocacy), Friends of Belhaven Parks, and the Belhaven Mountain Biking Trails Committee. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Mary Alex Thigpen and a board chaired by Margaret Cupples, supported by an Administrative Assistant and contract graphic design services.

Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams: tiered annual giving circles (Good Neighbor under $600 up to Belhaven Benefactor at $3,000+), event sponsorships ($100 to $3,000 tiers), event ticket sales (e.g., $55 for Art for the Park, $100 for Being Belhaven Party), merchandise sales via the Buy Belhaven online store, private and federal grants (over $800,000 applied for in 2024), state arts funding (Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts), and a Community Improvement District property tax assessment authorized under Mississippi Code § 21-33-553. As of March 2026, the 2026 Annual Fund had reached $117,413.10 against a $175,000 goal.

Name

Greater Belhaven Foundation

Legal name

Greater Belhaven Foundation

Website

https://greaterbelhaven.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Greater Belhaven Foundation is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 1999 that serves residents and businesses of the Belhaven and Belhaven Heights historic neighborhoods in Jackson, Mississippi, delivering historic preservation, parks and trails maintenance, security programs, and a year-round calendar of community events funded through donations, sponsorships, grants, and a Community Improvement District tax assessment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation / Neighborhood Preservation Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Neighborhood preservation services
• Historic district stewardship
• Community improvement district
• Community event programming
• Annual giving fund

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, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Fund / Donations: Unrestricted donations through annual giving circles supporting community events, infrastructure maintenance, security, beautification, historic preservation, and business support programs. Currently at $117,413.10 of $175,000 goal (67%).
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships for community events including Art for the Park, Belhaven Hills Classic, Bright Lights, Belhaven Boo, and Cleanup Days.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including posters, art prints, koozies, tumblers, stickers, and the book 'A History of Greater Belhaven' through the Buy Belhaven online store.
4. Membership Dues: Tiered annual membership program with Belhaven Benefactor ($3,000+), Belhaven 100 ($1,200-$2,999), Friends of Greater Belhaven ($600-$1,999), and Good Neighbor (under $600) giving circles.
5. Event Tickets: Ticket sales for community events including Art for the Park ($55 general admission) and Being Belhaven Party ($100 per ticket).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Greater Belhaven Foundation operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit neighborhood foundation that preserves, protects, and enhances the historic Belhaven and Belhaven Heights neighborhoods in Jackson, Mississippi. It delivers community programming through annual giving circles, tiered memberships, event sponsorships, and more than 10 annual community events, while maintaining three neighborhood parks, miles of trails, and historic preservation services. The foundation funds these activities through donations, merchandise sales, grants, and Community Improvement District property tax assessments.

Product overview

Greater Belhaven Foundation operates as a neighborhood foundation website offering community services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include an e-commerce store for branded merchandise (Buy Belhaven), an online donation/fundraising platform for the Annual Fund supporting neighborhood projects, a real estate listing directory linking to Zillow, event sponsorship opportunities, and tiered annual giving/membership programs. These services are delivered through the Wild Apricot membership software platform and do not constitute a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Belhaven Business Coalition (BBC): Initiative focused on organizing business owners in Greater Belhaven to liaison collective concerns to advocates and lawmakers.
• Friends of Belhaven Parks
• Belhaven Mountain Biking Trails Committee (BMBT)

Products and services

• Buy Belhaven Merchandise Store Online store selling Greater Belhaven branded merchandise including event posters, art prints, apparel items like koozies and tumblers, and the 'History of Greater Belhaven' book authored by Bill Harvey. Targets residents, visitors, and gift buyers.
• Annual Fund Donation Program Online donation platform supporting the Annual Fund toward a 2026 goal of $175,000 for community events, infrastructure maintenance, security, beautification, historic preservation, and business support initiatives. Targeted at residents and supporters of the Greater Belhaven neighborhood.
• Homes for Sale Directory Directory linking to Zillow listings for homes within the Greater Belhaven footprint, assisting prospective residents in finding property in the historic district.
• Annual Giving Circles (Membership Program) Annual tiered membership program with levels Belhaven Benefactor ($3,000+), Belhaven 100 ($1,200-$2,999), Friends of Greater Belhaven ($600-$1,999), and Good Neighbor ($600 or less). Provides supporters with recognition and event access, including two free Being Belhaven Party tickets at higher tiers.
• Art for the Park Event Biennial community fundraiser (next held April 16, 2026 at Fairview Inn, 6:30-8:30 PM) supporting neighborhood parks, with $55 general admission and multiple sponsorship tiers. Organized with Belhaven Garden Club.
• Belhaven Boo Halloween Event Family-friendly Halloween block party at $3 per person with sponsorship tiers from Halloween Hero ($100) through Big Bad Booliever ($300), co-organized with Belhaven Garden Club.
• Being Belhaven Party Annual Being Belhaven Party at $100 per ticket, with two complimentary tickets included for members of qualifying annual giving circles (Belhaven Benefactor, Belhaven 100, or Friends of Greater Belhaven).
• Belhaven Hills Classic Race Annual race event co-created with Jackson Trail Club to highlight neighborhood assets and promote outdoor recreation; held during Oktoberfest and hosted by Fertile Ground Beer Co.
• Keith Haring Fitness Court Outdoor Keith Haring Fitness Court at Belhaven Heights Park, one of only ten nationwide installed in 2024 through the National Fitness Campaign, supporting cardiovascular health and outdoor wellness.
• Belhaven Business Coalition Organized coalition of 50+ business owners within the GBF footprint, holding monthly Zoom calls and advocating with elected officials; supported passage of three House Bills in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• Removed over 20 abandoned vehicles across the neighborhood
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Fitness Campaign (NFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Selected Belhaven Heights Park as one of only ten locations nationwide for the Keith Haring outdoor Fitness Court as part of the 2024 National Fitness Campaign. NFC is an award-winning initiative delivering outdoor wellness programs to healthy communities.
• Belhaven Garden ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-organizer of Art for the Park (biennial fundraiser) and Belhaven Boo Halloween event. Partners on park improvements and beautification efforts.
• Keith Haring FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Licensed Keith Haring artwork for the outdoor Fitness Court installation, uniting Haring's art with the world's best outdoor gym in the Fitness Court.
• City of JacksoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on traffic calming master plan, street resurfacing, Historic Preservation Commission oversight, and park improvements. Ward Seven Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay instrumental in Fitness Court relocation.
• Belhaven Business CoalitioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganized coalition of business owners within GBF footprint working to liaison collective concerns to advocates and lawmakers. Monthly Zoom calls and advocacy for legislation including three House Bills passed in 2024.
• Belhaven Garden ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of Art for the Park 2026 event at Fairview Inn, with multiple sponsorship tiers.
• MDOTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMet with MDOT and other neighborhood leaders on addressing homelessness and transportation issues.
• Jackson Trail ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of Belhaven Hills Classic race event to highlight neighborhood assets and promote outdoor recreation.
• Security Support ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted to conduct security audit across the entire GBF footprint.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Foundation of Mississippi: Statewide community foundation that directly co-funds GBF initiatives (e.g., Keith Haring Fitness Court) and operates a similar nonprofit grantmaking/advocacy model focused on Mississippi communities. Comparable mission and funding mechanisms make it the most direct peer.
• Preservation Society of Charleston: Neighborhood-scale historic preservation nonprofit operating within a National Register historic district. Mirrors GBF's combination of preservation advocacy, community programming, and event-based fundraising in a tourism-rich Southern setting.
• Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans: Neighborhood-focused historic preservation nonprofit running events, tours, and educational programming across multiple historic districts. Comparable operating model with GBF's mix of events, advocacy, and preservation services.
• Mississippi Heritage Trust: Statewide nonprofit dedicated to preserving Mississippi's historic places. Directly comparable to GBF's preservation mandate around the Belhaven Historic District and engages in similar advocacy, grants, and educational programming.
• Historic Neighborhoods Foundation (New Orleans): Neighborhood-scale preservation nonprofit focused on a single historic district with similar blend of preservation services, events, and donor-funded operations. Closely comparable to GBF in mission, geography type, and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National-scale historic preservation organization providing grants, advocacy, and programming. Operates in the same preservation category as GBF but at much larger scope and across the entire US.
• Main Street America: National program supporting historic district revitalization through economic development, events, and preservation. Overlaps with GBF's commercial district support and event-driven fundraising model.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development nonprofit supporting neighborhood revitalization through grants, technical assistance, and partnerships. Operates at substantially larger scale but shares GBF's neighborhood-improvement and business coalition approach.

Regional players

• Foundation for the Mid-South: Regional community foundation serving Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Comparable grantmaking, civic engagement, and community development focus but at multi-state scale rather than neighborhood scale.

Emerging players

• Better Block Foundation: Nonprofit focused on neighborhood-scale placemaking and community-driven revitalization through events and short-term interventions. Shares GBF's grassroots, event-led approach to neighborhood improvement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/greaterbelhaven
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreaterBelhavenFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/greaterbelhaven

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Greater Belhaven Foundation