University of Southern Mississippi Wesley Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COLLEGE STUDENTS OFTEN FEEL DISCONNECTED WHEN THEY ARRIVE TO CAMPUS. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI WESLEY FOUNDATION FOSTERS MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS THAT PROVIDE A FAITH FAMILY FOR STUDENTS DURING THEIR COLLEGE YEARS.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $399,199
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 68 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 450
- Highest pay
- $67,733, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 68.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 81% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $348,241 spent. 2024 HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE YEAR OF GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION FOR THE SOUTHERN MISS WESLEY FOUNDATION AS IT CONTINUES TO FORM STUDENTS IN THE WESLEYAN TRADITION AND EXPAND OUR REACH TO NEW CAMPUSES THROUGH WESLEY. TOGETHER, WE HAVE SEEN LIVES CHANGED, COMMUNITIES STRENGTHENED, AND THE GOSPEL SHARED IN MEANINGFUL AND LASTING WAYS. 1. EXPANDED MINISTRY FOOTPRINT: - LAUNCHED HUB CITY WESLEY, UNITING MINISTRY EFFORTS ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, JONES COLLEGE, AND PEARL RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNDER ONE SHARED MISSION: ONE MINISTRY IN THE WESLEYAN WAY. - ESTABLISHED A WEEKLY WESLEY GATHERING AT JONES COLLEGE LED BY STUDENT PRESIDENT JACK RILEY GRACE, WITH REGULAR OUTREACH AND TABLING ON MONDAYS. - SUPPORTED THE GROWTH OF PRCC WESLEY, LED BY ITS FIRST STUDENT PRESIDENT, EMILY COPELAND, AND TOOK STEPS TOWARD OFFICIAL CAMPUS RECOGNITION. 2. THE INAUGURAL ROCK RETREAT- HELD THE FIRST-EVER ROCK RETREAT AT CAMP WESLEY PINES (JULY 26-28, 2024), BRINGING STUDENTS TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN THEIR FAITH AND IDENTITY IN CHRIST BEFORE THE SEMESTER BEGAN. - THEME: "CHRIST OUR SOLID FOUNDATION," BASED ON 1 SAMUEL 17:45-47- PLANS ARE ALREADY IN MOTION FOR THE SECOND ROCK RETREAT, JULY 25-27, 20253. STUDENT DISCIPLESHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - INTRODUCED TWO NEW DISCIPLESHIP AND LEADERSHIP TEACHING SERIES: 1) ALIVE: LEADERSHIP THAT BREATHES LIFE ON CAMPUS - EXPLORING THE WESLEY LEADERSHIP VALUES OF BEING AVAILABLE, TEACHABLE, INFLUENTIAL, FAITHFUL, AND OBEDIENT. 2) FAN THE FLAME - CONNECTING STUDENTS TO SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION AND COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CORE VALUES OF AVAILABILITY, INFLUENCE, TEACHABILITY, FAITHFULNESS, OBEDIENCE, PRESENCE, AND INVITATION- TRAINED AND MENTORED MORE THAN 40 STUDENT LEADERS ACROSS THREE CAMPUSES IN WEEKLY LEADERSHIP GATHERINGS 4. MISSION AND SERVICE- MOBILIZED STUDENTS TO SERVE LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY FOLLOWING THE ACTS 1:8 MODEL: - JERUSALEM (HATTIESBURG): REGULAR SERVICE PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS - JUDEA (PINE BELT): MISSION WORK THROUGHOUT THE REGION - SAMARIA (STATE): SPRING BREAK MISSION EXPERIENCE - ENDS OF THE EARTH (INTERNATIONAL): A MISSION TRIP IN MAY 2025 IS PLANNED TO CONTINUE THE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT - OVER 450 VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENTS ACROSS ALL SEMESTERS, SERVING IN LOCAL MINISTRIES, FOOD SECURITY EFFORTS, AND CAMPUS OUTREACH5. COMMUNITY AND HOSPITALITY - WELCOMED MORE THAN 200 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS, WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS PROVIDING GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY, REPRESENTING NEARLY EVERY FAITH BACKGROUND. - CONTINUED EQUINOX AT WESLEY, A DAILY OUTREACH OFFERING HANDCRAFTED TEA SPRITZERS AND CONVERSATION SPACE FOR STUDENTS FROM 7 AM TO 2 PM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY- DISTRIBUTED TINY HOUSEPLANTS AT THE START OF THE SEMESTER TO HELP STUDENTS FEEL AT HOME AND REMIND THEM OF GROWTH IN CHRIST 6. DONOR AND CHURCH ENGAGEMENT - DEEPENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND ALUMNI THROUGH PRESENTATION, LETTERS, AND SHARED MISSION EFFORTS- HELD THE 5TH ANNUAL WESLEY OPEN, CONTINUING A GROWING TRADITION OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT 7. LOOKING AHEAD- THE SEEDS PLANTED IN 2024 ARE PREPARING THE WESLEY FOUNDATION FOR A THRIVING FUTURE AS IT APPROACHES THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2027 AND IS SHAPING A MINISTRY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HELP COLLEGE STUDENTS FIND THEIR PURPOSE, MEANING, AND FULFILLMENT IN CHRIST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: University of Mississippi Foundation (Oxford, MS), EIN 23-7310293. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.