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University of Southern Mississippi Research Foundation

EIN 64-0902475 · Hattiesburg, MS

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO OVERSEE THE ACQUISITION OF GIFTS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS FOR SPONSORED RESEARCH FOR INDIVIDUALS, INDUSTRIES, PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND TO ASSIST WITH TRANSFERRING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED THROUGH THE FOUNDATION.

Income
$736,784
Spending
$917,952
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$301,310, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $290,478 spent. TO OPERATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF, TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF, AND/OR TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, A PUBLIC INSTITUITION OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
  2. $341,334 spent. THROUGH USM - USM RESEACH FOUNDATION LAUNCHED GULF BLUE INITIATIVE ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST - CAPITALIZING ON THE COAST'S GEOGRAPHY AND MARITIME RESOURCES. GULF BLUE INITIATIVE IS STRATEGICALLY INVESTING IN MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH INNOVATION CLUSTERS SUCH AS: UNCREWED MARITIME SYSTEMS, OCEAN - FRIENDLY PLASTICS, PRECISION AQUACULTURE, SMART PORTS, SEA-SPACE SYSTEMS AND COASTAL DATA.
  3. $20,000 spent. TO SUPPORT ACQUACULTURE INNOVATION
  4. $20,500 spent. TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITY

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 2026.

  7. 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 October 13, 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.