Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Foundation for the Mid South Inc

EIN 72-1151070 · Jackson, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MID SOUTH INVESTS IN PEOPLE AND STRATEGIES THAT BUILD PHILANTHROPY AND PROMOTE RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY IN ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.

Income
$693,649
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
61.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 85%
Employees
17
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$240,009, president/ceo

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 61.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 275% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
  1. $1,000 spent. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES:THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED ITS FOOTPRINT IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY: - W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION (WKKF): SECURED A 12-MONTH EXTENSION FOR THE MOVING MISSISSIPPIANS FORWARD WORKFORCE GRAN! WITH A REFINED STRATEGY FOCUSING ON: - CAREER PATHWAY PROGRAMS: RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND JOB PLACEMENT FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH. - INTERNSHIPS & APPRENTICESHIPS: PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE PAID WORK EXPERIENCES. - SUPPORT STAFF AND CAREER COACHES: NEW ROLES INTRODUCED TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS THROUGH COMPLETION AND JOB PLACEMENT. STRATEGIC FUNDRAISING AND PARTNERSHIPS: - ENGAGED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO EXPLORE SCALABLE MODELS OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND MUNICIPAL-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT.IMPACT: FMS IS ADVANCING TOWARD ITS STRATEGIC GOAL OF REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT BY 5% ACROSS TARGET COMMUNITIES THROUGH WORKFORCE UPSKILLING AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT.
  2. $385,101 spent. EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES:FOUNDATION FOR THE MID SOUTH (FMS) ADVANCED EDUCATION EQUITY INITIATIVES ACROSS THE REGION BY: - YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: DELIVERED KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS AND LEADERSHIP SESSIONS AT THE GEAR UP LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY, JUNE 2024), PROMOTING YOUTH LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC PERSISTENCE, AND WORKFORCE READINESS. - FMS SPONSORED THE MISSISSIPPI CONSORTIUM OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISONS (MCI-IEP) CONVENING. THE MCHEP CONVENING IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT FOCUSES ON BEST PRACTICES, POLICY UPDATES, PELL IMPLEMENTATION INFORMATION DESIGNED TO ASSIST COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND PARTNERS IN PRISON EDUCATION WORK TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL INSTRNCTION LEADING TO DEGREE COMPLETION. - FMS SPONSORED TEACHELLA AUGUST 31, 2024. TEACHELLA IS AN EDUCATOR EXPO DESIGNED FOR ALL EDUCATORS TO COME TOGETHER AND INITIATE THE MOVEMENT THAT IS NEEDED TO INCREASE TEACHER RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT TO HELP COMBAT MISSISSIPPI'S CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE. - FMS EDUCATION PROVIDED FOUR SUMMER CAMPS DURING JUNE AND JULY, WITH 175 STUDENTS REPRESENTING ALL NINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. TO PREPARE FOR THE SUMMER CAMPS, THE GEAR UP PROGRAMS TEAMS HOSTED TWO ORIENTATION SESSIONS. THE FIRST SESSION WAS FOR DISTRICT LIAISONS/CHAPERONES, WITH 100% DISTRICT PARTICIPATION. THE SECOND SESSION WAS FOR PARENTS, WITH 100% DISTRICT PARTICIPATION. - THE GEAR-UP TEAM SECURED TEN PMINERSHIP MEETINGS (100%) WITH SCHOOL LEADERS FROM JULY 30, 2024, THROUGH AUGUST 9, 2024, TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND LEARNING OPPO1IUNITIES WITH ONE OF OUR PAIINERS, GET2COLLEGE. THESE EFFORTS AND PLANS WERE IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE GEAR-UP SCHOLARS CAN MAXIMIZE ALL THE FREE EDUCATIONAL OPP01IUNITIES THAT GEAR-UP MISSISSIPPI DELTA AFFORDS THEM AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.- THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA GEAR UP PMINERSHIP, FMS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING:--1,843 STUDENTS SERVED--14,482 TOTAL SERVICE HOURS--96% SCHOOLS SERVEDIMPACT: THE EDUCATION WORK DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO FMS'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF RAISING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES BY 10% ACROSS THE TRI-STATE REGION BY 2030.
  3. HEALTHY OPPORTUNITIES:THE FOUNDATION ADVANCED BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH EQUITY IN 2024: - MENTAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP: FMS INTERN JOHN R. WALKER WAS APPOINTED TO THE MISSISSIPPI K-12 AND POSTSECONDARY MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE, ESTABLISHED THROUGH SENATE BILL 2727. HE IS THE ONLY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE STATEWIDE, A NOTABLE EXAMPLE OF FMS'S LEADERSHIP CULTIVATION MODEL. - PARTNERSHIP WITH MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (MDH):--INTEGRATED FMS'S REENTRY RESOURCE GUIDE (RRG) INTO THE MDH STATEWIDE WEBSITE.--EXPANDED CHW (COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER) TRAINING AND CE1TIFICATION EFFORTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED WORKFORCE EXPANSION.- PHILANTHROPIC ALIGNMENT:--COLLABORATED WITH THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION (RWJF) ON HEALTH EQUITY CONCEPT NOTES.--SECURED $25,000 FROM JULIE H WALKER LEGACY FOUNDATION FOR STUDENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRAINING.IMPACT: THESE PARTNERSHIPS POSITIONED FMS AS A KEY INTERMEDIARY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY-BUILDING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THROUGH WORKFORCE-LINKED HEALTH INITIATIVES.
  4. $1.1 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EVENTS:UNDER THE TRHT FRAMEWORK, FMS SUPPORTED SIX COMMUNITY PARTNERS-MILLSAPS COLLEGE, JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, TOUGALOO COLLEGE, MISSION MISSISSIPPI, NESHOBA YOUTH COALITION, AND THE ALLUVIAL COLLECTIVE-TO DESIGN AND LEAD LOCAL RACIAL HEALING PROGRAMS: - REACH: OVER 800 PARTICIPANTS STATEWIDE, SPANNING COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, STORYTELLING CIRCLES, AND SYMPOSIA. - HIGHLIGHTS:--MILLSAPS COLLEGE HOSTED JUNETEENTH ST01YTELLING FORUMS EXPLORING ECONOMIC EQUITY.--MISSION MISSISSIPPI LED "ONE COMMUNITY" DIALOGUES ACROSS BILOXI, HATTIESBURG, AND PICAYUNE.--TOUGALOO COLLEGE CONVENED "ROOTED IN RESILIENCE" FIRESIDE CHATS ON BLACK AGRICULTURAL EQUITY.--THE ALLUVIAL COLLECTIVE ADDRESSED JACKSON'S WATER CRISIS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ROUNDTABLES. - TRHT MEDIA PROJECT:--PARTNERED WITH JACKSONIAN MEDIA TO DOCUMENT RACIAL HEALING EVENTS; FOUR MAJOR RECORDINGS WERE COMPLETED AND ARCHIVED (JUNE-JULY 2024). - EVALUATION: EVALUATOR RODNEY WASHINGTON RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION CULTURE OF HEALTH LEADER, ELEVATING THE PROFILE OF THE MISSISSIPPI TRHT INITIATIVE.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.