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Mississippi First Inc

EIN 80-0310153 · Jackson, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSISSIPPI FIRST CHAMPIONS TRANSFORMATIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS ENSURING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR EVERY MISSSISSIPPI CHILD.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
9
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$202,465, former executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 165% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $4.2 million spent. PRE-K:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PUBLISHED A BLENDED PRE-K TOOLKIT. THIS TOOLKIT IS NOW BEING USED TO RECRUIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HEAD START GRANTEES.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST UPDATED AND PUBLISHED AN EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (ELC) TOOLKIT. THIS TOOLKIT IS USED TO SUPPORT OUR ONGOING ELC RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST FINALIZED THE RESEARCH PROCESS FOR THE FOURTH ITERATION OF THE STATE OF PRE-K SERIES, WHICH EXAMINES THE NUMBER, TYPE, AND QUALITY OF PRE-K PROGRAMS IN EACH COMMUNITY IN THE STATE. THE BRIEFS AND DASHBOARD ARE SLATED FOR PUBLICATION IN FY 26.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PROVIDED ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (MDE) TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (ELC) PRE-K PROGRAM.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PUBLISHED A BIRTH-TO-FIVE POLICY AGENDA FOR FUTURE WORK.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR INCREASING THE ELC PROGRAM APPROPRIATION IF THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (PINS) WOULD BE ALLOCATED BY THE LEGISLATURE. THE LEGISLATURE LEVEL-FUNDED THE ELC PROGRAM, A MOVE SUPPORTED BY MISSISSIPPI FIRST BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF PINS WAS NOT INCREASED.CHARTER SCHOOLS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PUBLISHED CHARTER PARENT FOCUS GROUPS REPORT.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONVENED CHARTER PARENT ADVISORY GROUP TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON DRAFT OF FOCUS GROUP REPORT.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE CHARTER SCHOOL LAW.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SOLIDIFIED COHORT 2 OF THE OPERATIONS RESIDENCY TO TRAIN OPERATIONS LEADERS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CREATED A PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY CURRICULUM FOR PARENT INITIATIVE WORK AND TRAINED CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERSHIP FOR CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION BEGINNING SY2026.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONDUCTED FOCUS GROUPS AND A PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE CHARTER POLLING FINDINGS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SUPPORTED IMPROVEMENT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS THROUGH QUALITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THIS TA RESULTED IN IMPACTFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN ELA IN SCHOOL GRADES FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AT THE END OF THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST LAUNCHED DISCOVER MS CHARTER SCHOOLS, A DIGITAL CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE MORE CHARTER SCHOOL AWARENESS WITHIN THE STATE.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PROVIDED SCHOOL LAUNCH SUPPORT FOR CLARKSDALE COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL, THE STATE'S FIRST CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL THAT OPENS FALL 2025.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ENGAGED PARENTS IN TRAINING AND OTHER ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED THE DISTRICT-CHARTER COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (COP), AND THEIR PROJECTS.TEACHERS AND LEADERS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONDUCTED 2025 TEACHER SURVEY OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ACROSS MISSISSIPPI.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST DRAFTED TEACHER PIPELINE REPORTED WITH NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATORS, SLATED FOR PUBLICATION IN FY26.FUTURE OF SCHOOLS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PUBLISHED EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO LEVERAGE MSFF FUNDS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION TO FIX ERRORS IN MSFF LAW.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND EXPERTISE TO POLICYMAKERS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST BEGAN THE PROCESS OF GATHERING DATA FOR AN ANALYSIS OF HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE RESPONDED TO TRANSITION TO THE MSFF.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 October 2009.

    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.

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.