Mississippi Private Grants

This funding initiative provides financial support to graduate students conducting herpetological research focused on the conservation and management of reptiles and amphibians in the southeastern United States.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations in the southeastern U.S. for professional development activities that enhance staff skills and organizational effectiveness.

This grant provides financial support and professional development opportunities to exceptional scriptwriters residing in the Southern United States, celebrating their contributions to the region's cultural landscape.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local entities in Mississippi to support health promotion and community wellness programs that benefit the state's residents.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in New York and Mississippi that are dedicated to advancing social justice through grassroots initiatives and systemic change, with a focus on race, gender, equitable development, and Indigenous sovereignty.

This grant provides financial support to Southern writers and independent publishers for literary projects that celebrate the region's unique traditions and voices.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues and improve public health in underserved communities across the U.S.

This grant provides financial support and recognition to exceptional visual artists in the Southern U.S. to enhance their artistic practice and promote their work through exhibitions and residencies.

This funding initiative provides financial support to community-based organizations, local and tribal governments in eight southeastern states to address environmental justice issues and promote healthier environments.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local governments in rural Southern communities for engaging professional artists in various artistic disciplines.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in South Mississippi that deliver direct animal welfare services, such as spay and neuter programs, adoption services, and community education initiatives.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that promote cultural understanding and diversity in communities where Nissan operates, supporting educational programs, cultural events, and heritage projects.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based non-profit organizations to support projects that promote Japanese arts and culture, particularly in areas with limited access to such events.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

Mini-Grants for Community Impact are offered to bolster local initiatives in Choctaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and/or Winston Counties. Donor Name: United Way of the Golden Triangle Region State: Mississippi County: Choctaw County (MS), Lowndes County (MS), Noxubee County (MS), Oktibbeha County (MS), Webster County (MS), Winston County (MS) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This application welcomes registered 501(c)3 non-profits, organizations, businesses, programs, or community groups committed to advancing Education, Health, Financial Stability, Children/Family, and/or Disaster relief in this region. This agreement is based on the mutual beliefs of both the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region and the participating organization that: The goal of meeting the human needs of the people of Choctaw, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston Counties demands the united efforts of all segments of the commuity. Human services planning, community-wide fundraising and the allocation of funds based upon citizens’ review of services are the most effective and efficient means of meeting the human needs of the community. Clear understanding and mutual acceptance of the respective roles of the United Way of the Golden Triangle Region and the participating organization are essential to their joint effort to meet the human needs of the aforementioned counties. Funding Information The awarded amount ranges from $500 to $1,500, with a maximum of $1,500 per entity (non-profit, organization, program, business, or community group). For more information, visit United Way of the Golden Triangle Region.

VisitHATTIESBURG’s Tourism Grant Program (TGP) is an annual allocation designed to enhance visitor and tourism promotion efforts in Hattiesburg. Donor Name: VisitHATTIESBURG State: Mississippi County: Forrest County (MS), Lamar County (MS) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: TGP provides funds for marketing and other qualified expenses for projects/events that fulfill VisitHATTIESBURG’S mission and, ultimately, increase overnight travel to Hattiesburg. Eligible applicants for funding include an organization/event/project whose objective is to promote Hattiesburg’s tourism industry to out-of-town visitors by generating overnight travel and economic stimulus to the city. The target audience should be outside the immediate Hattiesburg area (over 50- mile radius or out-of-state).  Qualifying entities may be attractions, associations, organizations, or governmental agencies which promote their event, products, and/or services to visitors from outside the area. Qualified grant projects must be held in Hattiesburg and should be classified in one of the following categories:  Festival / Event  Attraction / Public Use Facility Museums, historical buildings, meeting space, sporting facilities, etc. Other organizations / associations with a primary objective of promoting tourism in Hattiesburg. TGP funds may be used for a variety of expenses, including traditional and digital advertising, brochures and signage, event or exhibit production costs, and marketing and promotional activities. Disallowable expenses include utilities, general operating expenses, administrative expenses (including salaries, travel, meal and lodging), loan payments, personal benefits, cash awards, expenses not directly related to the approved project, and any illegal activities. Eligibility Requirements Applicants should fulfill the following requirements:  The project for which grant funds are requested must be primarily located within Hattiesburg (includes Forrest and Lamar Counties).  Projects should promote Hattiesburg as a destination by highlighting local lodging, dining, shopping, and attractions.  The proposed project must comply with all applicable laws, permits, licenses and regulations.  Each project must maintain financial records to document the use of TGP funds. These records should be filed and made available for inspection by VisitHATTIESBURG for a period of not less than three (3) years.  If funding is granted, the current VisitHATTIESBURG logo and/or TGP badge must be included on all collateral, advertisement, digital media, and signage in relation to the funded project. In addition, a hyperlinked VisitHATTIESBURG logo must be placed on the project website upon grant selection and remain for a period of no less than 12 consecutive months.  In cases where sponsorship packages are available, a sponsorship equivalent to the dollar amount of TGP funds awarded must be provided to VisitHATTIESBURG. This information should be included in application submissions.  Grants for individual organizations cannot exceed $5,000 in a Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30).  An organization receiving TGP funding is responsible for paying all applicable taxes.  Additional guidelines may be required on an individual project basis and will be outlined in the TGP award letter and agreement. For more information, visit VisitHATTIESBURG.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) seeks proposals to voluntarily conserve aquatic habitat in southeastern United States and Texas. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/18/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The priorities of the Southeast Aquatics Fund are informed by the aquatic goals and strategies of the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, which was adopted by the NFWF Board of Directors in 2018 (updated 2023). To the extent possible, proposals should describe how activities will advance specific goals and objectives of the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan and/or other relevant conservation plans. The plan seeks to conserve the extraordinary biodiversity found across the southeast. It prioritizes work in northern Alabama and Georgia due to measurement and monitoring constraints. It utilizes a suite of aquatic species as indicators of healthy aquatic habitat in prioritized watersheds. Because of the priority given to this subregion, funding is available for a wide range of activities in the Conasauga River (GA) and Locust Fork and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. Priority will be given to projects that would benefit the following focal species: Conasauga River – Endemic and Native Fishes (Alabama shiner, banded sculpin, blue shiner, bridled darter, Coosa darter, Coosa shiner, Greenbreast darter, tricolor shiner and trispot darter). Middle Coosa – Trispot darter Funding Information Approximately $8.45 million is available in grant funding in 2024. Grant awards are expected to range from $150,000 to $500,000, depending on the overall scale and duration of the project. Project Period Anticipated completion time for funded projects typically will be 24–36 months following finalization of a grant agreement.  Geographic Scope Grants will be made in specific geographies or river basins in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and Texas.  Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal Governments and Organizations, and educational institutions. Applicants must comply with or be exempted from federal single audit requirements. Ineligible applicants include U.S. Federal government agencies, businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. U.S. Federal agencies are encouraged to partner with applicants but are not eligible to apply. For more information, visit NFWF.

The Mississippi Humanities Council offers grants to support projects that engage communities in meaningful dialogue, attract diverse audiences, and are participatory and engaging, applying humanities to everyday life. Grants support public humanities programs, exhibits, planning of larger projects, and the development of original productions in various media. Regular grants : start at $2,500 to $10,000. Regular grants applications are accepted on May 1st and September 1st Grant renewed every year.

Education Grants allow applicants to conduct education and outreach activities for the benefit of the greater sustainable ag community, and promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, ag diversification, and best management practices. Donor Name: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: 08/02/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Education Grants are open to academic institutions and organizations, such as non-profits and non-governmental organizations, who are interested in conducting education and outreach activities for the benefit of the greater sustainable ag community, and promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators are especially encouraged to apply for this grant for their education and outreach activities. SSARE also considers proposals from organizations/institutions whose projects involve farmers from indigenous agriculture that produces products for community food systems. These enterprises may be eligible where the production activity has an annual value of less than $1,000, even if products are not sold due to cultural factors. Education Grants should focus on a topic area of sustainable agriculture relevance that meets SARE’s program goals. In addition, the proposed project should comprise education/outreach efforts/activities that support the research/education foundation of the institution/organization, and must clearly articulate how those education/outreach efforts/activities will be implemented and evaluated. Examples of Education Grant projects can include one or more of the following, but are not limited to: Experiential (Demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops, trainings, case studies); Integrative (Conferences, seminars, course curriculum) Reinforcement (Fact sheets, bulletins, books, manuals, videos, online technologies, guidebooks) SARE encourages proposals on quality of life topics that focus on the social health of a farming system. These can include, but are not limited to: Heirs property; Farmers’ markets; food hubs; locavores; CSAs; Local/regional processing/slaughter; Food sheds and food circles; Direct marketing and value-added; Beyond organics value chains; Farm to School/Institution; Civic agriculture, agritourism; Denominations of origin/geographic indications; Non-GMO movement, Slow Food, chef collaboratives; Urban ag systems; Food policy councils, governance structures; and Local/regional certification/branding. Funding Information Education Grant project maximums are $50,000, limited to two (2) years. Education Grants are paid by reimbursement of allowable project expenses. Who can apply? Researchers from public and private institutions, such as 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities or other colleges and universities; government agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service or USDA-ARS; non-governmental organizations; and community-based organizations. Education Grants strictly fund education and outreach activities related to sustainable agriculture whose outcomes are intended to benefit farmers and farming communities. There is no research involved in these grant projects. Southern SARE accepts proposals from applicants in the Southern region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grant Requirements  Education Grant proposals must meet the following basic requirements in order to be considered for funding: Project outcomes must focus on developing sustainable agriculture systems or moving existing systems toward sustainable agriculture. The project must clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom and how the project will accomplish those goals. The results must be realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to the actions and benefits described in the proposal. For farmers involved in your project, the primary occupation is farming/ranching or part-time farming. Producers run their farm alone or with family or partners and have a least $1,000 of documented annual income from the operation, as defined by USDA. SSARE also considers proposals with farmers from indigenous agriculture that produces products for community food systems. These enterprises may be eligible where the production activity has an annual value of less than $1,000, but products are not sold due to cultural factors. For more information, visit Southern SARE.