Grants

Women's Policy Institute Class of 2019-2020

Many social and economic barriers hold back Mississippi women every day, limiting their opportunities to succeed. Our mission is to help them thrive. Because when women thrive, so does our state. That’s why we award grants to programs that drive social change – like helping mothers graduate on time, increasing women’s access to career development opportunities, or improving access to evidenced-based sex education to help young women make informed decisions about their health.

Since 2003, we have invested more than $4 million toward our mission and have sparked real change for Mississippi women in communities across the state. The Foundation works toward social change in Mississippi by advocating, supporting inclusiveness, and promoting accountability and sustainability in all of our work. These values extend to our grantmaking.

To ensure that our grant funds are allocated in a way that maximizes support for women and girls in Mississippi, and to ensure that we are addressing key community needs, we implement a streamlined, yet thorough grant process. This process includes:

Thorough vetting – Our application, follow-up, and reporting processes ensure that we develop partnerships with trusted grantee organizations that share our mission to improve outcomes for Mississippi women. These processes also help us measure the impact of grant support and let us know what’s working.

Inclusion – We help identify organizations working with underrepresented populations and invite them to apply for grants.

Collaboration – Collaboration is at the heart of a Women’s Foundation grant. Our grants are an invitation into a circle of organizations working together, sharing best practices, and moving the needle for women and girls across the state.

Capacity Building – We help organizations develop the capacity needed to raise sustainable funds, connect to supporters, and continue to make a positive impact in Mississippi. As a result, our capacity-building helps create stronger organizations across the state, empowered to create change in the years to come.

With a deep well of staff experience working in this sector and a committed board at the forefront of trends affecting the state, we’re an effective channel for funders looking to make a difference for women and girls in Mississippi.

Access to Opportunity

Women have a greater opportunity for economic security when they have access to degree and skills training programs. Our grants create more opportunities for Mississippi women to get their degrees and access higher education by supporting programs that offer career guidance and access to educational opportunities.

MGCCC Foundation, Inc | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Grants from the Women's Foundation will be used to provide childcare assistance to mothers enrolled in a CTE, Workforce, or...

MGCCC Foundation, Inc | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Grants from the Women’s Foundation will be used to provide childcare assistance to mothers enrolled in a CTE, Workforce, or Adult Education program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC).

Graduating a Healthy Workforce

The Bower Scholars Program supports students in completing their nursing and healthcare workforce related degrees on time. The project will increase the graduation rates of nursing and health-related students, ultimately bolstering Mississippi's hospitals, health facilities, and medical centers.

Bower Scholars Program

Stock Image

Statewide

The Bower Scholars Program supports students in completing their nursing and healthcare workforce related degrees on time. The project will...

Bower Scholars Program

Stock Image

Statewide

The Bower Scholars Program supports students in completing their nursing and healthcare workforce related degrees on time. The project will increase the graduation rates of nursing and health-related students, ultimately bolstering Mississippi’s hospitals, health facilities, and medical centers.

This year’s cohort includes:
– Alcorn State University
– Coahoma Community College
– Copiah Lincoln Community College
– Delta State University
– East Mississippi Community College
– Hinds Community College
– Holmes Community College
– Itawamba Community College
– Jones College
– Meridian Community College
– Northeast Mississippi Community College
– Northwest Mississippi Community College
– Pearl River Community College

Healthy Women

One of our top priorities is to reduce teen and unplanned pregnancy rates through real sexual education that is evidence-based and medically accurate. Not only do these unplanned pregnancies handicap future generations, they cost our state $155 million in lost economic potential every year. By ensuring teens have access to pregnancy prevention programs, we can keep young women on track to finish their education and achieve their dreams. We’re proud to say our efforts have already helped lower Mississippi’s teen birth rate, but we still have a long way to go.

Youth-Friendly Healthcare | Teen Health Mississippi

Jackson, MS

Teen Health Mississippi works to improve the sexual health of Mississippi teens by providing trainings that build community capacity and...

Youth-Friendly Healthcare | Teen Health Mississippi

Jackson, MS

Teen Health Mississippi works to improve the sexual health of Mississippi teens by providing trainings that build community capacity and resource access.

With grants from the Women’s Foundation, Teen Health Mississippi will launch Youth-Friendly Healthcare. Youth-Friendly Healthcare will work in tandem with Teen Health Mississippi’s Training and Technical Assistance Program (T&TA) to help clinicians and health care providers build their capacity to provide youth-friendly reproductive health care services.

The program will also host youth-friendly walkthroughs and programming to help health centers learn how to best support the young people in their community.

MYVoice | Teen Health Mississippi

Statewide

With grants from the Women's Foundation, Teen Health Mississippi will launch MYVoice--a program designed to support youth ages 13 to...

MYVoice | Teen Health Mississippi

Statewide

With grants from the Women’s Foundation, Teen Health Mississippi will launch MYVoice–a program designed to support youth ages 13 to 19 with information about their sexual and reproductive health.

MYVoice provides peer-led sessions both online and in person to connect young people to evidence-based information. The goal is to reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Mississippi, as well as lower STI rates and boost health literacy.  strategies for the peer sex education program.

Empowered Girls, Empowered Women | Spring Initiative

Coahoma County

Spring Initiative creates new opportunities for young people in the Mississippi Delta to overcome disparities and live happy, healthier lives. Through...

Empowered Girls, Empowered Women | Spring Initiative

Coahoma County

Spring Initiative creates new opportunities for young people in the Mississippi Delta to overcome disparities and live happy, healthier lives.

Through grants from the Women’s Foundation, Spring Initiative provides regular, evidence-based sex education across all ages to ensure that students can make informed decisions about their health and feel confident in defining and maintaining the boundaries they choose to set for themselves.

These initiatives are paired with individual conversations where staff members offer emotional and logistical support to ensure that students feel motivated and equipped to access birth control, regular STD tests, medical care, etc.

Health and Hygiene Project | The SHE Project

Jackson, MS

The Health and Hygiene Project seeks to combat issues of social isolation, bullying, and self-esteem by providing education and hygiene...

Health and Hygiene Project | The SHE Project

Jackson, MS

The Health and Hygiene Project seeks to combat issues of social isolation, bullying, and self-esteem by providing education and hygiene toiletries at no cost to students attending elementary, middle, high and colleges in Jackson, MS.

 

The program will address these disparities with educational sessions for proper hygiene. Cultural and age-appropriate information will be provided via onsite workshops in addition to digital/written materials for reference.

 

Secondly, the program will provide an onsite hygiene closet stocked with items such as lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, soap, deodorant, sanitary napkins, brush, comb, and hand sanitizer. Finally, if issues related to reproductive and/or sexual health are identified during the workshops, students will be linked to medical services.

Solid Ground Healthy Relationships | Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc.

Bolivar, Coahoma, Prentiss, Sunflower, Tippah, Union and Washington Counties

Grant funds from the Women's Foundation will go towards supporting Strategic Solutions' "Solid Ground Healthy Relationship" workshops across the state. Solid...

Solid Ground Healthy Relationships | Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc.

Bolivar, Coahoma, Prentiss, Sunflower, Tippah, Union and Washington Counties

Grant funds from the Women’s Foundation will go towards supporting Strategic Solutions’ “Solid Ground Healthy Relationship” workshops across the state.

Solid Ground Healthy Relationships classes expand access to evidence-based reproductive health courses in order to help teens (aged 15 to 19) make more informed decisions about their health, reduce the teen pregnancy rate, and lower the rate of sexually transmitted diseases in Bolivar, Coahoma, Prentiss, Sunflower, Tippah, Union and Washington Counties.

Post-partum Relational Health | University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)

Statewide

Through grants provided by the Women's Foundation, The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was able to enhance their service...

Post-partum Relational Health | University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)

Statewide

Through grants provided by the Women’s Foundation, The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was able to enhance their service program focused on improving post-partum outcomes for Mississippi women.

Utilizing new evidence-based intervention methods, the Newborn Observation System (NBOS) will be implemented in NICUs and wellness visits at UMMC. NBOS aims to reduce depressive symptoms in mothers, educate parents on newborn caregiving, and positively impact the post-birth experience for new moms.

Healthy Women, Healthy Families Initiative | Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health (IAMH)

Hinds County, MS

Using evidence-based strategies, the Healthy Women, Healthy Families Initiative aims to improve a number of maternal health outcomes for Mississippi...

Healthy Women, Healthy Families Initiative | Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health (IAMH)

Hinds County, MS

Using evidence-based strategies, the Healthy Women, Healthy Families Initiative aims to improve a number of maternal health outcomes for Mississippi women in Hinds County, MS.

By working with local health organizations, sharing resources provided by the Mississippi State Department of Health, and increasing the number of community maternal health resources, this program aims to reduce the risk of maternal and infant mortality, improve care access, and promote reproductive health and family planning services.

STD Risk Reduction for African American Girls and Women | Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health

Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health

Hinds County, MS

The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health will: Create two community advisory boards (CAB) of Black females ages 15-19 and...

STD Risk Reduction for African American Girls and Women | Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health

Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health

Hinds County, MS

The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health will:

Create two community advisory boards (CAB) of Black females ages 15-19 and Black females ages 20-24- to develop strategies for the prevention and reduction of STD’s, HIV and viral hepatitis in Hinds County.

Create a network of community network of health, non-health, and social services providers to facilitate the linkage of Black females ages 15-24 in the target area to HIV/STD, HPV screening, information and referrals, behavioral risk
counseling, and other social support services.

Reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among Black females ages 15-24 in the target area.

Create culturally sensitive strategically planned communication and marketing campaign designed to provide information about strategies for reducing and preventing STD’s among Black females between the ages of 15-24 years of age in Hinds County.

Evaluate the effectiveness of this evidence-based approach to reducing and preventing STD transmission among Black women ages 15-24 years of age in Hinds County.

Rapid Response

We fund programs that provide critical support to underserved communities in times of need. Grants focused on rapid response are developed to help build community capacity and address key needs in local communities.

Extra Table

ET Photo

Hattiesburg, MS

Since 2009, Extra Table has worked to provide healthy food in bulk to food pantries and soup kitchens across Mississippi....

Extra Table

ET Photo

Hattiesburg, MS

Since 2009, Extra Table has worked to provide healthy food in bulk to food pantries and soup kitchens across Mississippi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Extra Table used Rapid Response funding to help address food shortages and provide supplies to Mississippi families significantly impacted by the pandemic.

Magnolia Medical Foundation

MMF Photo

Jackson, MS | MS Gulf Coast

Since its founding in 2009, Magnolia Medical Foundation (MMF) has provided preventive health services (health screenings, health education,...

Magnolia Medical Foundation

MMF Photo

Jackson, MS | MS Gulf Coast

Since its founding in 2009, Magnolia Medical Foundation (MMF) has provided preventive health services (health screenings, health education, promotion, chronic disease management services, i.e., cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke) to high risk and underserved individuals and communities.

During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, MMF used Rapid Response grant funds to help vaccination outreach efforts for women and underserved populations in Jackson, MS. Funds were also used to help provide food and care items to Hispanic families across the Gulf Coast. 

Institute to for the Advancement of Minority Health

Hinds County, MS

Since its founding in 2019, IAMH has worked with the Women’s Foundation to expand access to health services and information...

Institute to for the Advancement of Minority Health

Hinds County, MS

Since its founding in 2019, IAMH has worked with the Women’s Foundation to expand access to health services and information for minorities in underserved communities across Mississippi.

In 2020, the Institute utilized grants from the Women’s Foundation to identify communities in need, and to provide supplies, testing, and vaccines to communities severely impacted by COVID-19.

Two-Generation: Better Futures

The Women’s Foundation uses a two-generation approach to provide opportunities for and meet the needs of parents and their children together. We help mothers and guardians further their education and career training, while providing necessary childcare and early education to their children and grandchildren. With opportunity more readily available, multiple generations of Mississippi women can create paths to success.

Employment Equity for Single Moms | Mississippi Low-Income Child-Care Initiative

Statewide

Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI) will use grant funds from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi to support their Employment...

Employment Equity for Single Moms | Mississippi Low-Income Child-Care Initiative

Statewide

Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI) will use grant funds from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi to support their Employment Equity for Single Moms (EESM) project.

EESM aligns state childcare and workforce systems to targets employment and training opportunities that help single moms acquire higher paying jobs. EESM also provides direct services and child-care assistance to single moms across the state. The results of EESM will be used to showcase the benefits of system changes that support improved outcomes for single mothers and demonstrate to decision makers how resources can be aligned to improve life outcomes.

Parents As Teachers | St. Gabriel Mercy Center, Inc.

Mississippi Delta

The Parents As Teachers (PAT) Program is an international organization that follows specific outlined structures and procedures that entails the...

Parents As Teachers | St. Gabriel Mercy Center, Inc.

Mississippi Delta

The Parents As Teachers (PAT) Program is an international organization that follows specific outlined structures and procedures that entails the optimal early development, learning and health of young children by supporting and engaging their parents or caregivers.

With grants from the Women’s Foundation, Parents As Teachers will provide continued certifications for caregivers wanting to become Parent Educators. Funds will also be used to support the yearly PAT Conference, and offer license for Visit Tracker, a data collection software required by the International Program, and program supplies and materials for caregivers undergoing certification. Funds will also go toward monthly in-person group meetings, home visits, and childcare supplies for parents.

Project E.A.T. | The GradUS Project

Through trainings, stipends, and network support, Project E.A.T. (Earn, Assist, and Train) will help women and families who have experienced...

Project E.A.T. | The GradUS Project

Through trainings, stipends, and network support, Project E.A.T. (Earn, Assist, and Train) will help women and families who have experienced or who are at risk for domestic violence find support.

The program offers a “60 Days to a Career Pathway” course, which enrolls women in a 60-day program where they will earn a stipend for completing 25 hours of transitional employment in a gourmet popcorn factory, participate in a Domestic Violence safety workshop, and train in a short-term workforce certificate from a community college.

Project E.A.T. will also offer a program, the “60 Minute Internship,” to at-risk high school youth. This allows participants to earn internship experience and participate in a Safe Dates workshop.

Mommy-N-Me | Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc.

Statewide

Based in Booneville, MS, Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc. provides resources, programs, and activities that empower children, teens, adults, and...

Mommy-N-Me | Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc.

Statewide

Based in Booneville, MS, Strategic Solutions for Families, Inc. provides resources, programs, and activities that empower children, teens, adults, and community-focused organizations in order to promote economic stability across the state.

With grant funds from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, Strategic Solutions was able to create Mommy-N-Me, an initiative centered on providing parents and caregivers the tools they need to support their families. This program will provide workshops in Bolivar, Coahoma, Union, Prentiss, Sunflower, Tippah, Union, and Washington counties, that will help participants build financial literacy and access local resources.

Better Together | Midtown Partners

Jackson, MS

Grants from the Women's Foundation will be used to create a career path for Jackson-area mothers by providing them the...

Better Together | Midtown Partners

Jackson, MS

Grants from the Women’s Foundation will be used to create a career path for Jackson-area mothers by providing them the opportunity to receive their Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials as well as providing them with on-site training in high quality teaching practices, appropriate methods of engaging with families, and an embedded real-world classroom teaching experience.

Such training will provide the mothers with marketable skills to contribute to the workforce as caregivers and educators. The training will help the mothers become better managers of their own and their children’s home-lives, which will contribute to the mental and physical wellbeing of the whole family. After certification, participants will receive professional mentoring that will continue beyond their initial job placements.

Families Thriving Through and Post COVID-19 | Spring Initiative

Spring Initiative (Families)

Mississippi Delta

Spring Initiative will: Ensure that the 40 parents of our most regular Spring students, as well as the 60 Baby University...

Families Thriving Through and Post COVID-19 | Spring Initiative

Spring Initiative (Families)

Mississippi Delta

Spring Initiative will:
Ensure that the 40 parents of our most regular Spring students, as well as the 60 Baby University participants over the upcoming three class sessions, receive consistent and individualized support from the Spring staff as they work to make
their family thrive.

Successfully offer a monthly workshop for Spring parents, family members, and other community members. The first three sessions will focus on topics related to coping with Covid-19, such as stress, technology, and overall health – emotional,
mental, and physical. In 2021, Spring will administer a new parent survey to determine topics of highest interest and relevance for parents, which will then inform the topics chosen for the remaining six workshops.

Two-Generation: Community College

Many Mississippi women face dire social and economic barriers every day, limiting their opportunities and derailing their paths to success. We want to open more doors for more women by funding programs that offer career guidance and access to educational opportunities needed to pursue those careers. Our research-based methods have already helped hundreds of women reach a brighter future.

Making WAVES | Pearl River Community College

Pearl River Community College

The goal of Making WAVES (Women Achieving Victories and Educational Success) at Pearl River Community College, is to recruit and...

Making WAVES | Pearl River Community College

Pearl River Community College

The goal of Making WAVES (Women Achieving Victories and Educational Success) at Pearl River Community College, is to recruit and equip non-traditional and economically vulnerable families, from within the six-county service area, by providing two-generation educational programs which afford opportunities that meet the needs of parents and children.

The primary focus of this workforce development project will be to help students in need overcome barriers prior to entering the nursing workforce. Support will be awarded based on need and may provide for wrap-around services in the form of emergency funds for additional coursework expenses, healthcare licensing testing fees (required for securing employment), or mentoring programs.

Connect2MCC | Meridian Community College

Meridian, MS

Connect2MCC is a program generated with a two-generation approach in order to help female MCC students with children access the...

Connect2MCC | Meridian Community College

Meridian, MS

Connect2MCC is a program generated with a two-generation approach in order to help female MCC students with children access the tools they need to graduate on time. Connect2MCC pairs students with a supportive mentor and also gives students a $250 stipend to cover childcare, textbooks, or other supplies.

Two-Generation Wrap Around Support for Financially Insecure Female Caregivers | 2nd Chance MS

2nd Chance MS degree recipients

Oxford

By providing wrap-around support to low-income, adult students, 2nd Chance MS has been able to help over 1,000 individuals continue...

Two-Generation Wrap Around Support for Financially Insecure Female Caregivers | 2nd Chance MS

2nd Chance MS degree recipients

Oxford

By providing wrap-around support to low-income, adult students, 2nd Chance MS has been able to help over 1,000 individuals continue their educational pathway, including 283 High School Equivalencies and 291 Workforce Certifications.
By enabling adults in Mississippi to finish their education, they are empowering individuals to step out of poverty and into the workforce.

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