Grants

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 decreasing unplanned pregnancies through medically accurate, evidence-based sexual education, or helping mothers graduate in order to provide a better quality of life for their children.

Last year we gave $675,000 in grants to local organizations across the state. Since 2012, we’ve given $2.2 million in total grants, changing the lives of more than 5,900 women and sparking real change in our communities.

ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY

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.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Wesson, MS

Every woman deserves a college education, but not all are academically prepared to even begin the coursework. The Corequisite Remediation Program consists of tutoring, career counseling lunch-and-learns, and S.T.E.M. profession guidance. In 2017, this program will help 60 women become college graduates.

Hinds Community College

Jackson/Raymond, MS

From medical issues to family crises, women often bear the brunt of financial emergencies. The Emergency Assistance Fund provides quick access to monetary support for women enrolled at Hinds so they don’t have to choose between paying tuition or addressing a financial crisis, like car trouble or medical bills. This support helps to improve student retention and graduation rates.

Holmes Community College

Goodman, MS

Low-income, first-generation, and disabled female students face even more obstacles than their peers on their way to graduating. The Women’s Emergency Fund helps lower these hurdles, providing financial support for food, gas, medicine and childcare. Students also have access to tutoring, career services and the “New Beginnings” support group.

Meridian Community College

Meridian, MS

The Women’s College Completion Assistance Program helps female students relieve financial burdens with gas cards, hot meals from the cafeteria and paying for test fees. Students receive tablets for access to e-books, as well as access to support groups and seminars.

Mississippi Center for Justice

All Campuses

The Community College Legal Clinic at Hinds Community College provides pro bono legal counsel to women through student information services and legal workshops. The legal team counsels women on student loan debt, fair housing, family law and predatory lending that often stress the finances of low-income women.

MSU SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER

Starkville, MS

For women overcoming hardships to enter college, support from like-minded peers is a vital and meaningful motivator to keep them in college. The EMPOWR program increases social integration, engagement and retention of female students attending Mississippi community colleges through peer mentoring programs and interactive speakers sessions.

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN – UNPLANNED PREGNANCY

MS Community Colleges

Unplanned pregnancies often prevent women from completing their education. This national program partners community colleges with local health providers in order to provide female college students with online, college-credited sexual education and clinic resources for contraception methods. The goal is to offer greater access to quality health care options and, in turn, a better chance of graduating.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Booneville, MS

Female students enrolled in NEMCC’S Career Pathway program receive financial assistance for tuition, textbooks and childcare, as well as transportation needs like gas cards and car repairs. Students also go through the Tiger W.O.R.K.S. program for career counseling and employability training, including 12 months of post-exit follow-up services.

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REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AWARENESS

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.

Children’s Defense Fund

Southern Regional Office

The Reproductive Health Ambassador program recruits and trains young women to educate their peers and parents about sexual health and relationships. Provided by the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative, these women have access to comprehensive workshops and opportunities to shadow professionals in the reproductive health field.

ECUMENICAL COALITION FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES

Biloxi, MS

The ECWF works with religious leaders to develop and implement meaningful sexual education programs within their congregations and surrounding communities. This year, the Faith in Women network members are assessing training options, curriculum choices and resource development.

JSU – BRIDGE TO SUCCESS

Jackson, MS

Incoming college freshman are particularly at risk for unplanned pregnancies, leading to a decrease in student retention and the overall graduation rate. This JSU program works to reverse this trend by educating incoming freshman about sexual health and how to avoid unwanted pregnancies, as well as providing accurate information about STIs. Weekly workshops utilizing the BART (Becoming a Responsible Teen) curriculum are the central focus.

MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN FOR TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION

Jackson, MS

The MCTPP partners with after school programs throughout the state to educate middle school students and their parents/guardians about sexual health. The curriculum consists of eight hours of evidence-based sexual education, with follow-up booster sessions for reinforcement. Since the program launched, participants have seen an increased retention of the information learned and communication has increased within the participants’ families.

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Jackson, MS

The Lanier High Teen Advocacy Program’s nurse-run teen clinic expands access to primary and preventative healthcare in this urban area. Their Teen Advisory Board has also established a peer-education training program using the Safer Choices evidence-based curriculum in order to encourage safe sex.

Cary Christian Center

Cary, MS

The Mississippi Delta lacks evidence-based planned pregnancy services, resulting in high rates of unplanned pregnancy and infant mortality. Through one-on-one home visits, the Efforts to Outcome program works to reverse this trend by providing proper information on sexual health and prenatal health to women ages 16-24.

Methodist Children’s Home

Jackson, MS

The abused and neglected girls of The Methodist Children’s Home are already at a social and economic disadvantage. The Girls Matter Program provides them with proper sexual education services including health screenings, STI and pregnancy testing, and access to birth control. The program is divided into two groups. Girls with Goals works with “at risk” teenagers who do not already have children, while Girls with Gifts addresses teenagers who are pregnant or have recently given birth.

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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.

Children’s Defense Fund

Southern Regional Office

Education is important for every generation. The Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) program provides early literacy intervention services to children, and postsecondary educational opportunities to their parents. These women receive childcare and transportation assistance, while receiving one-on-one mentorship to help enroll for classes and apply for jobs.

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Grants - Women's Foundation of Mississippi