The C Spire Foundation concentrates its giving on STEM education and public science outreach in Mississippi, directing sizeable grants to local educational institutions and facilities that serve teachers, students, and the general public. Its support emphasizes capacity-building (teacher training and curriculum) and experiential science experiences such as planetarium programming, signaling an interest in improving regional STEM access and literacy.
A $180,000 grant to Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education set the tone for C Spire Foundation’s recent giving: the foundation backs computer science instruction for teachers and students, then pairs that with public-facing STEM experiences in Mississippi. Its portfolio also includes a $100,000 award to Friends of Russell C Davis Planetarium in Jackson, showing that formal classroom support and informal science outreach sit side by side in its grantmaking. The foundation’s work is rooted in education and community institutions. Recent grants support coding academies, science festivals, scholarships, and institutional projects tied to museums, planetariums, and universities. Several awards go to organizations that serve children, students, and educators directly, while other grants strengthen the facilities and programs that make STEM learning visible to the public. Scholarship support is another recurring thread. The foundation funds annual awards at Mississippi universities and supports partnered scholarship programs through higher education institutions. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is local, education-centered, and heavily tied to Mississippi communities, especially around computer science, STEM literacy, and student access to higher education.
Computer science education appears at the center of the foundation’s giving. In 2025, C Spire Foundation gave $180,000 to Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education for Computer Science Courses for Teachers & Students, linking teacher preparation with student coursework. Public STEM outreach is another clear theme. The foundation gave $100,000 to Friends of Russell D Davis Planetarium in Jackson for Planetarium, and it also supported Mississippi’s science-festival programming through grants to the Mississippi Children’s Museum. It also backs programming for children and youth beyond the classroom. C Spire Foundation awarded $75,000 to Base Camp Coding Academy in Water Valley as a sustaining sponsor, and it supported Mission First with $30,000 for STEM Program. Scholarships are part of the mix as well, including annual scholarship support at Mississippi universities.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the low five figures: the p25 is $3,575, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $12,000. The recent grants list also shows larger targeted awards alongside many smaller scholarship and sponsorship gifts. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Base Camp Coding Academy / Base Camp Academy and several Mississippi universities, which points to recurring support rather than one-time giving. The foundation makes direct grants and sponsorships, funds individuals through scholarships, and uses both unsolicited and partner-administered pathways depending on the program.
$617K
$364K
$600K
$675K
Most grants fall between $4K and $12K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$12K
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Highly concentrated: very few, relatively large grants focused locally on STEM education and public science institutions rather than many small or diversified awards.
Notable grantees: Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education, Friends of Russell C Davis Planetarium
Giving is highly concentrated in Mississippi: 88% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and the top giving state is MS. Jackson appears frequently, including grants to Friends of Russell D Davis Planetarium, Mission First, Bean Path, Mississippi Children’s Museum, and We Will Go Ministries. Water Valley, Mississippi State, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and University, MS also appear repeatedly. Beyond Mississippi, the recent grants list includes a $25,000 grant to Dollywood Foundation in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Its grantmaking centers on STEM education and public science outreach in Mississippi. Recent grants support computer science courses for teachers and students, coding academies, planetarium programming, science festivals, scholarships, and university-based STEM centers.
Typical grants are modest: the p25 is $3,575, the median is $5,000, and the p75 is $12,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards for institutional STEM and science-outreach projects.
Yes. The foundation funds individual and institutional scholarship support, including annual scholarship awards at Mississippi universities and partnered scholarship programs administered through colleges and universities.
It gives most often in Mississippi. The data shows 88% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Jackson, Water Valley, Mississippi State, Oxford, Hattiesburg, and University, MS all appear in the recent grants list.
Yes for some programs. The Sponsorships & Grants program and Community Grants program both accept unsolicited requests, while several targeted institutional gift and scholarship programs are partner-administered or do not accept unsolicited applications.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from C Spire Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not specified on promotional pages; funding appears to be provided to partner organizations and programs. Applicants should use the Sponsorship & Grants portal to inquire.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friends of Russell C Davis Planetarium | Jackson, MS | $100,000 | 2026 | Planetarium |
| Base Camp Academy | Water Valley, MS | $75,000 | 2026 | Sustaining Sponsor Base Camp Coding Academy STEM |
| Pinola Community Center | Pinola, MS | $50,000 | 2026 | STEM Program |
| Eudora Welty Foundation | Jackson, MS | $40,000 | 2026 | Scholastic Writing Awards |
| Bean Path | Jackson, MS | $30,000 | 2026 | Summer Camp |
| Mississippi Childrens Museum | Jackson, MS | $26,328 | 2026 | MS Science Festival |
| American Red Cross | Flowood, MS | $25,000 | 2026 | Disaster Relief |
| Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi | Hernando, MS | $25,000 | 2026 | Global Teaching Project STEM |
| Community Foundation for Mississippi | Jackson, MS | $20,000 | 2026 | National Folk Festival Family Area |
| Jackson State University | Jackson, MS | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, MS | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| Troy University Foundation | Troy, AL | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| University of MS Foundation | Oxford, MS | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | $15,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| Alcorn State University Foundation | Alcorn State, MS | $12,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| Jackson State University Development Foundation | Jackson, MS | $10,000 | 2026 | Presidents Investiture |
| Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education | Mississippi State, MS | $10,000 | 2026 | STEM Program |
| ChaTech | Chattanooga, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | TechX Awards Competition |
| Secretary of State Student Ambassadors | Jackson, MS | $8,235 | 2026 | Lunch for Secretary of State Ambassadors |
| Scripps National Spelling Bee | Cincinnati, OH | $8,000 | 2026 | Spelling Bee |
| University of MS Foundation | University, MS | $7,500 | 2026 | 2025 CIE Family Business Symposium |
| CopiahLincoln Junior College Foundation Inc | Wesson, MS | $6,000 | 2026 | CO-LIN STEM Symposium |
| MS Valley State University | Itta Bena, MS | $6,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| Delta State University | Cleveland, MS | $6,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| MS University for Women | Columbus, MS | $6,000 | 2026 | Annual Scholarship |
| Homewood City Schools Foundation | Birmingham, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | STEM Program |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Jackson, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | Changemakers Dinner |
| Pine Grove Association Inc | Canton, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | STEM Summer Camp MAGIC |
| American Heart Association | Jackson, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | Heartball |
| BPO International | Clinton, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | Outreach Ministry |
| Mississippi Museum of Art | Jackson, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | Art Party 2025 |
| University of Mississippi Museum | University, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | 2025 Harvest Supper |
| Troy University Foundation | Troy, AL | $5,000 | 2026 | Troy Hack |
| Tougaloo College | Tougaloo, MS | $5,000 | 2026 | Annual Business Luncheon |
| Mississippi Spelling Bee | Columbus, MS | $2,500 | 2026 | Spelling Bee |
| Highland Elementary | Ridgeland, MS | $2,500 | 2026 | National Robotics Competition |
| Jackson Symphony League | Jackson, MS | $2,500 | 2026 | Symphony Gala |
| Jackson Friends of the Library | Jackson, MS | $2,500 | 2026 | Novel Night Chapter Partner |
| Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience | Meridian, MS | $2,500 | 2026 | Sip & Savor Silver Sponsor |
| Tougaloo College | Tougaloo, MS | $2,000 | 2026 | Two Rivers Gala |
| Wade H Creekmore SR ITPA | Meadville, MS | $1,000 | 2026 | ITPA Scholoarship Fundraiser Golf Tournament |
| Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education | Mississippi State, MS | $180,000 | 2025 | Computer Science Courses for Teachers & Students |
| Friends of Russell C Davis Planetarium | Jackson, MS | $100,000 | 2025 | Planetarium |
| Base Camp Academy | Water Valley, MS | $75,000 | 2025 | Sustaining Sponsor Base Camp Coding Academy STEM |
| Mississippi State University Foundation | Mississippi State, MS | $40,000 | 2025 | Faculty Office Name |
| Ole Miss Womens Council for Philanthropy | Oxford, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | Legacy Awards |
| Bean Path | Jackson, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | Summer Camp |
| Mission First | Jackson, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | STEM Program |
| We Will Go Ministries | Jackson, MS | $25,000 | 2025 | We Will Go Anniversary Gala |
| Mississippi Childrens Museum | Jackson, MS | $25,000 | 2025 | MS Science Festival |
Friends of Russell C Davis Planetarium
$100,000Planetarium
Base Camp Academy
$75,000Sustaining Sponsor Base Camp Coding Academy STEM
Pinola Community Center
$50,000STEM Program
Eudora Welty Foundation
$40,000Scholastic Writing Awards
MS Science Festival
American Red Cross
$25,000Disaster Relief
Jackson State University
$15,000Annual Scholarship
Mississippi State University
$15,000Annual Scholarship
University of MS Foundation
$15,000Annual Scholarship
University of Southern Mississippi
$15,000Annual Scholarship
Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education
$10,000STEM Program
ChaTech
$10,000TechX Awards Competition
Secretary of State Student Ambassadors
$8,235Lunch for Secretary of State Ambassadors
Scripps National Spelling Bee
$8,000Spelling Bee
University of MS Foundation
$7,5002025 CIE Family Business Symposium
CopiahLincoln Junior College Foundation Inc
$6,000CO-LIN STEM Symposium
MS Valley State University
$6,000Annual Scholarship
Delta State University
$6,000Annual Scholarship
MS University for Women
$6,000Annual Scholarship
Homewood City Schools Foundation
$5,000STEM Program
University of Mississippi Medical Center
$5,000Changemakers Dinner
Pine Grove Association Inc
$5,000STEM Summer Camp MAGIC
American Heart Association
$5,000Heartball
BPO International
$5,000Outreach Ministry
University of Mississippi Museum
$5,0002025 Harvest Supper
Tougaloo College
$5,000Annual Business Luncheon
Mississippi Spelling Bee
$2,500Spelling Bee
Highland Elementary
$2,500National Robotics Competition
Jackson Symphony League
$2,500Symphony Gala
Jackson Friends of the Library
$2,500Novel Night Chapter Partner
Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience
$2,500Sip & Savor Silver Sponsor
Tougaloo College
$2,000Two Rivers Gala
Wade H Creekmore SR ITPA
$1,000ITPA Scholoarship Fundraiser Golf Tournament
Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education
$180,000Computer Science Courses for Teachers & Students
Friends of Russell C Davis Planetarium
$100,000Planetarium
Base Camp Academy
$75,000Sustaining Sponsor Base Camp Coding Academy STEM
Ole Miss Womens Council for Philanthropy
$30,000Legacy Awards