The Mississippi Humanities Council creates opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the larger world and enriches communities through civil conversations about our history and culture.
A defining feature of Mississippi Humanities Council Inc is its steady support for public humanities projects that put Mississippi history, culture, and civic conversation in front of public audiences. In 2025, its largest recent grants went to the Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center in Jackson, Friendly City Books in Columbus, and Create Foundation Inc in Tupelo, each funded to promote humanities in Mississippi public life. That same purpose appears across the council’s recent grantmaking, which reaches universities, museums, libraries, booksellers, cultural nonprofits, and individual project leaders working in communities across the state. The council backs lectures, panel discussions, exhibits, oral histories, planning for larger projects, and original productions, with many awards landing at round figures that signal project support rather than unrestricted institutional funding. Recent recipients also include the Dr Jane Ellen Mcallister House Foundation in Vicksburg, Hancock County Library System in Bay St Louis, Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Tutwiler. The pattern points to a funder centered on public-facing humanities work that is local in scope and grounded in Mississippi places, stories, and institutions.
Humanities education is the council’s core lane. It funded Mississippi State University $11,935 in 2025 and Jackson State University $10,000 in 2024 for projects described as promoting humanities in Mississippi public life. Oral history is another clear priority through its grant programs, which support collection, preservation, and public programming for oral history projects. Museum and exhibit work also appears repeatedly: the council gave $10,000 to The Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs and $10,000 to the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson for public humanities work. Literary and reading-related programming shows up as well, including $17,500 to Friendly City Books in Columbus.
Typical grants cluster around a small project-grant band: p25 is $7,500, median is $9,125, and p75 is $10,000. The council’s active programs show rolling, unsolicited applications for several minigrant and oral history options, usually capped at $2,500 or $5,000; America250 Mississippi grants run higher, up to $20,000, but those deadlines have passed. Recipients appear in multiple years, including The Rosa Foundation, Coahoma Community College, and The Walter Anderson Museum of Art, indicating repeat funding rather than one-off awards. The organization does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$209K
$2.5M
$1.3M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $8K and $10K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$10K
DOUGLASS SULLIVAN-GONZALE
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The council’s giving is statewide and concentrated in Mississippi: 86% of grants go to recipients in MS. Recent awards reached Jackson, Columbus, Tupelo, Vicksburg, Bay St Louis, Clarksdale, Tutwiler, Ocean Springs, Greenville, Kosciusko, and Eupora. Outside Mississippi, only a small share of grants went elsewhere, including one to New Orleans, Louisiana, and one to Oxnard, California. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
It supports public humanities work such as lectures, panel discussions, exhibits, oral histories, planning for larger projects, and original productions. Its stated focus areas also include history, literature, museum exhibits, prison education and higher education in prison, youth reading and family literacy, and community engagement and civic conversation.
Typical grant size is modest and project-based: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $9,125, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Several active programs are capped at $2,500 or $5,000, while America250 Mississippi grants can go up to $20,000.
Yes. Several programs accept unsolicited applications on a rolling basis, including General Grants, MHC Grants, MHC Minigrants, and MHC Oral History Grants. The oral history program requires applications to be received at least four weeks before the program or proposed grant period begins.
Its geographic scope of giving is local, and 86% of grants go to recipients in Mississippi. Most awards in the recent grants list went to Mississippi organizations and communities, with only a small number outside the state, including recipients in Louisiana and California.
Repeat recipients include The Rosa Foundation, Coahoma Community College, and The Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Their appearance across multiple years suggests the council sometimes returns to the same organizations for ongoing public humanities work.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Mississippi Humanities Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Any entity constituted for nonprofit purposes. Applicants must provide a Unique Entity ID (UEI).
Deadline: Rolling; application must be received at least four weeks before the program or proposed grant period begins.
Who can apply: Any entity constituted for nonprofit purposes is eligible; not required to be incorporated or tax-exempt, only not a for-profit enterprise. Eligible entities include private nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, state/local/federally recognized Indian tribal governments, community and cultural organizations, educational and professional groups, museums, libraries, public agencies, and non-commercial radio and television stations. Applicants must provide a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Prior to submitting an application, applicants are asked to contact Assistant Director Carol Andersen to discuss the project.
Deadline: Rolling; Minigrants at least 2 weeks before program starts; State-Funded Oral History Grants at least 4 weeks before program starts. The May 1 regular grant deadline was canceled.
Who can apply: Any entity constituted for nonprofit purposes is eligible; it need not be incorporated or have tax-exempt status, only that it is not a for-profit enterprise. A UEI is not required for Mississippi Stories grants.
Deadline: Jan. 15, May 1, and Sept. 15.
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, cultural institutions, schools, churches, grassroots groups, local governments, and other not-for-profit organizations. Collaboration is encouraged; strong applications demonstrate community support, local partnerships, and a clear vision.
Deadline: The opening of the 2027 and 2028 applications will be announced at a later date.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARGARET WALKER ALEXANDER RESEARCH CENTER | JACKSON, MS | $18,641 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| FRIENDLY CITY BOOKS | COLUMBUS, MS | $17,500 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| CREATE FOUNDATION INC | TUPELO, MS | $17,210 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| DR JANE ELLEN MCALLISTER HOUSE FOUNDATION | VICKSBURG, MS | $12,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY | MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS | $11,935 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| HANCOCK COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM | BAY ST LOUIS, MS | $10,040 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| EMMETT TILL INTERPRETIVE CENTER | TUTWILER, MS | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE ROSA FOUNDATION | MCMINNVILLE, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART | OCEAN SPRINGS, MS | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CLARKSDALE, MS | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| FOUNDATION FOR MISSISSIPPI HISTORY | JACKSON, MS | $9,600 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF ART | JACKSON, MN | $9,250 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| ARTS FOUNDATION OF KOSCIUSKO | KOSCIUSKO, MS | $9,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI FILM SOCIETY | JACKSON, MS | $9,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY | JACKSON, MS | $8,786 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE SOUTHWAY FOUNDATION | EUPORA, MS | $8,500 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| FROM THE HEART PRODUCTIONS | OXNARD, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOUTHERN CULTUREUNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI | UNIVERSITY, MS | $7,000 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| GRAMMY MUSEUM MISSISSIPPI(CLEVELAND MUSIC FOUNDATION) | CLEVELAND, MS | $6,928 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| WE ARE THE PROMISED LAND PODCAST (MISSISSIPPI PRESENTERS NETWORK FISCAL AG | WATERFORD, MS | $5,300 | 2025 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CLARKSDALE, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI | UNIVERSITY, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE NEW ORLEANS PHOTO ALLIANCE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY | JACKSON, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE ALLUVIAL COLLECTIVE | JACKSON, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF MUSLIM CULTURES | JACKSON, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| ANGELA FURR | BROOKHAVEN, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART | OCEAN SPRINGS, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| JOHN C ROBINSON CONDOR FOUNDATION | LONG BEACH, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE ROSA FOUNDATION | MCMINNVILLE, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION | GREENVILLE, MS | $9,750 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| INVISIBLE HISTORIES PROJECT | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $8,000 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| JIMMIE ROGERS FOUNDATION INC | MERIDIAN, MS | $7,870 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MS DEPT OF ACHIVES & HISTORY | JACKSON, MS | $6,700 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| KAREN THOMAS | JACKSON, MS | $5,800 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| ALEX FOUNDATION | GREENVILLE, MS | $5,730 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| OPERATION SHOESTRING | JACKSON, MS | $5,500 | 2024 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MS BOOK FESTIVAL | JACKSON, MS | $14,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITYDEPT OF ARCHITECTURE | MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS | $10,000 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI | HATTIESBURG, MS | $7,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI | UNIVERSITY, MS | $7,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CLARKSDALE, MS | $7,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART | OCEAN SPRINGS, MS | $7,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| PRESERVE MARSHALL COUNTY & HOLLY SPRINGS INC | HOLLY SPRINGS, MS | $7,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY | AUSTIN, TX | $7,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGENATCHEZ | NATCHEZ, MS | $6,600 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION | COLUMBUS, MS | $5,678 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| FROM THE HEART PRODUCTIONS | OXNARD, CA | $5,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| THE BEAN PATH | JACKSON, MS | $5,450 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
| MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY MUSEUM | JACKSON, MS | $5,300 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE |
MARGARET WALKER ALEXANDER RESEARCH CENTER
$18,641TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
DR JANE ELLEN MCALLISTER HOUSE FOUNDATION
$12,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
$11,935TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
HANCOCK COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE ROSA FOUNDATION
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
ARTS FOUNDATION OF KOSCIUSKO
$9,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MISSISSIPPI FILM SOCIETY
$9,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
$8,786TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE SOUTHWAY FOUNDATION
$8,500TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOUTHERN CULTUREUNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
$7,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
GRAMMY MUSEUM MISSISSIPPI(CLEVELAND MUSIC FOUNDATION)
$6,928TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
WE ARE THE PROMISED LAND PODCAST (MISSISSIPPI PRESENTERS NETWORK FISCAL AG
$5,300TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE NEW ORLEANS PHOTO ALLIANCE
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE ALLUVIAL COLLECTIVE
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF MUSLIM CULTURES
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
ANGELA FURR
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
JOHN C ROBINSON CONDOR FOUNDATION
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE ROSA FOUNDATION
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MISSISSIPPI ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION
$9,750TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
INVISIBLE HISTORIES PROJECT
$8,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
JIMMIE ROGERS FOUNDATION INC
$7,870TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MS DEPT OF ACHIVES & HISTORY
$6,700TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
ALEX FOUNDATION
$5,730TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITYDEPT OF ARCHITECTURE
$10,000TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
$7,500TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
$7,500TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$7,500TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
THE WALTER ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART
$7,500TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
PRESERVE MARSHALL COUNTY & HOLLY SPRINGS INC
$7,500TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGENATCHEZ
$6,600TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MISSISSIPPI ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION
$5,678TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY MUSEUM
$5,300TO PROMOTE HUMANITIES IN MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC LIFE
