The Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation concentrates its giving in Mississippi with a strong, sustained emphasis on higher education and student scholarships across public flagship universities, regional colleges, and historically Black institutions. It also consistently funds state arts and cultural organizations (museum, opera, symphony), indicating a civic focus on educational opportunity and cultural enrichment. Grants are frequently issued in repeated installments to the same institutions, suggesting long-term partnerships and predictable program support.
The Robert M Hearin Support Foundation’s largest recent gifts all went to Mississippi universities, with University of Mississippi receiving $6,565,250 in 2024 and $6,310,940 in 2025 for education and scholarships. That pattern sets the tone for the foundation’s work: sustained, repeated support for higher education institutions across the state, alongside selective grants to arts and cultural organizations. Mississippi State University also received major education grants of $3,710,920 in 2023, $3,587,948 in 2024, and $3,450,336 in 2025, showing a multi-year relationship rather than isolated awards. The foundation’s grantmaking extends beyond the flagship research universities to regional and private colleges, including Delta State University, Millsaps College, Blue Mountain College, and University of Southern Mississippi. It also funds institutions tied to public learning and cultural access, such as the Mississippi Museum of Art and Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. The recent record shows a clear preference for long-term institutional support, often in repeated annual installments to the same recipients, with awards ranging from scholarship funding to education and exhibit-related work.
A major thread in the foundation’s work is scholarship support for Mississippi students. Delta State University received $681,940 in 2023, $634,020 in 2024, and $503,277 in 2025, all for scholarships. Blue Mountain College also received scholarship grants of $300,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025. Another recurring theme is support for education programs at private and regional colleges. Millsaps College was awarded $451,689 in 2024, $256,689 in 2023, and $216,689 in 2025 for education, while University of Southern Mississippi received $623,000 in 2023, $275,000 in 2024, and $394,000 in 2025. The foundation also backs arts education and exhibits, including $895,800 to the Mississippi Museum of Art in 2025 for exhibits and education and $60,500 to the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in 2024 for education.
Typical grant size sits at $35,000 at the 25th percentile, $60,000 at the median, and $451,689 at the 75th percentile, indicating a mix of modest institutional awards and very large university gifts. The record also shows repeated annual grants to the same recipients, including University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and Mississippi Museum of Art across 2023 through 2025. The foundation appears to operate as an institutional grantmaker rather than a donor-advised or individual-aid funder: it does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments. The patterns in the recent grants table suggest restricted, use-specific support rather than open-call awards.
$12.3M
$233.8M
$42.3M
$14.2M
Most grants fall between $35K and $452K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$452K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MS.
MR MATTHEW L HOLLEMAN
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Highly concentrated, recurrent giving: a few very large multi-installment gifts (notably to University of Mississippi and Mississippi State) plus numerous smaller, repeat grants to regional colleges, HBCUs, and arts nonprofits — indicating long-term, state-focused relationships rather than one-off or broad geographic distribution.
Notable grantees: University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Mississippi Museum of Art, Delta State University, Millsaps College
Grantmaking is concentrated in Mississippi: 100% of grants in the recent record went to recipients in the HQ state, and the top giving state by count is also Mississippi. Recipient cities repeatedly include University, Mississippi State, Jackson, Cleveland, Hattiesburg, Clinton, Columbus, and Lorman. Jackson appears often through the Mississippi Museum of Art, Millsaps College, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and Jackson State University. Other Mississippi locations in the record include Blue Mountain, Itta Bena, and Cleveland, showing statewide coverage within a local scope.
The foundation gives most heavily to Mississippi higher education institutions, with major support for the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, plus recurring grants to Delta State University, Millsaps College, Blue Mountain College, University of Southern Mississippi, and Jackson State University. It also funds arts and cultural organizations such as the Mississippi Museum of Art and Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $35,000, a median of $60,000, and a 75th percentile of $451,689. The recent grants list also includes multi-million-dollar awards to major universities, so the foundation combines smaller institutional grants with very large recurring commitments.
In the recent grant record, all grants went to recipients in Mississippi. The top state by grant count is Mississippi, and 100% of grants were awarded to organizations in the HQ state.
The record shows repeated support to the same institutions over multiple years. University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Mississippi Museum of Art, Delta State University, Millsaps College, and University of Southern Mississippi each appear in more than one year in the recent grants list.
The main areas are education and scholarships at Mississippi universities and colleges, plus exhibits and education at cultural institutions. Recent examples include education and scholarships for university recipients and exhibits and education support for the Mississippi Museum of Art.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIV OF MS | UNIVERSITY, MS | $6,310,940 | 2025 | EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS STATE UNIV | MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS | $3,450,336 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MS MUSEUM OF ART | JACKSON, MS | $895,800 | 2025 | EXHIBITS & EDUCATION |
| DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, MS | $503,277 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS | HATTIESBURG, MS | $394,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MILLSAPS COLLEGE | JACKSON, MS | $216,689 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS COLLEGE | CLINTON, MS | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JACKSON STATE UNIV | JACKSON, MS | $50,000 | 2025 | EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS OPERA | JACKSON, MS | $36,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MS UNIV FOR WOMEN | COLUMBUS, MS | $35,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| TOUGALOO COLLEGE | TOUGALOO, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WILLIAM CAREY UNIV | HATTIESBURG, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BELHAVEN UNIV | JACKSON, MS | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| RUST COLLEGE | HOLLY SPRINGS, MS | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY | LORMAN, MS | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ITTA BENA, MS | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIV OF MS | UNIVERSITY, MS | $6,565,250 | 2024 | EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS STATE UNIV | MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS | $3,587,948 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MS MUSEUM OF ART | JACKSON, MS | $835,000 | 2024 | EXHIBITS & EDUCATION |
| DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, MS | $634,020 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MILLSAPS COLLEGE | JACKSON, MS | $451,689 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS | $300,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS | HATTIESBURG, MS | $275,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MS UNIV FOR WOMEN | COLUMBUS, MS | $110,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MS COLLEGE | CLINTON, MS | $75,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | JACKSON, MS | $60,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| BELHAVEN UNIV | JACKSON, MS | $40,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| WILLIAM CAREY UNIV | HATTIESBURG, MS | $40,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MS OPERA | JACKSON, MS | $36,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| JACKSON STATE UNIV | JACKSON, MS | $35,000 | 2024 | EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY | LORMAN, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ITTA BENA, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| RUST COLLEGE | HOLLY SPRINGS, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TOUGALOO COLLEGE | TOUGALOO, MS | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| UNIV OF MS | UNIVERSITY, MS | $6,280,785 | 2023 | EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS STATE UNIV | MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS | $3,710,920 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| MS MUSEUM OF ART | JACKSON, MS | $855,000 | 2023 | EXHIBITS & EDUCATION |
| DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, MS | $681,940 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS | HATTIESBURG, MS | $623,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| MILLSAPS COLLEGE | JACKSON, MS | $256,689 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| MS UNIV FOR WOMEN | COLUMBUS, MS | $130,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| JACKSON STATE UNIV | JACKSON, MS | $120,000 | 2023 | EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY | LORMAN, MS | $60,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MS COLLEGE | CLINTON, MS | $60,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| MS VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ITTA BENA, MS | $60,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| BELHAVEN UNIV | JACKSON, MS | $40,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS | $40,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| RUST COLLEGE | HOLLY SPRINGS, MS | $40,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WILLIAM CAREY UNIV | HATTIESBURG, MS | $40,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
UNIV OF MS
$6,310,940EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS
MS STATE UNIV
$3,450,336EDUCATION
MS MUSEUM OF ART
$895,800EXHIBITS & EDUCATION
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$503,277SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS
$394,000EDUCATION
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
$216,689EDUCATION
BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
SCHOLARSHIPS
MS COLLEGE
$100,000EDUCATION
JACKSON STATE UNIV
$50,000EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS
MS OPERA
$36,000EDUCATION
MS UNIV FOR WOMEN
$35,000EDUCATION
TOUGALOO COLLEGE
$30,000EDUCATION
WILLIAM CAREY UNIV
$30,000EDUCATION
BELHAVEN UNIV
$25,000EDUCATION
RUST COLLEGE
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MS VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$20,000EDUCATION
UNIV OF MS
$6,565,250EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS
MS STATE UNIV
$3,587,948EDUCATION
MS MUSEUM OF ART
$835,000EXHIBITS & EDUCATION
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$634,020SCHOLARSHIPS
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
$451,689EDUCATION
BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$300,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS
$275,000EDUCATION
MS UNIV FOR WOMEN
$110,000EDUCATION
MS COLLEGE
$75,000EDUCATION
MS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$60,500EDUCATION
BELHAVEN UNIV
$40,000EDUCATION
WILLIAM CAREY UNIV
$40,000EDUCATION
MS OPERA
$36,000EDUCATION
JACKSON STATE UNIV
$35,000EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MS VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATION
RUST COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
TOUGALOO COLLEGE
$10,000EDUCATION
UNIV OF MS
$6,280,785EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS
MS STATE UNIV
$3,710,920EDUCATION
MS MUSEUM OF ART
$855,000EXHIBITS & EDUCATION
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$681,940SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIV OF SOUTHERN MS
$623,000EDUCATION
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
$256,689EDUCATION
MS UNIV FOR WOMEN
$130,000EDUCATION
JACKSON STATE UNIV
$120,000EDU & SCHOLARSHIPS
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
$60,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MS COLLEGE
$60,000EDUCATION
MS VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$60,000EDUCATION
BELHAVEN UNIV
$40,000EDUCATION
BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
$40,000SCHOLARSHIPS
RUST COLLEGE
$40,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WILLIAM CAREY UNIV
$40,000EDUCATION