About Bower Foundation
The Bower Foundation is a Mississippi-focused funder that concentrates on strengthening the state's health ecosystem by investing in clinical workforce development, nursing and allied health education, and health policy capacity. It also prioritizes advancing women's leadership and policy work in Mississippi and supports local institutions (universities, health systems, and state policy groups) that can scale workforce and policy solutions. Grants are large, targeted, and aimed at building long-term infrastructure rather than one-off program experiments.
Focus Areas
Nursing workforce development and nursing school capital/expansion in MississippiHealthcare workforce training and apprenticeship programs (including allied health/clinical academies)State health policy research, analysis, and communications in MississippiWomen's leadership and policy training focused on Mississippi women's health and civic engagementUniversity-based scholarships and fellowships to accelerate health-related degree completion in-state
Who They Fund
nursing students and graduate nursing fellowshigh school students pursuing nurse-aid/healthcare careers
About Bower Foundation
The Bower Foundation’s clearest pattern is sustained support for Mississippi nursing education and health workforce infrastructure. One of its largest recent grants, $1,952,675 to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for "BLDG STRONG FUTURE FOR NURSING IN MS," shows the scale of that commitment, while repeated awards to Mississippi University for Women for "MUW NURSE SCHOLARSHIPS" point to a steady pipeline strategy. The foundation also backs training environments that help health professionals learn by doing, including a $550,138 grant to Singing River Health Systems for "HEALTHCARE ACADEMY EQUIP & APPRENTIC" and a $330,000 grant to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for "MATERNAL & NEONATAL TRAINING EQUIP." Its portfolio includes state-level health policy work as well, with support for the Center for Mississippi Health Policy and Mississippi News and Information Corp. Across the recent grants, the foundation favors Mississippi institutions that can strengthen the state’s clinical workforce, policy capacity, and training systems over time.
What Bower Foundation Funds
Nursing education is a central theme. The foundation gave $595,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi for an "ACCEL BACHELOR OF SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP," and it also funded nurse scholarships at Mississippi University for Women in three consecutive years. Workforce pipeline work extends earlier in the educational ladder: MHA Health Research and Education Foundation received $267,836 for "MS STUDENT NURSE MENTORSHIP," and Jones County Junior College received $225,000 for "3D HUMAN ANATOMY TECHNOLOGY," a training tool for healthcare instruction. The foundation also supports maternal and neonatal care capacity, including a $330,000 grant to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for "MATERNAL & NEONATAL TRAINING EQUIP." In health policy, it backed the Center for Mississippi Health Policy and Mississippi News and Information Corp for policy research and communications tied to Mississippi health issues.
How Bower Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is $21,000 at the 25th percentile, $70,100 at the median, and $195,298 at the 75th percentile, showing a mix of mid-sized awards and larger capacity-building grants. The recent record also shows repeat funding relationships, including multiple years of support for the same institutions and projects. The foundation makes grants as a private foundation and also funds individuals. Program-related investments are not part of its activity. Several awards recur across fiscal years, which suggests ongoing support rather than one-off engagement.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$12.6M
Total Assets
$134.2M
Total Revenue
$12.9M
Total Expenses
$13.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $21K and $195K, with a median of $70K.
25th Percentile
$21K
Median
$70K
75th Percentile
$195K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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