LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi Small Grants Program

The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi Small Grants Program is administered through a fund held at the Community Foundation for Mississippi and guided by an Advisory Board that defines its mission, vision, and strategic priorities. The Fund exists to support initiatives that improve the quality of life for LGBTQ individuals across Mississippi, particularly by addressing systemic barriers such as discrimination, isolation, and lack of access to affirming services. The program is grounded in findings from a statewide needs assessment and prioritizes efforts that respond directly to those identified gaps, especially among underserved populations including communities of color, youth, seniors, rural residents, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The purpose of the Small Grants Program is to provide flexible financial support for planning, research, and general operations. Planning grants are intended to help organizations develop strategic approaches to emerging opportunities or challenges, such as conducting needs assessments, facilitating community conversations, or building organizational capacity. Research grants support projects that generate knowledge aligned with identified statewide priorities, contributing to improved understanding of LGBTQ issues in Mississippi. General operations grants are designed to provide unrestricted funding that enables organizations to strengthen their infrastructure, expand services, or build capacity in areas such as staffing, communications, and technology. Funding amounts vary by grant type, with planning grants capped at 5000 dollars, research grants at 10000 dollars, and general operations grants at 15000 dollars within a 12-month period. While the Fund aims to provide flexible and minimally restrictive funding, certain uses are prohibited, including acquisition of real property, support for fundraising campaigns or endowments, and grants to individuals. Matching requirements apply in specific cases: organizations with annual operating budgets of 100000 dollars or more must provide a 25 percent match, which may be cash or in-kind, whereas smaller organizations and those applying for planning or research grants are exempt from matching requirements. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive, encompassing nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, units of local government, research centers, institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribes. Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may still apply under certain conditions, including working with a fiscal sponsor or meeting additional expenditure responsibility requirements. All applicants must demonstrate compliance with Mississippi state regulations and must either be located in Mississippi or provide services that directly benefit LGBTQ residents within the state. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Fund’s website during the designated Request for Proposals period. For the current cycle, the application window opens on April 1, 2026 and closes on May 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM Central Time. The Fund also offers pre-application assistance through informational sessions and ongoing support via email. Applicants are required to submit a complete proposal, including narrative responses addressing alignment with the Fund’s mission, a detailed plan of work, partnership information, evaluation strategies, and a comprehensive budget with narrative justification. The review process begins with an initial screening for compliance with eligibility and submission requirements, followed by a detailed evaluation conducted by the Grants Review Committee. Final funding recommendations are reviewed by both the Advisory Board and the Community Foundation Board. The review period may take up to 90 days from the submission deadline. Successful applicants enter into a formal grant agreement outlining reporting requirements, legal assurances, and administrative expectations, including quarterly reporting and potential site visits. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle, with Requests for Proposals issued based on evolving priorities informed by ongoing needs assessments. While standard funding limits apply, the Grants Committee retains discretion to recommend higher award amounts in exceptional cases where there is compelling evidence of need. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all program guidelines and supporting materials prior to submission to ensure alignment with the Fund’s priorities and compliance with all requirements.

Prioritize underserved LGBTQ populations including rural, youth, and communities of color; clearly align proposal with statewide needs assessment priorities; demonstrate organizational capacity and impact measurement; ensure budget justification is detailed and reasonable