Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation funds health-related work across Mississippi, including health literacy, healthy eating, physical activity, community health, school health and healthcare access, so a strong fit depends on matching one of these areas and being based in Mississippi.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $15,500 and $445,000, with a typical grant around $115,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though the Foundation has also made a single award as large as $5,000,000, and its Healthy School Awards Program is specifically pegged at $50,000.
- The Foundation accepts Letters of Inquiry on a rolling basis, with applications considered by its Board of Directors, so there is no fixed deadline to plan around.
- A high share, 86%, of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the two prior filings, suggesting it tends to build ongoing relationships rather than spread funding widely to new applicants each round, so first-time applicants should be prepared for this to be competitive.
- It will not fund individuals, denominational or religious organisations, political caucuses, candidates or campaigns, sponsorships of special events or commemorative advertising (unless part of an overall grant initiative or programme), healthcare providers unless applying through a 501(c)(3) charitable branch, or sports teams or events, and for the Healthy School Awards Program specifically it also excludes school districts, schools that have already received a $50,000 award under that programme, and existing or new athletic programs or teams.
Overview
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is a US private foundation based in Flowood, MS.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation provides leadership and administers grant funding to improve the overall health and well-being of people in Mississippi. It supports health-promotion programmes that build health literacy and encourage healthy eating and exercise; community-based programmes promoting health, quality of life and well-being; school-based programmes supporting health learning and healthy lifestyles among students, families and school personnel; and programmes improving access to high-quality healthcare in Mississippi communities where access is limited. Eligible applicants include qualifying charitable organisations, municipalities, counties, schools and colleges or universities, subject to the Foundation’s eligibility requirements. It accepts requests through Letters of Inquiry and develops signature opportunities including farmers’ markets and school gardens, with applications considered by its Board of Directors.
Themes
- Health literacy
- Healthy eating
- Physical activity
- Community health
- School health
- Healthcare access
Geographic Focus
Mississippi.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Denominationals or religious organizations
- Political caucuses, candidates or campaigns
- Sponsorships of special events or commemorative advertising, i.e., journals or dinner programs, unless part of an overall grant initiative or program
- Providers unless to a charitable branch (501(c)(3)) of a provider
- Sports teams or events
- Healthy School Awards Program only: School districts; Schools that have received a $50,000 award as part of the Healthy School Awards Program; existing or new athletic programs or teams
How to apply
Applicants should align proposed grant activities with the Foundation’s areas of focus and eligibility requirements, review the Eligibility Requirements and Frequently Asked Questions, then complete a Letter of Inquiry.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 61 grants to organisations were about $115,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For Healthy School Awards, winning schools show the most progress towards a healthy school environment and the strongest commitment to a healthy school culture.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 34% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 32% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $127k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- South Sunflower County Hospital Foundation · Health & wellness - renovations to labor and delivery area of south sunflower county hospital$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Pinebelt Foundation · Health & wellness - building healthy schools | playgrounds - tylertown primary school$534,6302024 tax year
- Yazoo County Public School District Foundation · Health & wellness - building healthy schools | playgrounds - bentonia gibbs elementary school$443,8722024 tax year
- Pinebelt Foundation · Health & wellness -building healthy schools - playground - new hebron attendance center$443,8722024 tax year
- Project Fit America · Health & wellness - physical education equipment for physical education regional conferences$227,0312024 tax year
- Newton High School · Health & wellness - school garden program$160,0022024 tax year
- Houston Career & Technical Center · Health & wellness - school garden program$136,2252024 tax year
- South Panola High School · Health & wellness - school garden program$116,9742024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jamie Murrell — Director
- Christina C Thomas — Director
- Lee Greer MD — Director
- Casey D Bland RN — Director
- Christopher L Toaster — Treasurer
- Scott T Williamson — Secretary, Director
- Harry M Walker — Vice Chairman, Director
- Thomas C Fenter MD — President and Chairman, Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,844,213 | $5,223,764 | $126,349,939 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,295,527 | $5,130,415 | $160,257,057 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,235,743 | $7,858,551 | $162,615,324 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (601) 664-4222
- Flowood, MS
- healthiermississippi.org
Applying to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (601) 664-4222
- Flowood, MS
- healthiermississippi.org