Robert M Hearin Support Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $13,085,407 (2023)
Total Assets: $233.8 million (2024)
Grant Range: $73,000 - $28,000,000 (multi-year commitments)
Number of Awards: 18 grants (2023)
Geographic Focus: Mississippi exclusively
Application Process: No public application process (supporting organization)

Contact Details

Location: Ridgeland, MS
EIN: 58-2203211
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Type III Supporting Organization

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information for general inquiries.

Overview

The Robert M Hearin Support Foundation was established in December 1995 as a Type III supporting organization (509(a)(3)) to provide grants to specified educational institutions and public charities in Mississippi. With total assets of $233.8 million as of 2024, the foundation generates revenue primarily through investment returns ($11.2 million) and asset sales ($31.1 million) rather than contributions. The foundation distributed over $13 million in grants in 2023 across 18 awards, with a strong focus on higher education excellence and educational innovation. The foundation's most significant initiative has been its investment of more than $56 million in the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP), a collaborative effort between the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University to attract high-achieving students into the teaching profession.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a supporting organization for 18 specified institutions and makes grants at trustee discretion. Recent grant activities include:

Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP): Multi-year commitment totaling $42.1 million over 10 years (as of 2017) to fund full-ride scholarships for top education students at Ole Miss and Mississippi State
University STEM and Health Programs: $1.6 million to UM Center for Mathematics and Science Education; $510,500 (4-year) for Best and Brightest Scholarship Program at School of Dentistry; $250,000 (5-year) for Mississippi Rural Allied Health Professionals Scholarship Program
Business and Economic Development: $73,395 for MSU Carl Small Town Center partnership with Delta State University MBA program
Arts and Culture: Grants to Mississippi Museum of Art for exhibitions and education; $2 million to Greenfield Farm Writers Residency

Grant amounts range from approximately $73,000 for specific collaborative projects to multi-million dollar, multi-year commitments for flagship programs.

Specified Supported Organizations

Higher Education Institutions:

Alcorn State University
Belhaven College (now Belhaven University)
Blue Mountain College
Delta State University
Jackson State University
Millsaps College
Mississippi College
Mississippi University for Women
Mississippi Valley State University
Rust College
Tougaloo College
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
The University of Southern Mississippi
William Carey College (now William Carey University)
Mississippi State University

Arts and Cultural Organizations:

Mississippi Museum of Art
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Association
Mississippi Opera Association

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity, the foundation prioritizes:

Teacher Excellence and Recruitment: Comprehensive scholarships and professional development for future educators
STEM Education: Mathematics, science, engineering, and advanced manufacturing programs
Health Professions Education: Dentistry, allied health professions, rural health workforce development
Business and Entrepreneurship: MBA programs, small town economic development, entrepreneurship education
Arts and Culture: Museum exhibitions, arts education, creative writing programs
Architecture and Design Education: Grants to architecture programs at Mississippi State University

What They Don't Fund

As a supporting organization limited to specified beneficiaries, the foundation:

Does not fund organizations outside the 18 specified supported organizations
Does not fund organizations outside Mississippi
Does not accept unsolicited applications from the general public
Does not fund individuals directly (except through scholarship programs administered by supported institutions)

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

Matthew L. Holleman - Trustee ($180,000 compensation as Executive Director per 2024 Form 990)
Jackie Blackwell - Chief Administrator ($74,708 compensation)
Four Trustees - Compensated at $30,000 each

The foundation maintains a minimal administrative structure with five key personnel managing a $233.8 million endowment.

Known Trustees:

Laurie H. McRee - Trustee
Alan Perry - Trustee (also serves on the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning)

Leadership Perspective:

Matt Holleman, as a Hearin Support Foundation trustee, commented on the Greenfield Farm Writers Residency grant: "We invested these funds so Greenfield Farm can steward excellent writers."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Robert M Hearin Support Foundation does not have a public application process.

As a Type III supporting organization established under IRS Section 509(a)(3), the foundation operates exclusively to support 18 specified educational institutions and arts organizations in Mississippi. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees rather than through competitive application processes.

How Grants Are Awarded:

Trustees identify funding opportunities within the 18 specified supported organizations
Foundation works directly with leadership at supported institutions to develop grant programs
Major initiatives (such as METP) are designed collaboratively between the foundation and university partners
The foundation appears to take a proactive approach, designing and funding programs rather than responding to proposals

For Organizations Seeking Support:

If your organization is one of the 18 specified supported institutions, funding discussions would occur through established relationships between your institution's leadership and the foundation's trustees. Individual departments, programs, or initiatives within these institutions may benefit from foundation grants, but the pathway to funding is through institutional leadership rather than direct application.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

For Programs Within Supported Institutions

While external organizations cannot apply, the foundation's grant history reveals preferences that may guide programs within the 18 supported institutions:

1. Focus on Excellence and Elite Programs

The foundation's flagship METP program is described as "an elite program of recruitment and professional teacher preparation, similar to an honors college." The foundation appears drawn to programs that:

Attract top-performing students
Offer comprehensive, "honors college-style" experiences
Create measurable, high-impact outcomes

2. Long-term Commitment and Sustainability

The foundation makes substantial multi-year commitments:

METP: $42.1 million over 10 years
School of Dentistry: 4-year, $510,500 grant
School of Health Related Professions: 5-year, $250,000 grant

This suggests preference for programs with:

Clear long-term vision
Sustainable impact beyond initial funding
Built-in measures of success

3. Workforce Development for Mississippi

Multiple grants focus on keeping talent in Mississippi:

METP requires five-year teaching commitment in Mississippi
Mississippi Rural Allied Health Professionals Scholarship Program targets rural workforce needs
Small town business development initiatives

Programs that demonstrate how they will build or retain Mississippi's workforce appear aligned with foundation priorities.

4. Collaboration and Innovation

Recent grants support collaborative initiatives:

METP is a joint University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University program
MSU Carl Small Town Center partnered with Delta State University
Cross-disciplinary approaches (STEM, business, health)

5. Strategic Areas of Focus

Current priorities appear to be:

Teacher recruitment and excellence
STEM and health professions
Business and entrepreneurship
Arts and culture
Architecture and design

6. Comprehensive Support Models

The METP model provides "four years of tuition, housing expenses, living stipends, a study abroad experience, monies to attend conferences and more" - described as "one of the nation's most valuable scholarships." This comprehensive approach suggests the foundation values:

Holistic support that removes barriers to student success
Professional development beyond tuition
Enrichment experiences (study abroad, conferences)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

For Institutions Within the Supported Network:

Relationship-driven funding: The foundation operates through established relationships with institutional leadership rather than competitive applications; funding discussions occur at senior administrative levels
Think big and long-term: The foundation makes substantial multi-year commitments to flagship programs; proposals should articulate transformative impact over extended timeframes
Mississippi impact is paramount: Demonstrate how programs will strengthen Mississippi's workforce, educational excellence, or cultural vitality; show commitment to retaining talent in-state
Elite and comprehensive: The foundation favors "honors college-style" programs that attract top talent and provide wraparound support
Collaborative innovation: Cross-institutional or cross-disciplinary initiatives may be particularly attractive
Strategic alignment: Current focus areas include teacher excellence, STEM/health education, business/entrepreneurship, and arts/culture
Stewardship matters: Matt Holleman's comment about "steward[ing] excellent writers" suggests the foundation values how institutions will manage and maximize grant impact

For Organizations Outside the Network:

This foundation is not accessible to organizations outside its 18 specified supported institutions. Consider researching other Mississippi-based foundations or national funders supporting similar work.

References

Accessed December 27, 2025