Ergon Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Ergon Foundation funds education, religious, health and cultural causes through grants made to 501(c)(3) organisations nominated by Ergon employees as making a difference in their communities.
- It operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a direct, unsolicited approach is not appropriate; the realistic route is to be put forward by an Ergon employee.
- A modest request fits best, as the median grant was $25,000 and about eight in ten grants fell between $10,000 and $200,000, though the largest grant reached $650,000.
- Giving looks relationship-led rather than open and competitive, since 81% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the two previous filings, so most funding flows to established partners.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filings show grants mainly in Mississippi.
Overview
Ergon Foundation is a US private foundation based in Jackson, MS.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (go.ergon.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to support education, religious, health and cultural causes. It makes charitable gifts to nonprofit organisations nominated by Ergon employees; the board allocates funding among the nominated organisations, and employees are asked to put forward 501(c)(3) organisations dedicated to making a difference in their communities. Its filed grant record includes schools and universities, health and medical institutions, social-service charities, religious organisations and arts and cultural bodies. Most recorded grant dollars went to organisations in Mississippi, while the filings also show grants in many other states.
Themes
- Education
- Religious causes
- Health
- Cultural causes
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Mississippi.
How to apply
Ergon employees are asked to nominate 501(c)(3) organisations dedicated to making a difference in their communities.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 81% 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 467 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations Ergon Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 158 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Mississippi Medical Center · Cancer center and research institute capital campaign fund$615,0002024 tax year
- University of Mississippi Medical Center · Cancer center and research institute capital campaign fund$500,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas Foundation · Md anderson cancer research$500,0002024 tax year
- Mississippi State University Foundation · Diversity/stem$300,0002024 tax year
- Jackson Preparatory School Foundation · Capital campaign$300,0002024 tax year
- Jackson Academy · Capital campaign$300,0002024 tax year
- Cleveland Clinic · General support$250,0002024 tax year
- Great City Mississippi Foundation · General support$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Daniela Linick — Assistant Secretary
- Dawn Wright — Secretary
- Kathryn W Stone — Treasurer
- Anastasia L Triplett — Director
- Walter O Lampton — Director
- Lee C Lampton JR — Director
- Leslie B Lampton IV — Director
- Robert H Lampton — Vice- President / Director
- William W Lampton — Vice- President / Director
- Lee C Lampton — Vice- President / Director
- Leslie B Lampton III — Vice- President / Director
- Ted B Edwards — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $12,240,531 | $11,428,500 | $222,991,382 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,462,558 | $10,577,500 | $237,175,625 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $11,829,049 | $10,827,500 | $248,705,440 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Ergon Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Jackson, MS
Applying to Ergon Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Jackson, MS