Mississippi Power Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,610,933
• Total Assets: $46.3 million
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $400,000 (based on documented grants)
• Geographic Focus: 23 counties in southeast Mississippi

Contact Details

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4079, Gulfport, MS 39502-4079
Phone: 228-864-1211
Contact Person: Rodger Meinzinger, 228-865-5925
Email: mpcorpcomm@southernco.com (Mississippi Power corporate communications)
Website: https://www.mississippipower.com/community/community-outreach/charitable-giving.html

Overview

Mississippi Power Foundation Inc was established in 1997 as the corporate foundation of Mississippi Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company. With total assets of $46.3 million and annual giving of approximately $3.6 million, the foundation supports nonprofits across Mississippi Power's 23-county service territory in southeast Mississippi. Since Mississippi Power's inception in 1925, providing financial support through partnerships and grants has been central to the company's mission of making communities better places to live, work, and play. The foundation's giving strategy focuses on education, community relations, economic development, and environmental efforts - areas identified as important by their customers. In 2024, the foundation celebrated Mississippi Power's 100-year anniversary with significant investments in workforce development and educational infrastructure.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Education and Workforce Development

• Major capital gifts to higher education (e.g., $400,000 to Ole Miss Patterson School of Accountancy)
• Scholarships for minority students pursuing technical and vocational programs at community colleges
• Teaching Kids Energy Efficiency mini-grants ($2,000 to elementary schools with 75%+ participation)
• Support for fourth and fifth grade STEM programs

Community Support

• United Way partnerships ($350,000-$400,000 annually for utility bill assistance and community programs)
• Small business development grants (up to $5,000 through partnerships)
• Façade improvement grants for downtown revitalization (e.g., $25,000+ for Gulfport Main Street)

Employee Giving

• Community Connection employee organization donates approximately $200,000 annually with matching funds
• Employees contribute 7,500+ volunteer hours each year

Priority Areas

• Education (K-12, higher education, technical/vocational training)
• Community relations and economic development
• Environmental stewardship and energy efficiency
• Health (particularly cancer and heart disease initiatives)
• Arts and culture
• Housing and youth development
• Human services and community development

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though as a corporate foundation, they focus primarily on their 23-county southeast Mississippi service territory.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates under Mississippi Power Company's leadership structure. Key personnel include:

Matt Grice, Vice President, Mississippi Power - Grice stated regarding the foundation's centennial grant to Ole Miss: "For 100 years, we have powered progress across our state while brightening and strengthening our communities... [We focus on] driving growth throughout Mississippi by enhancing our state's workforce and providing innovative technology to help educate our future leaders."

Pedro Cherry, Chairman and CEO, Mississippi Power Company (appointed July 2025) - Oversees all aspects of Mississippi Power and its foundation with responsibility for 192,000+ customers.

Rodger Meinzinger, Foundation Contact (228-865-5925)

The foundation is governed as a private grantmaking foundation and files IRS Form 990-PF annually, showing revenue primarily from contributions (67.1%) and investment dividends (28.1%).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Mississippi Power Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation appears to make grants through:

• Direct relationships with organizations in their service territory
• Strategic partnerships aligned with corporate priorities
• Board and executive discretion
• Response to community needs identified through Mississippi Power's community outreach programs
• Collaborative programs with partner organizations (e.g., United Way, Gulfport Main Street, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College)

Geographic Limitations

The foundation primarily serves the 23 counties in southeast Mississippi where Mississippi Power provides electric service, including Clarke, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, Wayne, and additional counties.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available, as the foundation operates on an invitation/discretionary basis rather than set application cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available due to the lack of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Since Mississippi Power Foundation operates without a public application process, organizations that receive funding typically share these characteristics:

Alignment with Corporate Mission

• Projects that support workforce development and education, particularly in technical fields relevant to the energy sector (electrical technology, process operations, instrumentation)
• Initiatives that strengthen economic development in southeast Mississippi
• Programs serving Mississippi Power's 23-county service territory

Strategic Partnerships

• Organizations already working with Mississippi Power on community initiatives
• Projects involving multiple stakeholders (government, education, business)
• Programs with matching funding or sustainable revenue models

Demonstrated Community Impact

• Projects addressing identified community needs in education, health, or economic development
• Initiatives with measurable outcomes (e.g., number of students served, jobs created, infrastructure improved)
• Programs that leverage Mississippi Power's existing community relationships

Examples of Funded Projects

• Ole Miss Patterson School of Accountancy ($400,000 for lecture hall naming rights) - aligned with workforce development and 100th anniversary commemoration
• United Way utility assistance ($350,000-$400,000 annually) - addresses customer needs during peak energy usage months
• Teaching Kids Energy Efficiency ($2,000 school mini-grants) - promotes energy literacy and efficiency
• Gulfport Main Street façade grants ($25,000+) - supports downtown revitalization and small business growth

Corporate Values Matt Grice's statement emphasizes the foundation values "powering progress," "brightening and strengthening communities," "enhancing workforce," and "innovative technology" - organizations whose missions echo these themes may be more likely to align with funding priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - the foundation operates through invitation, strategic partnerships, and board discretion
• Geographic focus is critical - must serve one or more of Mississippi Power's 23 counties in southeast Mississippi
• Education and workforce development are top priorities - particularly technical/vocational training, STEM education, and programs developing the energy sector workforce
• Build relationships through existing programs - engage with Mississippi Power's community outreach initiatives, United Way partnerships, or economic development programs
• Think partnership, not grant - the foundation seeks collaborative opportunities with matching funds and multiple stakeholders
• Align with corporate milestones - significant anniversaries or corporate initiatives may create special funding opportunities (e.g., 100th anniversary grants in 2024-2025)
• Demonstrate measurable community impact - show how your project addresses specific needs in Mississippi Power's service territory with quantifiable outcomes

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Mississippi Power Foundation Inc (EIN 72-1370746), Form 990-PF data for 2024 tax year. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/721370746 (Accessed January 2026)

2. Candid Foundation Directory - Mississippi Power Foundation Inc grantmaker profile. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=MISS054 (Accessed January 2026)

3. Mississippi Power - Charitable Giving. https://www.mississippipower.com/community/community-outreach/charitable-giving.html (Accessed January 2026)

4. Mississippi Power - Community Outreach. https://www.mississippipower.com/community/community-outreach.html (Accessed January 2026)

5. University of Mississippi - "Mississippi Power Foundation Invests in Accountancy Education" (July 2025). https://olemiss.edu/news/2025/07/mississippi-power-foundation-invests-in-accountancy-education/index.html (Accessed January 2026)

6. WTOK - "MS Power Foundation provides relief to customers through United Way" (July 31, 2024). https://www.wtok.com/2024/07/31/ms-power-foundation-provides-relief-customers-through-united-way/ (Accessed January 2026)

7. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Foundation Scholarships including Mississippi Power Foundation scholarships. https://mgccc.edu/mgccc-foundation/foundation-scholarships/ (Accessed January 2026)

8. Cause IQ - Mississippi Power Foundation organizational data. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mississippi-power-foundation,721370746/ (Accessed January 2026)

9. Southern Company - Our Community: Outreach and Engagement. https://www.southerncompany.com/our-community/outreach-and-engagement.html (Accessed January 2026)