Free funder guide · Mississippi · Last checked 16 October 2026
Which Mississippi environmental funders actually accept applications
Most private foundations in Mississippi have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 11 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in Mississippi that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.
Of the 33 open Mississippi foundations, only 7 made an environmental grant in their latest filing, and every one of the 7 also gave to a church, a ministry, a faith-based school, a YMCA or the Salvation Army. So no private foundation is on this list. The open money for Mississippi conservation groups is state, federal and regional.
From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In Mississippi, 82 of the 115 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 71%.
That leaves 33 larger Mississippi foundations that say they will read an application. It is a slightly higher share of closed doors than in Louisiana (68%, 182 of 266) and Alabama (69%, 307 of 443), and the same as Virginia (71%, 586 of 820), counted the same way.
How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with a Mississippi address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (mostly tax years 2024 and 2025). Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for Louisiana, Alabama and Virginia. Counting them too gives 72% (92 of 128).
What the checkbox means
One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.
Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.
"Check here if the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."Form 990-PF, Part XIV, line 2
A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.
The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
11 funders
Open to applications, and funding environmental work in Mississippi.
Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.
Verified date on the funder's own site on 16 Oct 2026Expected based on last cycle; next not yet postedRolling applications any timeCheck site next date not posted; open their page
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
01
Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund
Jackson · statewide
State grants for outdoor recreation and conservation: improving access to public waters and lands, restoring wetlands, native forests and grasslands, conservation on working farms and forests, and parks and trails. Eligible nonprofit organizations can apply, along with state agencies, counties and towns. The board is not considering land acquisition projects for now (since June 2024).
Typical grant
$15 million was available in the 2026 cycle. Nonprofit awards in the January 2026 round included Clinton Community Nature Center $341,610, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center $126,547 and The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain $110,000 (Governor's office announcements).
Next deadline
The fifth cycle opened August 3, 2026 and closed September 18, 2026; the board is due to award in January 2027. The next cycle depends on the 2027 legislative appropriation; about August to September 2027 Expected.
How to apply
MOSTF grant application through the Department of Finance and Administration's program page during an open cycle.
Mississippi Forestry Commission: Trees Across Mississippi
Jackson · statewide
The state's urban and community forestry grant program, for projects that address tree equity, reduce extreme heat and increase environmental benefits, including program development at nonprofits that support tree care. 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible.
Typical grant
Up to $40,000; some project types need no match and others may need an 80/20 match (2026-27 request for applications).
Next deadline
The 2026-27 round closed September 30, 2026. The previous round closed November 21, 2025, so the next is likely in autumn 2027 Expected; it is not posted yet.
How to apply
Online Trees Across Mississippi application, following the request for applications.
Federal Clean Water Act money for projects that control polluted runoff, passed through to state agencies, local governments, universities and nonprofits. Priorities follow the state's five-year rotating basin cycle.
Typical grant
About $4.5 million a year statewide; every project needs a 60:40 match (319 funds to project funds) (its site).
Next deadline
No fixed deadline is posted; projects are developed with MDEQ basin staff Check site.
How to apply
Start by contacting your Basin Team Coordinator about your runoff problem and eligibility.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund
Washington, DC · historical longleaf pine range, including south Mississippi
Restoration, enhancement and conservation of longleaf pine forests with private and public landowners, including capacity for local longleaf partnerships. Nonprofits are eligible.
Typical grant
$250,000 to $2,000,000, about 15 to 20 grants a year; match encouraged but not required (2026 request for proposals). Mississippi grants in its 2026 slate: The Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain $300,000, Mississippi State University $1,000,000.
Next deadline
About late January 2027 Expected. The 2026 full proposals were due January 29, 2026; the 2027 request is not posted yet.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: National Coastal Resilience Fund
Washington, DC · coastal Mississippi
Nature-based projects that protect coastal communities from flooding and storms while improving habitat, from community capacity building and planning through design and restoration.
Typical grant
Average awards $100,000 to $1,500,000 for planning and design, and $1,000,000 to $7,000,000 for restoration (2026 request for proposals). Mississippi grants in its 2025 slate: Buy-In Community Planning $803,300 (Pascagoula), The Water Institute $1,000,000 (Jackson County). Smaller example in its filing for the year to September 2025: STEPS Coalition $77,007.
Next deadline
About late March 2027 for pre-proposals Expected. The 2026 pre-proposals were due March 31, 2026; the 2027 request is not posted yet.
How to apply
Pre-proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system; full proposals by invitation.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration
Washington, DC · Mississippi priority: Jackson, Blue Springs and 24 central and southern counties
Community partnerships that restore wetlands, streams and riparian and coastal habitat, build nature-based stormwater projects and involve local residents in the work. Each project needs several local partners. Mississippi's 2026 priority area is Jackson, Blue Springs and 24 counties in the central and southern parts of the state.
Typical grant
$30,000 to $150,000, 30 to 40 grants a year, with at least a 1:0.75 match to be competitive (2026 request for proposals). Mississippi grant in its 2025 slate: Mississippi State University $50,000 (Bayou Bernard).
Next deadline
About June 2027 Expected. The 2026 full proposals were due June 4, 2026; the 2027 request is not posted yet.
Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership: Aquatic Habitat Restoration Program
Southeast states, including Mississippi
Federal National Fish Habitat Partnership money, awarded through SARP, for restoring, protecting or enhancing aquatic habitat in rivers, streams and wetlands. Government agencies and nongovernmental organizations can apply.
Typical grant
$10,000 to $100,000, with at least a 50% non-federal match (fiscal 2027 request for proposals).
Next deadline
Fiscal 2027 proposals were due August 28, 2026, and that round has closed. Next about late August 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Proposal under SARP's request for proposals, linked from the program page.
National Forest Foundation: Matching Awards Program
Missoula, MT · national forests, including Mississippi's
Stewardship and community engagement projects on national forests and grasslands, or adjacent public land that benefits them: trail and restoration work, youth and volunteer crews, watershed and habitat projects. Nonprofits, tribes and universities are eligible.
Typical grant
Requires a 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind match (its site). Its latest filing shows no Mississippi grantee.
Next deadline
Twice a year. The second 2026 round ran May 27 to July 9, 2026 and has closed; dates for the next round are not posted yet Check site.
How to apply
Online application during an open window, following the round's request for proposals.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Coast Electric Community Trust Grants
Gulfport · Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties
Grants from Coast Electric Power Association members' Operation Round Up contributions, held at the foundation, for charitable and educational work in the cooperative's three counties. The environment is one of its four funding categories.
Typical grant
Up to $10,000 for a 12-month period (its site).
Next deadline
Twice a year, February 1 to 28 and August 1 to 31; the August 2026 cycle has closed. Next: February 1 to 28, 2027 Verified.
How to apply
Online application from the foundation's grant opportunities page during a cycle.
Community Foundation for Mississippi: Rural Leveraging Matching Grants
Jackson · CFM's rural service area
Help with the match on a state or federal grant, for organizations or towns based in or serving rural counties (under 50,000 people) in the foundation's footprint. Useful when a public grant above needs local match.
Typical grant
Up to 50% of the required match for an anticipated, awarded or obligated grant (its site).
Next deadline
Open year-round Rolling.
How to apply
Letter of interest through the foundation's grants portal.
It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.
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