October 2023

Join us for Friendsgiving!

We all have friends who have become as close as family.

Many of us, even before making a family of our own, may remember a time when Thanksgiving meant gathering with these friends and creating a new tradition. Whether it be a stand-alone event or even after family dinner, many have coined this celebration “Friendsgiving” – a shorthand for recognizing that whether by chosen or by blood, at Friendsgiving – everyone is family.

Yet, sometimes, life has a way of getting in the way. Work, other commitments, childcare – they can make Friendsgiving hard to pull off. That is why the Community Foundation for Mississippi is inviting you to join us this year as we build a table big enough for everyone to gather. We will break bread together, share our stories, and even meet some new friends along the way.

The table is set and we’ve taken care of everything – the food, the music, even childcare is provided by our friends at Family Social Club. Attendees will enjoy music by the Accumulators and will experience a unique storytelling experience connecting you through a three-course meal with Chef Damien Cavicchi of Hal and Mal’s.

Join us to celebrate the places and people we love most – let’s gather at the communal table and give thanks together for everything we have to celebrate. Now all you have to do is bring your people – family, friends, and more!

When: November 16

Happy hour: 5:30 – 6 p.m.

Dinner: 6 p.m.

Where: The Cedars, 4145 Old Canton Rd., Jackson, MS 39206

Cost: $65 for individual tickets, $120 for a couple. The ticket includes a unique three-course dinner and two drink tickets. Tickets are $10 per child (ages 1 to 11) for childcare with Family Social Club at the Cedars.

Sponsored by

LGBTQ Fund Of Mississippi At The Community Foundation For Mississippi Announces 2023 Grant Recipients

The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi at the Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) announced 2023 annual funding commitments earlier this month totaling more than $131,000. The total included $98,187 for ten programs serving LGBTQ Mississippians around the state, $10,500 to update the statewide Needs Assessment by the Mississippi LGBTQ Study, $8,100 to sponsor LGBTQ events in the state and $15,000 for small micro-grants and training provided by the Campaign for Southern Equality. The fund’s Grants Review Committee, chaired by Michael Martella, used information from the current Needs Assessment and from proposals submitted by applicants to make funding recommendations.

Job opportunity: Development and Outreach Coordinator

CFM is hiring a Development and Outreach Coordinator! This role works closely with the President and CEO and other staff to implement a strategy to meet organizational goals for growth and success.

This position is responsible for cultivating productive relationships with professional advisors, like financial planners, investment advisors, attorneys and accountants, and donor prospects across CFM’s 22-county service area. The coordinator helps create and then executes development plans to include in-person visits with and presentations to professional advisors and their clients.

Through development and cultivation of personal relationships and affinity groups, this position strengthens the culture of philanthropy particularly in rural areas of Mississippi.

The Development and Outreach Coordinator guides the organization’s goal of growing our public profile and educating donors and professional advisors across our 22-county service area about ways to enhance personal giving. Strategies include but are not limited to promoting major gifts, planned gifts and project funds for communities. Developing outreach and relationships into counties outside the metropolitan area of the City of Jackson is a specific priority. Travel is expected on a weekly basis.

To apply: Letter of interest and resume to [email protected] with the subject line “Development and Outreach Coordinator.”

Statewide Grant

The Mississippi Arts Commission mini-grant application for individuals and organizations opens on October 1. Mini-grants for Organizations are matching grants designed to support professional development and capacity building for arts organizations. Mississippi-based non-profit organizations and government entities are also eligible to receive Mini-Grants to hire professional artists such as those listed on MAC’s Artist Roster and Teaching Artist Roster. LLC’s and other for-profit businesses are NOT eligible to apply for MAC grants. Learn more here.

National Grant



T-Mobile is investing $25M in 500 rural towns over 5 years to jumpstart projects and build stronger communities. Rural communities can apply for up to $50,000 for a Hometown Grant to bring their community idea to life. Twenty five grants are awarded each quarter. Learn more here.