November Newsletter

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Give Thanks this month by Giving Back!

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi is celebrating the month of giving with you--the people who care! This month, there are a variety of opportunities to give as you consider your end-of-the-year giving goals.

November Causes & Corresponding Funds

Nov 1st: National Family Literacy Day

Support Childhood Literacy, STEM & Enrichment
Youth Financial Literacy Current Giving Fund

Nov 8th: National S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. Day

Advanced STEM Access Program
Technology in Education

Nov 11th: Veteran's Day

National Military Family Appreciation Month

Hernando Veterans Day Parade
Honor Our Troops Classic 
Veterans Special Projects 

Nov 14th: National Rural Health Day

National Diabetes Awareness Month

Endowment for Delta Health
Trinity Health Center Endowment
Childhood Obesity

Nov 15th: National Philanthropy Day

Support the Community Foundation's mission!

Nov 17-23: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

FEED Northwest Mississippi
Transitional Shelter Endowment

Nov 25th: Elimination of Violence against Women Day

Support Domestic Violence Victims & Survivors

Nov 28th: Thanksgiving Holiday

Nov 30th: Mississippi Day

Place/Based Education & Civic Engagement Endowment
Junior Achievement supporting Workforce & Career Development

or you can... Browse our Funds by Category

To learn more about funds to support this month at the Community Foundation or to inquire about setting up a fund in support of a cause you care about, contact Stacye Trout (strout@cfnm.org) or call 662.449.5002

Introducing New Staff Members!

Colin Davis, Director of Accounting

Read more here.

Ameliea Dulaney, Marketing and Communications Lead

Read more here.

REMINDER: Competitive Grants Application Open Once a Year

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi grants committee voted to change the competitive grant application cycle to an annual, once-a-year cycle that will be open in 2025 between July 1st and August 1st. For questions regarding the new annual grant cycle, please contact Donna Goldman (grants@cfnm.org) or call 662.449.5002

Grants Portal

IN THE COMMUNITY

$60,000 Grant to James C. Kennedy Wellness Center's Food as Medicine Program

Community Foundation staff, MolinaCares Staff, James C. Kennedy Wellness Center Staff and Board Members, and others gathered in Charleston, MS on October 11th to celebrate the continuation of the Food is Medicine Program.

L-R: Stacye Trout, Ausheyia Cunningham, Laurie Williams, Dr. Catherine Moring, and Community Foundation Board Member Julia Mitchener Turnipseed

The James C. Kennedy Wellness Center opened its doors in 2016 and its Food Prescription Program started in 2019.


The program serves 50 families and involves the following:


  • monthly gift cards to Super Value grocery store
  • healthy eating education
  • healthcare
Read more here.
Contribute to the Cause here.

Staff Attends Delta Philanthropy Forum

"The State of Education in MS and AR Delta" Panelists at the 2024 Delta Philanthropy Forum, Pictured L-R: Emily Avery, MOD (Rural LISC), George Stewart (Foundation for the Mid-South), Dr. Earl Watkins (Mississippi Achievement School District), Teresa Webster (President of Mississippi Delta Community College), Dr. Daniel Ennis (President of Delta State University), Dr. Jerryl Briggs (President of Mississippi Valley State University), Kim Davis (Walton Family Foundation), and Keith Fulcher (President of Community Foundation of NWMS President).

Community Foundation Staff members attended the 2024 Delta Philanthropy Forum in Stoneville, MS at the Mississippi State Delta Research and Extension Center on October 21-22nd, the first forum in 5 years! There were 40+ funders (regional and national) who are contributing to the development of the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta regions. Two days of strategy making and relationship building as well as listening to panelists and community leaders speak of the needs as well as actionable solutions was inspiring for our staff.


Kara Dulaney, Director of the Box Project and Co-Director of the Maddox Nonprofit and Volunteer Resource HUB said, "My takeaway from this year's forum is that we need to listen, learn and love the communities that we are serving in the MS Delta. Impactful change is personal and it is the responsibility of funders to understand that. Trust the people who are vested and work to remove biases that limit organizations that are doing good work from receiving sustainable funding."

Pictured L-R: Brenda Smith, Kim Davis, Kara Dulaney, Sophie Hathaway (Delta Fellow), and Dr. John Green (Director of Southern Rural Development Center at Mississippi State University).

See event pictures here.
Contribute to the Cause here.

DONOR EDUCATION

You're busy as 2024 draws to a close! November is the time to set things in motion so you don’t get caught up in the year-end rush. Take 60 seconds to scan through these must-know tips for year-end giving.


  1. Consider giving highly appreciated stock, not cash, to your fund at the Community Foundation, thereby maximizing tax benefits. Think about opening a fund if you do not have one.
  2. Evaluate a “bundling” or “bunching” technique with your advisors to make gifts to donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation, exceeding the currently high standard deduction to be able to itemize. Then, donor-advised fund assets can be used over the next few years to support your favorite charities.
  3. If you are 70 ½ and older, make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA to a designated or field-of-interest fund (donor-advised funds are ineligible recipients) at the Community Foundation–up to $105,000 per spouse. Plus, your QCD can satisfy your RMD (Required Minimum Distribution)! 

 

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi is our region’s trusted source for all things philanthropy. Reach out to the Community Foundation team for help today! We are honored to serve you and your family as you pursue the charitable causes that mean the most to you. We are wishing you all the best for a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday!


Contact Stacye Trout to explore gift opportunities.

HUB ON THE ROAD

The Maddox Nonprofit & Volunteer Resource HUB is a program of the Community Foundation that specializes in community outreach and helps connect local nonprofits and volunteers with individuals, resources, and opportunities within their communities.


This month, Co-Directors Brenda Smith and Kara Dulaney continued their food pantry visits as they plan for 2025 programming and establish initial cohorts to work with.


To learn more about the HUB, contact bsmith@cfnm.org or kdulaney@cfnm.org

Support the HUB by donating here.

Amazon Pallet Distribution

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, Maddox Nonprofit & Volunteer Resource HUB, and the Box Project were privileged to partner with Dr. Pam Chatman with Boss Lady Economic Planning & Development for her #55DaysofGiving this fall to host an Amazon pallet distribution center in Tunica, MS, where nonprofits from our 11-county service region were invited to come and "shop" for donation items.


“This has been one of the most impactful and rewarding projects that I have had the chance to participate in. You get to be on the frontlines in making impactful change by building communities and nonprofit organizations that serve the MS Delta.” Kara Dulaney, said. “I am especially thankful for the support from the Tunica County Sherriff KC Hamp, County Administrator Dr. Billy Willis, local businesses Nutrient AG and 991 Magnolia, LLC for their support to make this possible. Thank you to volunteers from the Tunica County Sheriff’s Department, Tunica Recreation Center, Tunica Woman’s Club, and other community members, this would not have been possible without you!!"


Shelves of the warehouse were filled to the top after staff and volunteers spent two full days unloading, sorting, and organizing hundreds of boxes into sections for nonprofits to come in and easily identify what they need. There were two semi-trucks with over 30 pallets stacked tall with Amazon items of all kinds from baby items, clothes, and games to houseware, tools, and automotive equipment. Over 30 nonprofits from Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Panola, Shelby, Sunflower, Tate, and Tunica counties travelled to the warehouse to pick out items for their office, their clients, and their upcoming fundraising events to auction off!

A remaining 10 pallets were donated in full to Tunica County for their assistance in making the distribution such a success. Items from the pallets were used in part through the Tunica County Sherriff's Department to help domestic violence survivors get back on their feet. Other items were donated to local nonprofits and organizations like Tunica Humane Society, Tunica Parks and Recreation and others dedicated to making a difference in their community.


The event became even more touching when recipients of our Box Project program were invited to come and pick out items for themselves, leaving with new bedding or supplies for their children.

We would like to extend a a special thanks to our community partners and our volunteers for making the distribution a success!

Support the HUB by donating here.

Northwest Mississippi Food Pantry Visits

The Maddox Nonprofit & Volunteer Resource HUB in partnership with Delta Directions as a part of the Healthier Mississippi initiative is making visits to local food pantries, farms and distribution centers as a follow up to their 2024 Hunger Summit Series. This allows them to assess needs and meet pantries where they are as they plan for 2025 programming.

Brenda, Kara and Delta Fellow Sophie Visit Food Pantries in Greenville and Leland, MS

Click here to donate to the FEED FUND at the Community Foundation.

CAUSES THAT MATTER

The Box Project: Fighting Rural Poverty

The Box Project was established in 1962 by Northern philanthropists and activists amidst the Civil Rights Movement to aid southern black families living in rural poverty. In 2009, The Box Project became an official program of the Community Foundation, bringing is headquarters and services to the Mississippi Delta region where it all began. The Box Project continues to serve families in rural poverty by matching them with "sister" families from all over the United States who provide emotional and material support as parents (primarily single mothers) work against all odds to break the cycle of generational poverty in hopes that their children can have a better future.


To learn more, visit the website or contact director@boxproject.org

Our Executive Board has agreed to sponsor a family in need this Christmas Season...

Will you join us?

Click here to join the Winter Holiday Sponsorship Program.

Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute Scholarship Fund

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi served as the fiscal agent for raising funds that went towards the Jerry Lee Lewis memorial statue that now stands unveiled in Silo Square. CFNM holds the Jerry Lee Lewis Scholarship Fund that will be used to support students with a dream and passion for music.


Check us out in Delta Magazine's Holiday issue on page 198!

Left: Delta Regional Foundation Sponsor Joe Lang attends Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute statue unveiling at Silo Square.

Right: Ameliea Dulaney (CFNM) poses with Judith Lewis at the statue unveiling.


Click here to donate to the Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute Scholarship Fund.

DATES TO REMEMBER

NOVEMBER 8th-9th DICKENS CHRISTMAS

Click here to learn more.

NOVEMBER 10th THE BOX PROJECT WINTER HOLIDAY DEADLINE

Click here to sponsor a family.
Click here to donate.

NOVEMBER 27TH DESOTO DREAM CENTER THANKSGIVING GIVEAWAY

Click here to volunteer.
Click here to sponsor a meal.

DECEMBER 3rd  GIVING TUESDAY

Click here to make a gift in celebration of GIVING TUESDAY!

To send us events to add to our calendar, email info@cfnm.org

www.cfnm.org | 662.449.5002 | info@cfnm.org

Established in 2002 with a generous grant from the Maddox Foundation

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