Local and Regional Resources
The Riley Foundation
The Riley Foundation's focus is the city of Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The Riley Foundation improves and enhances the quality of life for the people of Meridian and Lauderdale County through leadership and grantmaking activities in support of a wide ranging array of charitable purposes.
The Phil Hardin Foundation
The Phil Hardin Foundation was established in 1964 to provide support for education activities in the state of Mississippi. The Foundation, today, is guided by a long-range plan entitled “Re-creating the Places Where We Live: Partnerships in Philanthropy, Education, and Community in Mississippi, 2004-2008.”
Mississippi Center for Nonprofits
Provides a wealth of services to increase the effectiveness of the nonprofit sector across the state of Mississippi. Services include training courses on a range of issues, advocacy on substantive matters affecting the nonprofit sector and networking opportunities.
Donor Assistance
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
Offers guidance to donors on making informed giving decisions through its evaluations of national charities, "tips" publications, and the quarterly BBB Wise Giving Guide.
Charity Navigator
Evaluates the financial health of more than 1,700 charities nationwide.
GuideStar
Searchable database of IRS-registered exempt charities, including private foundations. Information is drawn from the IRS Master List. Includes links to most recent Form 990s and 990-PFs, and many web sites. Agencies may also supplement their listings voluntarily with program descriptions and other information.
More Than Money
Membership organization that helps wealthy people explore the meaning of wealth in their lives. Offers periodic conferences and publishes a quarterly journal.
National Center for Family Philanthropy
Nonprofit resource center that encourages families and individuals to create and sustain their philanthropic missions, regardless of which charitable vehicle they choose. The center offers research, programs, and educational materials.
Sharing the Wealth: Charitable Giving in Prosperous Times
Program of Minnesota Public Radio in the more prosperous times of late 2000, the site still has a number of useful links and resource materials about giving.
access.mpr.org/civic_j/giving/resources/resources.shtml#web
Nonprofit Organizations and Foundations
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Twice-monthly newspaper of the philanthropic sector. Great way to keep up on charitable trends and familiarize oneself with the nonprofit sector. Web site is also very useful, including archived stories for the past four years and dozens of web links, although some parts of the site are available only to subscribers.
Southeastern Council on Foundations
Membership organization that represents charitable foundations throughout the 12-state region of the Southeastern portion of the United States. Services include advocacy, information sharing and education on issues affecting charitable foundations.
Council on Foundations
Membership organization representing the nation's 70,000+ private, community, and corporate foundations. Services include conferences and seminars, legal advice, publications, and listservs.
The Foundation Center
National clearinghouse of information about foundations of all types. In addition to a range of printed publications, offers basic "Foundation Finder" online as well as short-term subscriptions for enhanced search services.
Internal Revenue Service
Online version of Publication 78, the so-called "Blue Book," a searchable database of exempt organizations.
www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96136,00.html
National Center for Charitable Statistics
Compilations of statistics about charitable organizations, such as the numbers of exempt organizations by state.
