Note from the Executive Director

Greetings Friends,
I hope you have had a productive summer that included a bit of vacation time. After all the challenges that nonprofit organizations have faced – and, in fact, are still facing – you deserved some quality down time. We all know that our effectiveness in serving others is directly related to our own well-being, so if you have not yet taken time off, I encourage you to do so before the winter days set in.
We at The Alliance have been focused on maintaining our commitments to providing quality service and support to our members, and as Fall approaches we will be ramping up the quantity of offerings. Please let us know if you have needs that are not currently being addressed by The Alliance. Our mission is to ensure that you are receiving the capacity-building support needed so you can have the most positive impact possible for those you serve. Don’t ever hesitate to let us know if we should be providing help that is not currently available — we don’t exist without you!
The focus for this issue of The Ally is back-to-school and Labor Day – both indicating that Fall season is arriving with prospects of good things to come. We recognize that good things happen year-round because of the work of nonprofits in Mississippi, but the Fall provides us with the opportunity to express thanks for the positive results that have been achieved and contemplate what we can do to be even better in the future. Recognizing this time of gratitude, celebration, and preparation, let’s make the most of it together.
In conclusion, I offer up one way to make the most of it together – let’s continue our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging by being an ally to others. Recently we discovered the piece below and thought it worth sharing
Sammy
Related Articles
Woodward Hines Education Foundation Supports First-Gen College Success in Mississippi with $1.5 Million Grant to FirstGen Forward
The Woodward Hines Education Foundation is focused on college completion in Mississippi, and its funds will allow FirstGen Forward to expand its impact in the state.
State’s Nonprofit Sector: An Economic Engine
This commentary piece from the Alliance Executive Director originally appeared in the December issue of the Mississippi Business Journal.
The recent challenges facing nonprofits have dominated public discourse, overshadowing a fundamental truth: Mississippi’s nonprofit sector remains one of our state’s most vital economic drivers and community lifelines. As executive director of the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, I see firsthand the transformative work of thousands of organizations operating with integrity, transparency, and remarkable efficiency across our state.
Equity in Response, Recovery and Resilence: An Action Report in Five Parts
The Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy (the Alliance) was created to enhance coordination, collaboration, and communication among nonprofits, maximizing existing funding and expanding resources. The Alliance also focuses on embedding equity into nonprofit work, aiming to ensure equitable outcomes. During the 2022 Jackson water crisis, nonprofits worked to meet urgent needs. Recently, with funding from the US Water Alliance, the Alliance and its partners have been studying equity in disaster response, recovery, and resilience efforts.