Foundation for the Mid South marks 35 years of regional impact, unveils strategic vision

JANS – The Foundation for the Mid South (FMS) celebrated 35 years of service and leadership recently with a gala at the Two Mississippi Museums, drawing more than 100 partners, grantees, and community leaders from across Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.  The evening highlighted the Foundation’s history of advancing equity and opportunity while introducing a bold new five-year strategic plan.

President and CEO Gregory Johnson, Chairman of the Board Theo Bunting, and Vice President of Programs Cassio Batteast led the program, which featured tributes to past leaders, reflections on community partnerships, and a renewed call to invest in the region’s future.

“For 35 years, the Foundation for the Mid South has connected people to opportunity and turned ideas into action,” said Johnson.  “Our work has always been rooted in equity, collaboration, and possibility.  This anniversary is both a celebration and a recommitment to the people and communities that make this region extraordinary.”

“From its earliest days, this Foundation has been guided by a simple idea that the people who live and work in our communities know what they need to succeed,” added Bunting. “That belief continues to drive everything we do, and it is what makes this mission so powerful 35 years later.”

HONORING A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

The Foundation’s highest recognition, the Mid South Leadership Award, was presented to Dr. Ivye Allen, former President of the Foundation for the Mid South.  Dr. Allen was honored for nearly two decades of leadership in philanthropy and community development, helping shape initiatives that continue to influence economic and social progress throughout the region.

“Dr. Allen’s leadership and commitment have left a lasting mark on this region,” Johnson said during the presentation.  “She represents the kind of community-rooted service that defines who we are.”

Additional honors included the Partnership Award to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for its long-standing collaboration around equity and racial healing, and the Shared Vision ~ Real Change Awards recognizing:

• Delta Compass (MS)

• Geaux Girl Giving Collective (LA)

• Delta Circles, Inc. (AR)

CHARTING THE 

NEXT CHAPTER

The event also marked the unveiling of FMS’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which outlines the organization’s vision for deepening its impact across five priorities: Education, Health and Wellness, Economic Opportunity, Communication and Policy Advocacy, and Networking and Convening.

“Our vision is a thriving Mid South where every person has equitable access to education, health, and economic opportunity,” Johnson said.  “We are expanding our role as a convener, strengthening networks, and embedding communications, policy, and advocacy into everything we do.  The goal is to create tangible, lasting change that families can feel in their daily lives.”

The plan, introduced during a multimedia presentation, calls for stronger regional collaboration, policy engagement, and measurable progress in outcomes for children and families.

Learn more at www.fndmidsouth.org and follow @FndMidSouth on social media.