Who We Are
In April 2021, a group of local and national funders established the Mississippi Justice Fund (MJF), to support coordinated justice reform in Mississippi. The mission of the Mississippi Justice Fund is to galvanize collective action through collaborative funding, community engagement, and donor education to fund Mississippi-based organizations advancing youth justice and adult criminal justice reform in Mississippi.
In its inaugural year, the Fund raised approximately $1.2 million and attracted the support of five donor members, a testament to our shared vision. The Mississippi Justice Fund stands steadfast in its commitment to driving transformative change in the criminal justice system and fostering a future of equity, justice, and compassion for all Mississippians.
To date, the MJF has awarded two rounds of grants in the summer and fall of 2023.
The Mississippi Justice Fund is prioritizing investments to:
- Strengthen the capacity of Mississippi-based organizations to increase leadership of individuals and communities most impacted by the criminal legal system, and Invest in Mississippi-based organizations working to end reliance on incarceration and maintain public safety through power building, community organizing, public education, and advocacy.
- Invest in Mississippi-based organizations working to end reliance on incarceration and maintain public safety through power building, community organizing, public education, and advocacy.
Who We Fund
The Mississippi Justice Fund (MJF) awards grants to Mississippi-based, community organizations that are advancing strategies to end reliance on incarceration and foster community safety through power building, community organizing, public education, and/or advocacy. The MJF will prioritize support for Mississippi-based adult and youth justice reform organizations and initiatives led by Black, POC, formerly incarcerated and/or justice-impacted individuals (c3 and/or fiscally sponsored) and Organizations with initiatives based in geographically underserved regions in Mississippi and/or that have been traditionally underfunded by national philanthropic organizations.
To be eligible for funds, your organization must meet the following criteria:
- Mississippi-based organizations focused on justice reform and community safety.
- Organizations with tax-exempt 501(c)3 status or fiscally sponsored by an organization with tax-exempt 501(c)3 status. Governmental entities are not eligible.
The Mississippi Justice Fund cannot fund C4 activities.
Grant Awards: Grant award amounts are determined by the organization/project budget and available funds.
Have Questions? Contact Us
Email questions to Alicia Netterville, MS Justice Fund Coordinator, alicia@acclstrategies.com.
