2024-11-11T13:46:23-06:00 2024-06-30 640897081 MATTHEWS CUTRER & LINDSAY PA 599C STEED RD RIDGELAND MS 39157 990 2023-07-01 800310153 MISSISSIPPI FIRST INC MISS 6013989008 PO BOX 1159 JACKSON MS 392151159 RACHEL CANTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6013989008 2024-11-07 1 1 KIMBERLY L HARDY CPA P01350496 6018988875 2024-11-07 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z RACHEL CANTER PO BOX 1159 JACKSON MS 392151159 996445 0 X WWW.MISSISSIPPIFIRST.ORG X 1982 MS MISSISSIPPI FIRST CHAMPIONS TRANSFORMATIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY MISSISSIPPI CHILD. 4 4 9 4 0 0 449517 967294 0 0 16101 29151 0 0 465618 996445 1151777 977895 0 0 764559 983744 0 0 16646 500898 916163 2417234 2877802 -1951616 -1881357 6956517 5134021 240839 299700 6715678 4834321 X MISSISSIPPI FIRST CHAMPIONS TRANSFORMATIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS ENSURING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOR EVERY MISSSISSIPPI CHILD. 0 0 2624570 977895 PRE-K:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST FINALIZED A BIRTH-TO-FIVE POLICY AGENDA FOR FUTURE WORK, THIS WORK WAS SHARED WITH PARTNERS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONDUCTED AND PUBLISHED A PUBLIC OPINION POLL ABOUT PRE-K AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN MISSISSIPPI. THIS POLL FOUND WIDESPREAD PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR PRE-K AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST FINALIZED A BLENDED PRE-K TOOLKIT SLATED FOR PUBLICATION IN EARLY FY25.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST FINALIZED AND PUBLISHED AN EARLY EDUCATION BRIEFING BOOK FOR STATE OFFICIALS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST BEGAN THE RESEARCH PROCESS FOR THE FOURTH ITERATION OF THE STATE OF PRE-K SERIES, WHICH EXAMINES THE NUMBER, TYPE, AND QUALITY OF PRE-K PROGRAMS IN EACH COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST RESEARCHED POSSIBILITIES FOR A STATE EITC AND WHAT IMPACT IT MAY HAVE ON MISSISSIPPI FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, INCLUDING COMMISSIONING TWO FISCAL IMPACT STUDIES.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PROVIDED ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (MDE) TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE (ELC) PRE-K PROGRAM.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR INCREASED FUNDING OF THE ELC PROGRAM, WINNING AN ADDITIONAL $5M IN APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE WHICH ALLOWED MDE TO INCREASE THE ELC RATE TO $3,500. TO MAKE THIS ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, THE LEGISLATURE REDUCED THE LINE ITEM FOR THE STATE-INVESTED PRE-K PROGRAM IN ORDER TO TRANSITION THOSE FUNDS INTO THE ELC PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE HIGHER QUALITY OF THE TWO PROGRAMS, A MOVE MISSISSIPPI FIRST SUPPORTED.CHARTER SCHOOLS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST COMMISSIONED A REPORT ON FINANCIAL BEST PRACTICES FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS, DUE FOR PUBLICATION IN EARLY FY25.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST COMMISSIONED AN EVALUATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER BOARD, DUE FOR PUBLICATION IN EARLY FY25.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONDUCTED AND PUBLISHED A PUBLIC OPINION POLL ABOUT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN MISSISSIPPI. USING INFORMATION FROM THIS POLL, THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO CONDUCT FOCUS GROUPS WITH PARENTS IN CHARTER COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS LAUNCH A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED ITS EDUCATOR PIPELINE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SPARKS AND STUDY.COM. SPARKS WILL CONCLUDE IN 2026, WHILE STUDY.COM CONCLUDED IN FY24.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST LAUNCHED THE OPERATIONS RESIDENCY TO TRAIN OPERATIONS LEADERS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST HOSTED THE FINAL YEAR OF THE SUMMER CHARTER SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST LAUNCHED BOTH THE START-UP FUND AND THE CASH COLLATERAL FUND. THE START-UP FUND MADE ITS FIRST OFFICIAL DISBURSEMENT, AND THE CASH COLLATERAL FUND HAD ITS SECOND OFFICIAL PARTICIPANT.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ENGAGED PARENTS IN TRAINING AND OTHER ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SUPPORTED IMPROVEMENT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS THROUGH QUALITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA). THIS TA RESULTED IN DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL GRADES FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AT THE END OF THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM GRANT, GROWING TO THREE SUBGRANTEES, AND PROVIDED QUALITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST LAUNCHED THE DISTRICT-CHARTER COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AND DISTRIBUTED SUBGRANTS TO THE SIX PARTNERS FOR THEIR PROJECTS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST LAUNCHED THE PARENT AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE CHARTER POLL FINDINGS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE CHARTER SCHOOL LAW.TEACHERS AND LEADERS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PUBLISHED ANOTHER SEMINAL REPORT, FALLING BEHIND, EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF THE 2022 TEACHER PAY RAISE ON TEACHER ATTRITION RISK FACTORS. THIS REPORT WAS BASED ON A 2023 FOLLOW-UP SURVEY OF TEACHERS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN FALLING BEHIND AND OUR EARLIER REPORT EYEING THE EXIT TO EXPAND THE WINTER-REED TEACHER LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ALTERNATE ROUTE AND VETERAN TEACHERS AND TO PROVIDE AS MANY AWARDS AS FUNDS AVAILABLE.FUTURE OF SCHOOLS:- MISSISSIPPI FIRST PROPOSED AND PASSED A NEW, WEIGHTED STUDENT FUNDING FORMULA FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASE EQUITY FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS.- MISSISSIPPI FIRST CONTINUED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND EXPERTISE TO POLICYMAKERS. 2624570 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 0 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 MS X FORTSON BAIRD CPA 7692577061 5 OLD RIVER PLACE SUITE 107 JACKSON MS 39202 TIM ABRAM CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CATORIA MARTIN ESQ TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 KATE GLUCKMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 KI HARRIS BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 RACHEL CANTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 165271 0 11900 165271 0 11900 1 0 1 0 0 763791 203503 967294 29151 29151 996445 0 0 29151 X 977895 977895 180701 166877 10860 2964 643170 593965 38653 10552 100116 92920 5632 1564 59757 55463 3361 933 18600 18600 705667 637569 67826 272 15964 8076 7773 115 17418 7750 9668 11730 10887 660 183 41508 26047 15461 4032 3742 227 63 815 815 COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA 55833 200 55633 SUPPLIES 43151 43151 FEES 1445 28 1417 2877802 2624570 236586 16646 1807679 2635101 5097905 2464617 409 0 67931 60159 11804 7772 38720 26531 6956517 5134021 214131 272992 26708 26708 240839 299700 X 193459 209252 6522219 4625069 6715678 4834321 6956517 5134021 -1881357 0 X X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 1240714 1023529 8795996 449517 967294 12477050 1240714 1023529 8795996 449517 967294 12477050 8884546 3592504 412 429 596 16101 29151 46689 10 1032 123 1165 12524904 0.28680 0.29950 X FORM 990 - SCHEDULE A, PART II, SECTION C, LINE 17A PERCENTAGE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FACTOR AND HISTORICAL TRENDSMISSISSIPPI FIRST HAS HISTORICALLY MET THE PUBLIC SUPPORT TEST OUT RIGHT EACH YEAR ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR FUNDRAISING FROM DIVERSE SOURCES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, SINCE WE BEGAN FILING THE 990. THE ANNUAL PERCENTAGES BEGINNING WITH FILING YEAR 2014 UNTIL 2021 WERE AS FOLLOWS: 100.00, 74.05, 64.63, 71.53, 67.54, 71.66, AND 72.70. IN FILING YEAR 2021, MISSISSIPPI FIRST RECEIVED AN EXTREMELY LARGE AND UNUSUAL THREE-YEAR GIFT, WHICH DROPPED OUR PUBLIC SUPPORT TO 34.73% THAT YEAR. LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME WE BARELY MISSED THE 33.3% MARK, WITH A SCORE OF 29.95%, BUT WE MET IT OVER THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD. THIS YEAR, WE ALSO BARELY MISSED IT, MAKING US MISS IT FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW. HOWEVER, THAT USUALLY LARGE GRANT HAS NOW ENDED AND, FOR REASONS WE EXPLAIN BELOW, WE BELIEVE WILL NOT HAVE TROUBLE GOING FORWARD. SOURCES OF SUPPORTWE NORMALLY HAVE A BROAD DONOR BASE THAT INCLUDES COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS, PRIVATE CHARITIES, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A LARGE FEDERAL GRANT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE 90% OF THESE FUNDS MUST GO TO SCHOOLS AS SUBAWARDS, WE MUST WAIT FOR SCHOOLS TO DRAW DOWN THEIR GRANTS BEFORE WE CAN DRAW DOWN FUNDS. THE AWARD IS TWO YEARS OLD BUT RAMP UP HAS BEEN SLOW. THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE QUALIFIED FOR THE SINGLE AUDIT AS A RESULT. WE BELIEVED THAT THIS FEDERAL GRANT WOULD OFFSET THE UNUSUALLY LARGE PRIVATE FOUNDATION GRANT WE RECEIVED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME, BUT DUE TO SLOW RAMP UP, WE DREW DOWN A SMALLER AMOUNT THAN EXPECTED. NEXT YEAR, WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL REACH THE MARK. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNING BOARDOUR GOVERNING BOARD REPRESENTS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. NONE OF THE MEMBERS ARE, OR HAVE BEEN, FROM THE SAME FAMILY AS EACH OTHER OR ANY MEMBER OF STAFF. THEY HAVE ALSO NEVER REPRESENTED ANY OF OUR FUNDERS. WE RECRUIT A DIVERSE RANGE OF PEOPLE WITH CONNECTIONS TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF MISSISSIPPI AND ALSO LOOK FOR A DIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS. AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC FACILITIES OR SERVICESWE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH CHAMPIONING IMPROVED POLICY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS HAVE LED TO THE PASSAGE AND EXPANSION OF MISSISSIPPI'S STATE-FUNDED PRE-K PROGRAM, HISTORIC TEACHER PAY RAISES, AND A HOST OF OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. IN THE LAST YEAR, OUR EFFORTS LED TO A MORE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF STATE EDUCATION FUNDING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME CHILDREN. AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM FOR MISSISSIPPI, WE ALSO PROVIDED SUBGRANTS TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS SEEKING TO OPERATE HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. WE FURTHER PROVIDED SUBGRANTS TO BOTH CHARTER AND TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM RECRUIT AND RETAIN TEACHERS. FINALLY, WE SUPPORTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS SEEKING A TEACHING LICENSE AND FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS HOPING TO IMPROVE THEIR INSTRUCTION. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 9947 9947 2867855 2877802 293890 73473 0 0 163801 139278 270862 293890 867831 1301747 3777 5755 7480 9947 26959 40950 34820 67716 73473 216959 325439 67931 60159 7772 7772 996445 0 996445 0 996445 2877802 0 2877802 0 2877802 1 INSTANT IMPACT GLOBAL PREP 319 HIGHWAY 61 SOUTH NATCHEZ MS 39120 825464102 501C3 443060 0 ENTERED INFO A SUBGRANTEE AGREEMENT TO DISBURSE A CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM (CSP) SUBGRANT UNDER THE ORGANIZATIONS 2023 CSP AWARD. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI 119 SOUTH PRESIDENT STREET 1ST FLOOR JACKSON MS 39201 640845750 501C3 250000 0 TO CREATE A START-UP GRANT FUND FOR NEW OR EXPANDING CHARTER SCHOOLS. REPUBLIC SCHOOLS INC 309 W MCDOWELL RD JACKSON MS 39204 465280479 501C3 239835 0 ENTERED INFO A SUBGRANTEE AGREEMENT TO DISBURSE A CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM (CSP) SUBGRANT UNDER THE ORGANIZATIONS 2023 CSP AWARD. LEFLORE LEGACY ACADEMY 500 W WASHINGTON STREET GREENWOOD MS 38930 824526012 501C3 45000 0 ENTERED INFO A SUBGRANTEE AGREEMENT TO DISBURSE A CHARTER SCHOOLS PROGRAM (CSP) SUBGRANT UNDER THE ORGANIZATIONS 2023 CSP AWARD. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 RACHEL CANTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 165271 0 0 0 0 0 11900 0 0 0 177171 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECEIVES A COPY OF THE FORM 990 AND ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FORM ARE DIRECTED TO THE CPA. ALL QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED PRIOR TO FILING FORM 990 WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C MISSISSIPPI FIRST HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY TO WHICH ALL EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS AND CONTRACTORS MUST ADHERE. NO MEMBER OF THE MISSISSIPPI FIRST (MSF) STAFF, OR ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SHALL DERIVE ANY PERSONAL PROFIT OR GAIN, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY REASON OF THAT PERSON'S PARTICIPATION WITH MSF. ANY INTERESTED PERSON(S) SHALL DISCLOSE TO MSF ANY PERSONAL OR INDIRECT INTEREST, WHICH THE PERSON MAY HAVE IN ANY MATTER PENDING BEFORE MSF AND SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DECISION ON SUCH MATTER. EACH BOARD MEMBER COMPLETES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM ANNUALLY OR WHEN THEY JOIN THE BOARD. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM ASKS THE BOARD MEMBERS TO LIST ALL OF THEIR RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONAL AND PERSONAL AFFILIATIONS. THE BOARD THEN DISCUSSES WHETHER DIFFERENT SITUATIONS GIVE RISE TO THE LEVEL OF CREATING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHICH WOULD REQUIRE RECUSAL OF BOARD MEMBERS FROM DISCUSSIONS OR DECISIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE BOARD STRIVES FOR SALARIES TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE ROLE'S MEDIAN SALARY PAID BY PIE NETWORK MEMBERS OF COMPARABLE SIZE IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH ADJUSTMENTS MADE ACCORDING TO POLICY FOR EXACT RESPONSIBILITIES, EXPERIENCE, AND STATE WAGE DIFFERENTIALS. ALL COMPENSATION ALSO MEETS THE KEY CRITERIA OF REASONABILITY AND FISCAL PRUDENCE. IN ADDITION, EACH EMPLOYEE COMPLETES AN ANNUAL EVALUATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANICAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 637,569. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 67,826. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 272. TOTAL EXPENSES 705,667. FORM 990, PART XII, 2C THE AUDITOR MEETS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAKING A FULL PRESENTATION AT THE COMPLETION OF THE AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ANSWERING ANY OF THE BOARD'S QUESTIONS. THE AUDITOR WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE BOARD OF DURING THE YEAR SHOULD ANY CONCERNS ARISE.