The Riley Foundation was formed following the sale of Riley Memorial Hospital in 1998. The Foundation is a non-profit organization incorporated under Mississippi law.  The Foundation's purpose is to make grants to charitable and governmental organizations for charitable purposes and to provide financial resources and assistance for community-wide projects and programs in healthcare, education, and the betterment of cultural, environmental and economic conditions for the people of Meridian and Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and classified as "not a private foundation" (that is, a public charity) as defined under Section 509(a), or a governmental agency.  Applicants may not, however, be "supporting organizations" described in section 509(a)(3).

• Organization must be located in Lauderdale County, Mississippi or provide services for the citizens of Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

• For legal reasons, the Foundation does not support individuals or their projects, private foundations, advertising, sponsorships or political activities.

PREFERENCES:

• It is preferred that a significant dollar amount for the requested project be committed by the applicant and/or another source.

• It is preferred that someone from the applying organization have experience in grant writing.

AS A MATTER OF POLICY, the Foundation does not ordinarily support:

• Recurring expenses for operations, programs or salaries

• Social or fundraising events

• Hospitals or nursing homes

• Religious organizations for religious purposes

    Grants are made only after written applications are received and reviewed by the staff and presented to and approved by the Board of Directors. Incomplete applications will be returned.

     You will be notified by mail of the status of your application within two weeks following The Riley Foundation board of directors meeting.  No phone calls please.

       Applications are reviewed at quarterly meetings in January, April, July and October and are due by noon as follows:

Deadline*                                                Board Meeting

Noon - November 15                                       January

Noon - February 15                                          April

Noon - May 15                                                  July

Noon - August 15                                              October  

*Applications due by noon the following Monday if 15th is on a weekend.

                              Do not FAX or Email Grant Application