The Women’s Foundation of Mississippi (WFM) is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOIs) for projects aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes and supporting child development from birth to age three in the Mississippi Delta. This Open Call for funding responds to the region’s high rates of maternal and infant mortality and its status as a "medical desert" with limited healthcare access. This initiative aligns with WFM's mission of advancing economic security for women and girls across Mississippi, particularly for those facing social and economic hardships.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) and fiscally sponsored nonprofits operating in Mississippi’s Delta region. Grant amounts range from $50,000 to $250,000, with a typical project period of 12 months. Projects should focus on one or more of three core areas: (1) reducing maternal mortality by enhancing access to prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care and recruiting doulas and midwives; (2) reducing infant mortality through regular health assessments, nutrition education, and follow-up care for at-risk mothers; and (3) identifying barriers to healthcare by creating support networks for pregnant women and new mothers. Priority will be given to initiatives that foster collaboration among service providers, share best practices, and build supportive community networks.

Grantees will form a cohort that participates in bi-annual convenings, quarterly check-ins, and possibly site visits. WFM will fund an independent evaluation of cohort projects to assess collective impact, foster learning, and support knowledge exchange among grantees. Selected organizations will also conduct individual program evaluations, contributing data to the overall evaluation effort.

To apply, interested organizations must submit a 2-page Letter of Interest by October 31, 2024, to info@womensfoundationms.org. The LOI should include a description of the organization’s mission, an outline of the proposed project and target population within the Mississippi Delta, anticipated outcomes, and an estimated budget. Following review, up to 10 organizations will be invited to submit full proposals, with five grants expected to be awarded in December 2024.

WFM will host Q&A sessions on October 25 and October 28 to answer applicant questions, followed by office hours for proposal support during the week of November 18. Key dates in the application timeline include LOI submissions by October 31, proposal invitations on November 11, and final proposal submissions by December 3. Successful projects will receive funding in December 2024 and should plan to run their programs from January through December 2025.