UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI FOUNDATION Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI FOUNDATION

EIN 64-6022505 · Education (B110)

What they do

to BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALUMNI and FRIENDS IN ORDER to SECURE PRIVATE FUNDS and OTHER RESOURCES for THE BENEFIT of THE UNIVERSITY of SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (USM). THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES, INVESTS and DISTRIBUTES PRIVATE GIFTS IN SUPPORT of THE UNIVERSITYS MISSION.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $82.90 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders34 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

44.71%of revenue went to mission work82.9% of expenses · Program services

1.16%of revenue went to fundraising2.1% of expenses

$53.92spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

8.05%of revenue went to management and office costs14.9% of expenses

$14.37in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

50.8%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $174,627 for STACE MERCIER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$27,673,521

Mission workProgram services$12,373,03344.71% of revenue82.9% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,228,3718.05% of revenue14.9% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$320,7181.16% of revenue2.1% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$12,751,39946.08% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$14,922,12253.92% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 82.9% mission · 14.9% management · 2.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 53.92% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 85.5% mission · 12.1% management · 2.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 45.06% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 83.6% mission · 12.4% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 72.62% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 85.2% mission · 10.6% management · 4.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 73.30% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 82.0% mission · 14.5% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 45.71% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 82.4% mission · 11.2% management · 6.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.61% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 79.9% mission · 13.1% management · 7.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.35% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 81.6% mission · 11.8% management · 6.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 38.11% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$27,673,521

Expenses$14,922,122

Annual surplus $12,751,399 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$12,373,033 · 82.9% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,228,371 · 14.9% of expenses

Fundraising$320,718 · 2.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$27,673,521

Expenses$14,922,122

Assets$214,494,117

Income$49,769,762

Contributions$14,051,527

Mission work (program services)$12,373,033

Fundraising$320,718

Grants given$64,095,071

Average grant$2,670,628

Management and general$2,228,371

Stocks and bonds$130,608,921

Accounting fees$66,303

Investing fees$966,281

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

STACE MERCIEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY · 40 hrs/week $174,627Base $142,034 · Other $32,593

ELISSA ERNSTCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $129,991Base $104,572 · Other $25,419

LESLEE SMITHCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $118,316Base $87,337 · Other $30,979

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (34)

STACE MERCIEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY

ELISSA ERNSTCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

LESLEE SMITHCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

RODERICK POSEYBOARD MEMBER

KEVIN GILBERTBOARD MEMBER

LISA CONNBOARD MEMBER

OMAR NELSONVICE PRESIDENT

REBECCA BOUDREAUXBOARD MEMBER

RHONDA PHILLIPSBOARD MEMBER

ROBERT DONNELLBOARD MEMBER

KEITH MOONEYBOARD MEMBER

SCOTT LANEHARTBOARD MEMBER

STEVE STRICKLANDINVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

SUSAN WILLIAMSBOARD MEMBER

TOM GIBBENSBOARD MEMBER

TRACY POWELLRESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

VICKIE LOCKBOARD MEMBER

WADE HOWK TREASURERAND FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR

ADALIUS THOMASBOARD MEMBER

JOY LIGHTSEYBOARD MEMBER

JOE QUINLANIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

JENNIFER PAYNEBOARD MEMBER

GERALD MUMFORDBOARD MEMBER

EDWARD TAYLORBOARD MEMBER

DEMARIO SMITHBOARD MEMBER

CINDY GADDISMEMBER-AT-LARGE

CHUCK SCIANNABOARD MEMBER - THRU 1/14/2025

CHRIS ANDERSONPRESIDENT

CAROL JONES-RUSSELLPOLICY AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE CHAIR

CARLEN CHESTANGBOARD MEMBER

BEVERLY DALEBOARD MEMBER

ALVIS WRIGHTBOARD MEMBER

ALAN COATSBOARD MEMBER

ADELE LYONSBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2001
Location: 118 COLLEGE DRIVE 5210, HATTIESBURG, MS 39406-0002
County: Forrest
In care of: STACE MERCIER
Primary officer: STACE MERCIER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(601) 266-5210

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
NTEE classification: Education (B110)
Grant-giving organization: Yes