Our Grant Process

We view grantmaking as a partnership. We invest in organizations whose work aligns with our mission of expanding equitable access to and completion of postsecondary education in Mississippi.

How to Apply

Grant proposals are accepted by invitation only. If your organization’s work aligns with our funding priorities, you are welcome to contact us to share more. We respond to inquiries within three business days.

When invited to apply, organizations will:

  • Receive a link to our online grant application system.

  • Review a brief set of eligibility requirements.

  • Register and/or log into the application system.

  • Complete and submit the full grant application.

Application Deadlines

WHEF invites and communicates grant decisions on a rolling basis, with grants typically awarded quarterly. If your organization has funding needs within a specific fiscal period, please include that information in your application. Within 30 days of submission, our staff will provide the application status and next steps.

Criteria for Granting Requests

When reviewing proposals, our staff assesses opportunities based on several factors:

  • Alignment with WHEF’s funding focus areas.

  • Demonstrated potential to increase postsecondary access, persistence, and attainment.

  • Impact, scope, sustainability, and scalability—especially for first-generation and low-income students.

  • The recipient organization’s internal capacity to move the work forward.

  • Evidence of strong partnerships or integration with existing work/systems.

  • Ability to meet WHEF’s eligibility requirements.

Evaluation and Site Visits

Accountability and learning are central to our process. Grantees provide scheduled impact and evaluation reports, including both quantitative metrics and qualitative narrative updates.

WHEF staff also conduct site visits during the proposal stage and during the funding period. Site visits typically include meetings with organizational leadership, program staff, and participants.

Funding and Awards

There is no minimum or maximum amount for awards. Each request must include a sound rationale based on organizational capacity, total funding needed, other funding secured, and sustainability. Most organizations receive one grant per year. Multi-year funding may be considered for requests strongly aligned with our strategies.

General operating support may be considered when an organization’s mission directly supports postsecondary access, completion, and workforce relevance. WHEF does not typically fund annual campaigns or fundraising events.