Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Mississippi Votes

Website:

www.msvotes.org/
Location:

Jackson, MS
Tax ID:

82-1014316
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $597,808
Expenses: $587,024
Assets: $225,453
Type:

Get-out-the-vote (GOTV) Organization
Founded:

2018
Executive Director:

Arekia Bennett

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Mississippi Votes is a left-of-center, youth-focused get-out-the-vote organization based in Jackson, Mississippi. 1 2 Mississippi Votes supports automatic voter registration, electronic absentee voting for college students, 3 expanded access to abortion, 4 and the critical race theory-influenced concept of gender equity. 5 The group opposes third-party election audits and efforts to remove non-citizens from Mississippi’s voter rolls 6 and is a member of the left-leaning Declaration for American Democracy 7 and Solidaire Network’s Black Liberation Pooled Fund. 8

In 2021, Mississippi Votes received $430,000 from the left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation for civic engagement as a part of a critical race theory-influenced equitable communities grants 9 and $350,000 from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. 10 In 2020, Mississippi Votes received $400,000 from left-of-center NEO Philanthropy 11 and $200,000 grants from the controversial Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), 12 the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, 13 Solidaire Network, 14 and the left-of-center Democracy Fund. 15

Background

Mississippi Votes was initially conceived in 2016 when a group of college students began researching Mississippi voting trends to shape the upcoming 2018 and 2020 election cycles in the state. 16 The organization officially formed in 2018 17 and received nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2019. 18

Leadership

Arekia Bennett-Scott is Mississippi Votes’ executive director. 19 Bennett-Scott is also a fellow with the left-of-center Emerson Collective. From November 2019 to January 2022, she was a critical race theory-influenced electoral justice fellow with the left-of-center racial-advocacy organization Movement for Black Lives. 20 She also supports the Black Lives Matter movement. 21

Activities

Mississippi Votes is a left-of-center, youth-focused get-out-the-vote organization based in Jackson, Mississippi. 22 23 Mississippi Votes runs voter engagement efforts on college and university campuses across Mississippi. 24 The organization runs the #Up2Us campaign, a 16-week voter grassroots mobilization and education, 25 hosts events on voting and race, 26 and operates various youth voter-focused fellowship and ambassador programs. 27 28

Mississippi Votes supports automatic voter registration, electronic absentee voting for college students, 29 expanded access to abortion, 30 and the critical race theory-influenced concept of gender equity. 31 The organization opposes third-party election audits and views efforts to remove non-citizens from Mississippi’s voter rolls as “searching for a problem.” 32

In 2022, Mississippi Votes co-hosted the LGBT Leadership Summit with the LGBTQ Victory Institute, ACLU of Mississippi, Human Rights Campaign’s Project One America, and the Transgender Resources, Advocacy, Networking and Support (TRANS) Program. 33

In 2021, Mississippi Votes signed onto a statement issued by the ACLU of Mississippi that said the United States needs to “acknowledge and reckon with its history of systemic racism” and claimed that far-left critical race theory is “not being taught in any public school classroom in Mississippi.” 34

Also in 2021, Mississippi Votes published a report with the left-of-center Advancement Project and One Voice to support the restoration of voting rights to convicted felons in Mississippi. 35 The report received additional funding from liberal FWD.US, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Hill-Snowdon Foundation, Oxfam America, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 36

During the 2020 election cycle, Mississippi Votes sent more than 160,000 pieces of direct mail, made 178,000 calls, and sent more than 900,000 text messages as a part of its GOTV efforts. 37

Mississippi Votes is a member of the left-leaning Declaration for American Democracy 38 and Solidaire Network’s Black Liberation Pooled Fund. 39 Mississippi Votes is also a youth organizing partner of the left-of-center Alliance for Youth Organizing 40 and a partner of left-of-center Vote.org. 41 The organization is listed as a critical race theory-influenced “anti-racist resource” by the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University. 42

Funding

Mississippi Votes receives funding from individual donations and grants. 43 In 2019, Mississippi Votes reported revenue of $597,808 and expenses of $587,024. 44

Mississippi Votes received $100,000 from the left-of-center Park Foundation in 2021. 45

In 2021, Mississippi Votes received $430,000 from the left-of-center W.K. Kellogg Foundation for civic engagement as a part of a critical race theory-influenced equitable communities grants. 46 Mississippi Votes also received $350,000 from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation as a justice and equity grant for its Democracy in Action Fellowship 47 and $16,000 from New Venture Fund in 2021. 48

In 2020, Mississippi Votes received $200,000 from the controversial Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to conduct voter registration drives in 58 counties, amplify digital organizing, and broaden its political education programs. 49

That same year, Mississippi Votes received $400,000 from left-of-center NEO Philanthropy, 50 $200,000 from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, 51 $200,000 from Solidaire Network, 52 $200,000 from the left-of-center Democracy Fund, 53 and $10,000 from the New Venture Fund. 54

Mississippi Votes received $200,000 from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in 2019. 55 In 2018, the organization received $30,000 from the left-of-center Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, 56 $30,000 from the left-of-center Tides Foundation, 57 and additional grants from the Community Foundation for Mississippi. 58

References

  1.  “About – Mississippi Votes.” Mississippi Votes Facebook Page. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/msvotes/about/?ref=page_internal.
  2. “Mississippi Votes.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part I. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/821014316_202006_990_2021052618209921.pdf.
  3. “Young, Woke, and Voting: Youth Civic Engagement in Mississippi and the Power of Our Votes.” Mississippi Votes. April 8, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/in-the-news/young-woke-and-voting-youth-civic-engagement-in-mississippi-and-the-power-of-our-votes/.
  4. “Instagram Post.” MSVotes Instagram. Posted May 27, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CeEbC2JrMZM/?igshid=ZDhmZGIxNmQ%3D.
  5. “What We’re About.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/about/what-were-about/.
  6. “2020 Legislative Report.” Mississippi Votes. Published 2022. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://docs.google.com/document/d/13aD–3POu1HJltp6JpMwrHOlDBKMH5obmIQDuMQA9u8/edit.
  7. “Home.” Declaration for American Democracy. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/.
  8. “Black Liberation Pooled Fund.” Solidaire Network. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://solidairenetwork.org/grantmaking/black-liberation-pooled-fund/.
  9. “Mississippi Votes.” W.K. Kellogg Foundation. July 1, 2021. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.wkkf.org/grants/grant/2021/06/ms-votes-general-operating-support-6000891.
  10. “Mississippi Votes.” David and Lucile Packard Foundation. 2021. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.packard.org/grants-and-investments/grants-database/mississippi-votes/.
  11. “NEO Philanthropy.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://neophilanthropy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NEO-Philanthropy-2020-Form-990-Public.pdf.
  12. “Vote Your Voice: In Mississippi, grantee organizations are challenging systemic voter suppression.” Southern Poverty Law Center. November 2, 2020. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2020/11/02/vote-your-voice-mississippi-grantee-organizations-are-challenging-systemic-voter.
  13. “The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://cfgreateratlanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CFGA-2020-990-Public-Final.pdf.
  14. “Solidaire Network, Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://solidairenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SOLIDAIRE-FY21-990-Public-Disclosure-Copy-3.pdf.
  15. “Grants Database.” Democracy Fund. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://democracyfund.org/for-partners/grants-database/?fwp_grants_search=mississippi.
  16. “What We’re About.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/about/what-were-about/.
  17. “Overview – About.” MS Votes LinkedIn Profile. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/msvotes/about/.
  18. “Determination Letter.” U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. January 19, 2019. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_82-1014316_MISSISSIPPIVOTES_06132017.tif.
  19. “Who We Are.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/about/who-we-are/.
  20. “Arekia S. Bennett-Scott.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arekia-s-bennett-scott/.
  21. Kayleigh Skinner, Kelsey Davis Betz, and Aallyah Wright. “’Fed the f—up’: Why young activists are organizing protests across Mississippi.” Mississippi Today. June 5, 2020. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://mississippitoday.org/2020/06/05/fed-the-f-up-why-young-activists-are-organizing-protests-across-mississippi/.
  22. [1] “About – Mississippi Votes.” Mississippi Votes Facebook Page. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/msvotes/about/?ref=page_internal.
  23. “Mississippi Votes.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part I. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/821014316_202006_990_2021052618209921.pdf.
  24. “Youth Civic Engagement.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/about/youth-civic-engagement/.
  25. “What Is #Up2Us.” Mississippi Votes YouTube Channel. Uploaded 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZudKNmwsPsI&t=3s.
  26. “Events.” Mississippi Votes Facebook. Accessed January 27,2023. https://www.facebook.com/pg/msvotes/events/?ref=page_internal.
  27. Jackson, Courtney Ann. “Group Works for to increase young voter engagement.” NBC 3 WLBT Jackson, Mississippi. Updated May 24, 2019. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.wlbt.com/2019/05/25/group-works-increase-young-voter-engagement/.
  28. “Fellowships.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/opportunities/fellowships/.
  29. “Young, Woke, and Voting: Youth Civic Engagement in Mississippi and the Power of Our Votes.” Mississippi Votes. April 8, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/in-the-news/young-woke-and-voting-youth-civic-engagement-in-mississippi-and-the-power-of-our-votes/.
  30. “Instagram Post.” MSVotes Instagram. Posted May 27, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CeEbC2JrMZM/?igshid=ZDhmZGIxNmQ%3D.
  31. “What We’re About.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/about/what-were-about/.
  32. “2020 Legislative Report.” Mississippi Votes. Published 2022. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://docs.google.com/document/d/13aD–3POu1HJltp6JpMwrHOlDBKMH5obmIQDuMQA9u8/edit.
  33. “Instagram Post.” MS Votes Instagram. Posted February 23, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaVFpINNpqr/?igshid=ZDhmZGIxNmQ%3D.
  34. “Mississippi Organizations Respond to Critical Race Theory Report.” Mississippi Votes Team. October 8, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/in-the-news/mississippi-organizations-respond-to-critical-race-theory-report/.
  35. “Our Voices, Our Votes: Felony Disenfranchisement and Reentry in Mississippi.” Mississippi Votes, One Voice, Advancement Project. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://advancementproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MS-Reentry-Report24.pdf
  36.  “Our Voices, Our Votes: Felony Disenfranchisement and Reentry in Mississippi.” Mississippi Votes, One Voice, Advancement Project. Pg. 4. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://advancementproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MS-Reentry-Report24.pdf.
  37. “Mississippi Votes.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule O. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/821014316_202006_990_2021052618209921.pdf.
  38. “Home.” Declaration for American Democracy. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/.
  39. “Black Liberation Pooled Fund.” Solidaire Network. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://solidairenetwork.org/grantmaking/black-liberation-pooled-fund/.
  40. “Home.” Alliance for Youth Organizing. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://allianceforyouthorganizing.org/.
  41. Bennett, Arekia. “Here’s How Young Black Voters are Fighting Back Against Voter Suppression in Mississippi.” Mississippi Votes via The Root. September 24, 2019. Accessed January 28, 2023. https://www.msvotes.org/in-the-news/how-young-black-voters-fight-suppression/.
  42. “Anti-Racist Resources and Ways to Support the Protests.” Margaret Walker Center. June 8, 2020. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.jsums.edu/margaretwalkercenter/2020/06/08/anti-racist-resources-and-ways-to-support-the-protests/.
  43. “Donate.” Mississippi Votes. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://donorbox.org/msvotesoperations.
  44. “Mississippi Votes.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part I. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/821014316_202006_990_2021052618209921.pdf.
  45. “Grants Awarded.” Park Foundation. April 2022. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://parkfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/grants-awarded-1st-quarter-2022.pdf.
  46. “Mississippi Votes.” W.K. Kellogg Foundation. July 1, 2021. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.wkkf.org/grants/grant/2021/06/ms-votes-general-operating-support-6000891.
  47. “Mississippi Votes.” David and Lucile Packard Foundation. 2021. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.packard.org/grants-and-investments/grants-database/mississippi-votes/.
  48. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule I. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NVF-2021-990-Public-Disclosure-Copy.pdf.
  49. “Vote Your Voice: In Mississippi, grantee organizations are challenging systemic voter suppression.” Southern Poverty Law Center. November 2, 2020. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://www.splcenter.org/news/2020/11/02/vote-your-voice-mississippi-grantee-organizations-are-challenging-systemic-voter.
  50. “NEO Philanthropy.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://neophilanthropy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NEO-Philanthropy-2020-Form-990-Public.pdf.
  51. “The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://cfgreateratlanta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CFGA-2020-990-Public-Final.pdf.
  52. “Solidaire Network, Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://solidairenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SOLIDAIRE-FY21-990-Public-Disclosure-Copy-3.pdf.
  53. “Grants Database.” Democracy Fund. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://democracyfund.org/for-partners/grants-database/?fwp_grants_search=mississippi.
  54. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NVF-2020-Public-Disclosure-Copy-1.pdf.
  55. “Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133615533/202023189349308117/full.
  56. “BVM Capacity Building Institute Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823835203/201921769349300857/full.
  57. “Tides Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510198509/201913189349314251/IRS990ScheduleI.
  58. “Community Foundation for Mississippi 2018-2019 Grantees.” Community Foundation For Mississippi. Accessed January 27, 2023. https://formississippi.org/grants/community/.
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2018

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $597,808 $587,024 $225,453 $3,423 N $597,808 $0 $0 $51,548 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $401,509 $225,280 $225,449 $14,204 N $401,509 $0 $0 $56,555 PDF

    Mississippi Votes

    730 N Jefferson Street
    Jackson, MS