Community Action Of South Mississippi

Community Action Of South Mississippi, a black American-owned, woman-owned nonprofit based in Moss Point, Mississippi, operates as a federal grant recipient delivering tax assistance, early childhood education, food nutrition, and community social services to low-income populations in Mississippi. The organization acts primarily as a sub-recipient (70% of recent awards) on federal grants issued through Mississippi state agencies, with a smaller portfolio of direct prime grants from the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The organization's federal grant footprint centers on two distinct program lines. First, Community Action Of South Mississippi holds direct prime grants from the Internal Revenue Service for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program—a matching grant initiative that extends tax preparation and filing services to underserved populations including low-to-moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, non-English speakers, Native Americans, rural residents, military families, and the elderly. VITA grants awarded October 1, 2021 through October 1, 2025 required the organization to file all eligible returns electronically, achieve 100% of return production goals, and ensure at least 90% of returns filed were for individuals at or below the maximum earned income tax credit threshold. A current VITA grant runs through September 30, 2026. The organization also holds a prime Head Start and Early Head Start project grant from the Office of Head Start effective May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2030. In its sub-recipient capacity, Community Action Of South Mississippi receives funding through the Mississippi Department of Human Services for Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) services, and through the Mississippi Department of Education for Child Nutrition Program (CNP) activities including CNP Block funding, CNP Community Improvement Loan (CNP-CIL), and CNP Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsorship.

Customer concentration is pronounced and state-centric. The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service accounts for 43 awards (representing the bulk of CNP sub-awards flowing through the Mississippi Department of Education), the Internal Revenue Service for 9 awards (VITA prime grants), and smaller allocations from the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Ninety-two percent of awards are captured by the top five funding agencies. The organization has obligated $153.7 million across 74 total awards since 2006, with sharp growth in 2024 (38 awards) driven by the expansion of CNP sub-awards and CSBG/LIHEAP fundings. Only one award faces ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, indicating limited near-term recompete exposure. The organization does not hold federal contracts or IDVs and does not serve as a prime contractor on federal procurements.