BEAM ends year in black ink

The newly formed Marshall County affiliate to the CREATE Foundation, Building Equity Advancing Marshall, closed the 2024 year out with over $300 in the administrative fund.

The members of the board donated money to increase the amount of the administrative fund to $1,000. CREATE matches that with $2,000 annually.

The affiliate closed out the year with $255,955 in its Endowment Fund.

“Y’all are really doing a good job,” said P.K. Thomas with CREATE. “It’s been a really good year.” The board is challenged in 2025 to market BEAM as a nonprofit and to make funds available for small grants.

The board discussed how to use CREATE to manage communications to Marshall County prospective donors.

Board member Anita Cowan said Mississippi is one of the poorer states but the most giving state.

Executive director of BEAM Sarah Sawyer asked Thomas what is the benefit to donating to CREATE as opposed to another non-profit.

Thomas said that depends on what the person is interested in making an impact with their donation.

“This group is seeing needs across the entire county,” he said. “To me, the biggest benefit is to make an impact across the county on a variety of things.”

The other benefit Thomas said is the Mississippi Tax Credit for donations to CREATE Foundation, beginning at an entry level of $1,000.

Thomas relayed information on when the different county affiliates open the grant application process. South Monroe County takes applications in April and gives grants in June. Lee County is open for applications for grants all year long.

Oxford gives all its grants in August and takes applications for grants in July.

The board approved a motion to move $1,500 from the special fund to the administrative fund.

Several board members signed up to learn how to create a newsletter.

The calendar for 2025 was taken up and the second Monday of the month was chosen as the best for BEAM board members.

After that the board can meet every other month. Some boards meet every other month except in the summer.

A marketing plan was discussed and the usefulness of a website.

Thomas said affiliates have a spot on CREATE’s website that can be used.

A list of emails can be developed as a means of communicating with the community.

“You do need a distribution list and can send out grant applications to non-profits,” Thomas said. “We offer e-mail service.”

Sawyer said the chambers could be asked to supply their list of emails of members.

Thomas said the Secretary of State has a list of non-profits in the state.

Accountants and estate planners can be contacted as potential donors, Thomas said.

“You may know people who may not have a family to leave their estate to,” said Cowan.

Board member Gemma Beckley said smaller subcommittees could be formed to work on things in between regular board meetings.

Board member Bill Scott said everything should be put in place first.

Sawyer thanked the board. “I do this because I believe in it and I am really honored to work for you,” she said.