Timing matters when families face food insecurity, when students need hygiene essentials, or when community partners step in to meet urgent needs. In those moments, flexible support can make all the difference.
When needs change, giving should too
At Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF), our flexible funds allow us to respond to our community’s needs quickly and effectively, especially when urgent needs arise across South Mississippi.
GCCF funds such as the Community Impact Fund, the Raymond Brown Good Works Fund, and the Ruthie and Rodger Wilder Fund provide flexibility to support emerging needs and community priorities in real time.
“Flexible funds give us the ability to listen first, to respond in a way that fits what’s actually happening on the ground, and to show up for our communities in a way that feels timely, personal,” said Dr. Christen Duhé, president and executive director of GCCF.
Real results, real time
One example of this work is the Feeding the Gulf Coast, Together initiative, where $50,500 was raised for Extra Table and the First Church of Lucedale food pantry in December 2025. GCCF matched $25,000 through our Community Impact Fund, doubling the impact for families facing food insecurity across the lower six counties.
During its 228 Day celebration in February, GCCF partnered with the Junior Auxiliary chapters in Gulfport and Hancock County and PrepareHER Now in Jackson County to support donation drives for hygiene-essentials kits for local students. Through the Raymond Brown Good Works Fund, GCCF helped extend that effort by donating $1,000 to each organization. This fund has also supported efforts that bring comfort and care to the community, from ensuring children have gifts under the tree to helping veterans access items that support daily life.
“Each of these efforts represents real people and real needs in our community,” Duhé said, adding, “Flexible funds help people show up for one another quickly. When communities are ready to respond, impact happens faster.”
To find out how GCCF can help you create a flexible fund, email tbell@mgccf.org or call 228.897.4841.
