The GivHer Circle celebrated an exciting milestone with the launch of its inaugural Young Philanthropist Cohort, bringing together 15 professional women, age 34 and under, from across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
This special event was held November 20 at the Knight Nonprofit Center in Gulfport. Guest speaker Kathy Springer, CEO of United Way of South Mississippi, gave a powerful presentation that offered both inspiration and practical guidance for participants as they begin building their presence in the nonprofit world.
The Cohort is a new seven-month philanthropy and leadership development program designed to cultivate emerging women leaders and strengthen their impact in the nonprofit sector.
Cohort participants, who are also GivHer Circle members through their participation in the program, include the following:
- Tiffany Alsbury, Development Coordinator, American Heart Association
- Kelly Devine, Outreach & Events Manager, Singing River Health System
- Mary Easterling, Outpatient Clinician, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources
- Alexis Higgins, Content Marketing Coordinator, Memorial Health System
- Kynesha King, Board Member, Do More Gulf Coast
- Makenzie Kelley, Account Manager, Nextaff
- Mollie McCarroll, Community Relations Representative, Ingalls Shipbuilding
- Brittany Morse, Contracts & Client Development Coordinator, Dale Partners Architects
- Kendyll Palermo, Programming Director, Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
- Katelyn Perry, Sales & Events Manager, Markham Hotel Gulfport
- Alex Purchner, Administrative Assistant, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
- Rachel Ryan, Tabitha Project Coordinator, de l’Epee Deaf Center
- Mary Elizabeth Stringer, Director of Government Affairs, Hancock Whitney Bank
- Aris Taconi, Senior Hotel Operations Manager, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
- Bailey Tipton, Customer Service Representative, Brenda Simkins State Farm
Participants will engage in monthly sessions from November 2025 through May 2026, culminating in a recognition event in May. Their experience will include the following:
- Board Build training through the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, resulting in statewide-recognized board certification
- In-depth sessions on nonprofit finance, governance and decision-making
- Leadership development focused on confidence, communication and strategic thinking
- Networking opportunities with nonprofit leaders and GivHer Circle members
- Direct participation in the 2025–2026 GivHer Circle grant cycle, including nonprofit recruitment, application review, and a collective decision-making process to award a $20,000 grant
Congratulations to all of our Cohort members!