# CREATE Foundation

CREATE Foundation is an Endowment based in Tupelo, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment
- **Headquarters:** Tupelo, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Tupelo, Mississippi, United States
- **Founded:** 1972
- **Assets under management:** $167 million (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** createfoundation.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

CREATE Foundation was founded in 1972 by George McLean, publisher of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. The McLean family built the endowment from proceeds of Journal Publishing Company, a regional newspaper business. The foundation operates as Mississippi's largest community foundation and maintains its headquarters in Tupelo. Assets support grantmaking in education, community development, and family services. The foundation holds commercial properties in Tupelo and participates in named endowments such as the Ed and Becky Meek Endowment and the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund. Geographic focus remains Northeast Mississippi with no disclosed activity outside the state. Mike Clayborne has led operations since 1996 while Mary Childs serves as board chair. The foundation completed the Center for Fiduciary Excellence certification process, becoming the first such entity worldwide to do so. It also convenes the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi, a group of 56 regional leaders. No recent operational events from the last 24 months appear in available records.

## Sectors

- Education

## People

- George McLean — Founder

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at CREATE Foundation?

Mike Clayborne has served as president since 1996. Mary Childs chairs the board. Decisions center on grant allocation rather than external fund commitments.

### What asset classes does CREATE Foundation deploy into?

The foundation maintains a general investment pool and holds two commercial properties in Tupelo. Primary activity consists of grantmaking in education and community development.

### Does CREATE Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Activity centers on direct grants and local endowments. No external fund commitments or co-investments with third-party managers are disclosed.

### How is CREATE Foundation related to The Peoples Bank?

Mary Childs serves as both board chair of the foundation and president of The Peoples Bank. No ownership link between the entities is stated.

## Related profiles

- [LRM](https://altss.com/profile/lrm)
- [Langley ehf](https://altss.com/profile/langley-ehf)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/create-foundation

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