Mississippi auditor creates nonprofit spending database after state cannot list recipients

The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor said in a Facebook post that it created an online database after finding that state government officials could not determine the total amount of taxpayer money going to nonprofits or produce a list of recipient organizations.

The office said the Non-Profit Spending Dashboard on its website lists every nonprofit that has received government funds since 2021. The dashboard is intended to increase transparency and make it easier for Mississippians to see how public dollars are distributed.

The post also said some state agencies request millions of dollars for website changes. The auditor’s office said it demonstrated that it could provide new services to taxpayers without asking for additional funding.

Transparency advocates say such public databases can improve oversight and accountability by allowing journalists, researchers and citizens to track funding patterns. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.