Meredith Foundation
Meredith Foundation is a private foundation based in Mineola, Texas. Its 2024 filing lists grants to organizations and public entities in Mineola and Tyler, including a museum, civic and cultural organizations, a library, a school district, and community services.
Meredith Foundation at a glance
In short: Meredith Foundation gave $1.2M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $74K), mostly in Texas. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,187,295
- -15.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $74,206
- -15.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $49,692
- Total assets
- $23,662,953
- +9.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Meredith Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 117, Mineola, TX 75773
Phone: (903) 569-5520
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Meredith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City of Mineola ($257K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 74 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Texas. The listed recipients were based in Mineola and Tyler.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Meredith Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $58K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2021) to $1.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Mineola Mineola, TX | Museum Operating Expenses | $257,022 |
| Mineola Civic Center Mineola, TX | Contributions | $225,000 |
| Mineola Memorial Library Mineola, TX | Contributions | $176,421 |
| Mineola ISD Mineola, TX | Contributions | $154,738 |
| Lake Country Playhouse Mineola, TX | Contributions | $84,894 |
| Grace Community Healthcare Mineola, TX | Contributions | $69,000 |
| Mineola League of Arts Mineola, TX | Contributions | $57,950 |
| Addie E McFarland Foundation Mineola, TX | Contributions | $57,912 |
| Mineola Youth Foundation Mineola, TX | Contributions | $41,471 |
| Apetspca Mineola, TX | Contributions | $22,886 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $23,662,953 | $3,400,170 | $1,460,133 | $1,187,295 | 16 | $1,248,496 | $3,196,655 | $1,472,371 |
| 2023 | $21,684,954 | $1,509,512 | $1,639,182 | $1,410,336 | 16 | $1,474,132 | $1,364,115 | $1,385,771 |
| 2022 | $21,805,692 | $1,594,794 | $1,360,189 | $1,134,545 | 14 | $1,204,030 | $1,435,729 | $1,415,990 |
| 2021 | $21,580,237 | $1,793,619 | $1,227,545 | $1,008,415 | 14 | $1,076,304 | $1,665,422 | $1,455,280 |
| 2020 | $21,005,012 | $987,775 | $1,664,034 | $1,479,666 | 14 | — | $921,023 | $1,283,207 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Meredith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for local civic, educational, cultural, recreational, and community organizations.
Among its grantees, Mineola Memorial Library says its mission is to inform, empower, and enrich patrons’ lives through up-to-date materials and programs. Lake Country Playhouse says it supports and promotes performing arts in East Texas. Mineola Youth Foundation describes its purpose as operating recreational facilities and grounds for sports and recreation. An individual recipient Education Foundation states that it serves educational and charitable purposes for an individual recipient
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 16 grants totaling $1,187,295. Grant amounts ranged from $51 to $257,022, with a median of $49,692. Its largest listed grants included $257,022 to the City of Mineola for museum operating expenses, $225,000 to Mineola Civic Center, $176,421 to Mineola Memorial Library, and $154,738 to an individual recipient Other listed recipients included Lake Country Playhouse ($84,894), Grace Community Healthcare ($69,000), Mineola League of Arts ($57,950), and Addie E McFarland Foundation ($57,912).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bob Smith as chairman; Freda Madsen as vice chairman; Joe Williams as secretary/treasurer; and Robin Averett, Jerry Phillips, and Demethrius Boyd as trustees.
Meredith Foundation is led by Bob Smith, Chairman since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bob Smith
Chairman
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jerry Phillips
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robin Averett
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Demethrius Boyd
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Freda Madsen
Vice Chairman
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joe Williams
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lou Wagner (2020) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Meredith Foundation
How much does Meredith Foundation give each year?
Meredith Foundation gave $1.2M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 16 grants.
What is Meredith Foundation's typical grant size?
Meredith Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $49,692, and its average grant was $74,206, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Meredith Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Meredith Foundation give grants?
Meredith Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mineola, TX (15 grants).
Does Meredith Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 6% of Meredith Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Contributions" (14 grants).
Who are Meredith Foundation's largest grantees?
Meredith Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include City of Mineola ($257,022), Mineola Civic Center ($225,000) and Mineola Memorial Library ($176,421), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Meredith Foundation?
Meredith Foundation reported $23.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Meredith Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for local civic, educational, cultural, recreational, and community organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Meredith Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Meredith Foundation's EIN?
Meredith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6024469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Meredith Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Meredith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/meredith-foundation-morg_79c2e16702ad45929f47edb2e9be664c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_756024469_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Meredith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/meredith-foundation-morg_79c2e16702ad45929f47edb2e9be664c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Meredith Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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