Phil Hardin Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Meridian, MS EIN: 64-6024940 Website

The Phil Hardin Foundation is an independent private foundation established in 1964 in Meridian, Mississippi. Founded by businessman Phil Hardin, owner of Hardin's Bakeries, the foundation was created to channel his business success toward improving educational opportunities in Mississippi. The foundation operates as Mississippi's first statewide foundation and remains one of the state's most significant educational philanthropies.

Key facts about Phil Hardin Foundation

EIN: 64-6024940
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $4,253,600
Grants made (2024): 67
Average grant: $63,487
Median grant: $35,000
New grantees (estimate): 25% first-time grantees (17 of 67, 2024)
Total assets: $63,703,620
Primary geography: Mississippi (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply: Decision time: 2-3 months (60 days submission before board meeting). Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Phil Hardin Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Phil Hardin Foundation's 67 itemized 2024 grants were Mississippi (94%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, MS (23 grants), Meridian, MS (21 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Tupelo, MS (3 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Phil Hardin Foundation open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 17 of 67 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $71K. How we count

Medians: $30K first-time, $38K repeat.

66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 157% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Phil Hardin Foundation

How to evaluate Phil Hardin Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to Phil Hardin Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$63.7M

+25.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$4.3M

+11.1% YoY

Grant Count

+19.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$63K

-7.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phil Hardin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Primary funding priorities include:

Early childhood education
Community-based educational initiatives
Improving student achievement
Making educational and enrichment opportunities more available and equitable
Increasing understanding of Mississippi arts, culture, and history
Building community capacity
Emergent opportunities where the foundation can be proactive and flexible

The foundation operates seven grant-making priority categories, though specific details are not publicly listed.

Grantmaking

How to Apply

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Phil Hardin Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation has a statewide funding footprint across Mississippi, with a special focus on Meridian and Lauderdale County. Recent grant activity includes funding in Meridian, Jackson, Sunflower, and Rosedale.

Grant Distribution by State

Mississippi $4.0M (94%)

District of Columbia $190K (4%)

New York $65K (2%)

Share of all 67 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California District of Columbia Georgia Mississippi New York Oregon Pennsylvania Virginia

Cities

JacksonMeridianTupeloWashingtonColumbusClarksdaleSunflowerGulfportMississippi StateHattiesburgNew YorkRidgelandAtlantaForestLaurelNewtonOcean SpringsOxfordArlingtonBatesville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

Total assets: $63,703,620
Total revenues: $18,348,779
Total expenses: $5,340,415
Annual giving: approximately $4.8 million

Assets & Revenue (2023):

Total assets: $50.7 million
Revenue: $1.26 million
Expenses: $4.67 million

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$63,703,620	$50,695,256	$54,105,579
Revenue	$18,348,779	$1,261,058	$9,018,103
Expenses	$5,340,415	$4,671,381	$5,152,586
Qualifying Distributions	$4,825,522	$4,405,728	$4,767,788
Net Investment Income	$18,167,383	$1,755,312	$8,844,135
Distributable Amount	$3,066,853	$2,823,086	$3,059,460

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

285 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Phil Hardin Foundation

Foundation

Phil Hardin Foundation Grant

Phil Hardin Foundation

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Ms Childrens Museum ($510,000), Ms Arts and Entertainment Center ($300,000), Meridian Community College Foundation ($290,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
MS CHILDRENS MUSEUM Jackson, MS	MS CHILDRENS MUSEUM-MERIDIAN, MS AND ABC COME PLAY WITH ME	$510,000
MS ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER Meridian, MS	MS ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER	$300,000
MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION Meridian, MS	PHIL HARDIN FOUNDATION HONORS COLLEGE; BEEP, ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS, PHIL HARDIN SCHOLARSHIPS, AND TUITION GUARANTEE ENDOWMENT	$290,000
LAUDERDALE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Meridian, MS	LCSD STRATEGIC PLANNING	$210,000
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION Mississippi State, MS	BOB DEEN ENDOWMENT, MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM EXPANSION	$200,000
UNIVERSITY OF MS MEDICAL CENTER Jackson, MS	UM SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND MS BASE PAIR CONSORTIUM	$180,000
MS ALLIANCE OF NONPROFITS Jackson, MS	MEMBERSHIP DUES AND OPERATING SUPPORT	$176,500
FREEDOM PROJECT NETWORK Sunflower, MS	FREEDOM SUMMER COLLEGIATE PROGRAM	$175,250
THE MISSISSIPPI READING CLINIC Jackson, MS	MS READING CLINIC PILOT	$150,000
MILSAPS COLLEGE Jackson, MS	MILLSAPS PATHWAYS PROGRAM AND SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM	$147,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Lloyd Gray - Executive Director

Marty Davidson - Vice President for Investments and Treasurer

Sheryl Flood - Executive Director/Office (application support)

The foundation employs 5 staff members.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Robert F Ward	President	8	$77,118
Ronnie L Walton	Secretary	6	$63,222
Martin Davidson	Treasurer	6	$63,222
Kacey Bailey	Director	4	$27,000
Michael Van Veckhoven	Director	4	$26,000
Clair Huff	Director	4	$27,000
Derron Radcliff	Director	4	$27,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has committed to several major multi-year projects in Meridian and Jackson. In response to the disruption caused by federal grant cancellations affecting many nonprofit partners, the foundation is working with grantee partners to help mitigate losses and prepare for the future.

Hardin Foundation Pledges $2.5M - University of Mississippi Foundation

Recent major pledges include $2.5 million toward a University of Mississippi Medical Center cancer center expansion project.

Hardin Foundation Pledges $2.5M - University of Mississippi Foundation

Featured current grants include:

Any Given Child (Meridian Public School District)

Mississippi Children's Museum (Meridian, Mississippi)

Freedom Project Network (Meridian, Sunflower, Rosedale)

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Phil Hardin Foundation fund?

The foundation's singular mission is "to improve the education of Mississippians." This mission reflects Phil Hardin's belief that excellent education benefits individuals and strengthens communities across the state. Primary funding priorities include: • Early childhood education • Community-based educational initiatives • Improving student achievement • Making educational and enrichment opportunities more available and equitable • Increasing understanding of Mississippi arts, culture, and his…

How do I apply for a grant from Phil Hardin Foundation?

Decision time: 2-3 months (60 days submission before board meeting). Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Phil Hardin Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Phil Hardin Foundation award?

In 2024, Phil Hardin Foundation awarded 67 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $63K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Phil Hardin Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Phil Hardin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.