The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation
The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Meridian, Mississippi. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in October 1996, the foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of Paul E. Broadhead (1928-2007) and Sherry Monroe Broadhead (1934-2022), prominent Meridian philanthropists and property developers. The foundation operates as a private foundation focused on grantmaking and philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.7M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+7.4% YoY
Grant Count
31
-6.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+14.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities reflect the founders' commitment to community development and social welfare. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Youth services
- Healthcare
- Human services
- Community development
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
The foundation's work is rooted in the founders' legacy of community engagement. Paul E. Broadhead founded numerous youth organizations including the Meridian Boxing Club and Hilltop House for Boys. Sherry Monroe Broadhead was known for her preference for anonymous giving to community causes.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $200,000
Average Grant
amount: $38,000-$45,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Mississippi, with particular emphasis on Meridian. The foundation also has some funding activity in West Virginia and Tennessee, and maintains limited national reach with support to organizations in states including Arizona, Georgia, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $25,725,262 (as of May 2025)
- Total annual giving: $1,348,700 (fiscal year 2025)
- Total revenues: $1,701,413 (fiscal year 2025)
- Total expenses: $1,541,767 (fiscal year 2025)
The foundation maintains substantial assets relative to its annual distribution, reflecting a long-term commitment to sustained grantmaking.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,725,262 | $25,565,616 | $25,176,057 |
| Revenue | $1,701,413 | $1,828,318 | $291,024 |
| Expenses | $1,541,767 | $1,438,759 | $1,580,205 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,390,412 | $1,299,315 | $1,456,754 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,586,990 | $1,719,910 | $675,772 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,440,006 | $1,349,082 | $1,339,357 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
158 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Meridian Community College Foundation ($150,000), Free Clinic of Meridian Inc ($100,000), Mississippi's Toughest Kids Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY JACKSON, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $35,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $35,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF EAST MISSISSIPPI MERIDIAN, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| CANCER PATIENT BENEVOLENCE FUND MERIDIAN, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $35,000 |
| CHILDREN'S OF MISSISSIPPI JACKSON, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $75,000 |
| FEED THE CHILDREN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| FREE CLINIC OF MERIDIAN INC MERIDIAN, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| HOPE VILLAGE FOR CHILDREN INC MERIDIAN, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $52,500 |
| LOVE INC MERIDIAN, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION MERIDIAN, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Key Personnel:
- Suzanne Broadhead Garver, President
- Sherry Howell, Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer
- Robert D. Gholson, Director
The foundation operates with limited staffing, relying primarily on board members for governance and decision-making.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHERRY HOWELL | VP/SECRETARY/TREASURER | 8 | $39,437 |
| ROBERT D GHOLSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $1,500 |
| SUZANNE BROADHEAD GARVER | PRESIDENT | 2 | $1,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation was inducted into Meridian Community College's Emerald Circle for lifetime giving exceeding $1 million, recognizing the foundation's sustained support of the institution and its educational mission.
MCC Foundation Donors - Meridian Community CollegeSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities reflect the founders' commitment to community development and social welfare. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Youth services • Healthcare • Human services • Community development • Philanthropy and voluntarism The foundation's work is rooted in the founders' legacy of community engagement. Paul E. Broadhead founded numerous youth organizations including the Meridian Boxing Club and Hilltop House for Boys. Sherry Monroe Broadhead was known for…
How do I apply for a grant from The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $200,000 • Average grant amount: $38,000-$45,000 • Median grant amount: $35,000 • Annual number of grants: 30-35 grants per year **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Grant Activity:** In fiscal year 2025, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $1,348,70…
Where does The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Mississippi, with particular emphasis on Meridian. The foundation also has some funding activity in West Virginia and Tennessee, and maintains limited national reach with support to organizations in states including Arizona, Georgia, and Illinois.
What size grants does The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation award?
In 2025, The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation's EIN?
The Paul and Sherry Broadhead Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2663393. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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