The Phil Hardin Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is in Mississippi, with priority for Meridian, Lauderdale County and Jackson, and fits its priorities in early childhood, literacy, teacher quality, school leadership, equity of educational access, arts and cultural enrichment or community capacity building, the foundation is worth approaching.
- A modest request fits its pattern: about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $175,000, and half were $44,000 or less, though its largest grant was about $460,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- Begin with a short initial approach, which is screened for fit, and only suitable proposals are invited to a formal application, usually due no later than 30 days before the meeting that will consider it.
- Proposals with regional or statewide impact, or local work that could be replicated elsewhere, with measurable goals and collaboration with other funders or cross-sector partners, are most likely to stand out.
- In the filing, 72% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, so a new applicant should expect most of the money to go to established grantees, and should note that higher-education grants prioritise Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and Millsaps College; Supporting organisations described in Section 509(a)(3) should not apply, since they are excluded, and eligible applicants are tax-exempt public charities or governmental agencies.
Overview
The Phil Hardin Foundation is a US private foundation based in Meridian, MS.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Phil Hardin Foundation seeks to improve educational and life outcomes for Mississippi children and youth, with a special emphasis on Meridian and Lauderdale County, and to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities. Its priorities span early childhood development, literacy, teacher quality, school leadership, equity of educational access, arts and cultural enrichment, and community and state capacity building. The Foundation values proposals with regional or statewide impact, or local work that could be replicated elsewhere, alongside collaboration with other funders and cross-sector partnerships. Its educational continuum includes public schools, a community college, a university, nonprofit educational service providers and local arts and cultural organisations. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt public charities or governmental agencies, excluding supporting organisations described in Section 509(a)(3). Its place-based approach also emphasises strengthening the philanthropic and nonprofit sector in Mississippi.
Themes
- Early childhood development
- Literacy
- Teacher quality
- School leadership
- Equity of educational access
- Arts and cultural enrichment
- Community capacity building
Geographic Focus
Mississippi. Priority: Meridian; Lauderdale County; Jackson.
What They Don't Fund
- A supporting organization described in Section 509(a) (3)
How to apply
An initial approach is screened for consistency with the foundation's priorities and capacity; suitable proposals are invited to submit a formal application.
Deadlines: Invited proposals are usually due no later than 30 days before the meeting scheduled to consider them.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 72% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2025 filings, half of its 190 grants to organisations were $44,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Proposals should fit one or more of the foundation's stated grant-making priorities.
- It favours proposals with regional or statewide impact, or locally focused proposals that could be replicated in other communities.
- It values collaboration with other funders and multi-faceted, cross-sector partnerships.
- Proposals should draw on current research and best practices and include measurable goals and outcomes.
- Higher-education grantmaking gives priority to Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and Millsaps College.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2025.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations The Phil Hardin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 78 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $28,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- MS Childrens Museum · Meridian satellite location$450,0002025 tax year
- Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center · Sustained support$300,0002025 tax year
- Lauderdale County School District · Pre-k$200,0002025 tax year
- Mississippi State University Foundation · Mental/behavioral health program expansion$200,0002025 tax year
- Meridian Community College Foundation · Phil hardin foundation honors college; beep, annual scholarships, phil hardin scholarships, and tuition guarantee endowment$200,0002025 tax year
- Mississippi Childrens Museum · Launch into learning$150,0002025 tax year
- Lauderdale County School District · Mastery connect & rethink ed project$140,0002025 tax year
- Jackson Public School District · Excellence for all$125,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Derron Radcliff — Director
- Clair Huff — Director
- Michael Van Veckhoven — Director
- Kacey Bailey — Director
- Martin Davidson — Treasurer
- Ronnie L Walton — Secretary
- Robert F Ward — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,152,586 | $4,233,516 | $59,283,601 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,671,381 | $3,829,936 | $62,243,219 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $5,289,902 | $4,488,612 | $82,019,445 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Phil Hardin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (601) 483-4282
- sherylf@philhardin.org
- info@philhardin.org
- lgray@philhardin.org
- Meridian, MS
- philhardin.org
Applying to The Phil Hardin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (601) 483-4282
- sherylf@philhardin.org
- info@philhardin.org
- lgray@philhardin.org
- Meridian, MS
- philhardin.org