Phil Hardin Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3.8 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 2-3 months (60 days submission before board meeting)
• Grant Range: Varies by project
• Geographic Focus: Mississippi (statewide)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.philhardin.org
Phone: 601.483.4282
Email: info@philhardin.org
Pre-application Contact: Lloyd Gray, Executive Director - lgray@philhardin.org
Application Support: Shery Flood - 601.483.4282
Address: 2750 47th Ct, Meridian, MS 39305

Overview

Founded in 1964 by businessman Phil Hardin, the Phil Hardin Foundation was Mississippi's first statewide foundation, established with wealth from Hardin's Bakeries. With current assets of approximately $51 million based on 2023 Form 990 data, the foundation distributes approximately $3.8 million annually in charitable grants. The foundation's singular mission is "to improve the education of all Mississippians," believing that excellent education benefits both individuals and strengthens communities across the state. The foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, having started with a modest $250 scholarship as its first grant and growing to become one of Mississippi's most significant educational philanthropies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates seven grant-making priority categories:

• Early childhood development
• Literacy
• Teacher quality
• School leadership
• Equity of educational access
• Arts and cultural enrichment
• Community and state capacity building

Recent featured grants include:

• Any Given Child (Meridian Public School District)
• Mississippi Children's Museum
• Freedom Project Network (serving Meridian, Sunflower, and Rosedale)

Priority Areas

• Education improvement initiatives across Mississippi
• Programmes benefiting Mississippi-based entities
• Educational access and opportunity
• Community-based educational programmes
• Special emphasis on Meridian and Lauderdale County (at least 50% of grant funding invested locally)

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations that are not 501(c)(3) public charities or governmental agencies
• Supporting organisations
• Programmes that do not benefit Mississippians or Mississippi-based entities
• Proposals outside their seven priority categories

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

• Lloyd Gray - Executive Director

Board Officers:

• Robert F Ward - President

Former Governor William Winter, who delivered the keynote at the foundation's 50th anniversary, praised the foundation's commitment to Mississippi education.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Initial Contact Required: Email Executive Director Lloyd Gray at lgray@philhardin.org to discuss your proposal before applying. The foundation does not consider unsolicited applications that have not been vetted prior to submission.
2. Invitation to Apply: If proposals are consistent with the foundation's current priorities, an invitation to submit a formal application will be extended.
3. Complete All Sections: All application sections must be fully completed.

Required Attachments:

• IRS tax-exempt determination letter (first-time applicants only)
• List of board members with affiliations
• Most recent audited financial statement or Form 990
• Operating and project budgets
• List of past and present funders

Decision Timeline

• Board meets monthly except August and November (typically the second Wednesday of each month)
• Applications must be submitted 60 days before desired board meeting unless prior arrangements have been made with the Executive Director
• Total process typically takes 2-3 months from submission to decision

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available. Organisations should contact the foundation directly regarding reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated requirements and priorities:

• Strong Research Foundation: Proposals must be based on current research with measurable goals and outcomes
• Clear Mississippi Impact: Demonstrate direct benefit to Mississippians or Mississippi-based entities
• Alignment with Seven Priorities: Must clearly align with one or more of the foundation's seven grant-making priority categories
• Pre-Application Discussion: Initial contact with Lloyd Gray is mandatory - use this opportunity to refine your proposal
• Financial Transparency: Provide comprehensive financial documentation including budgets and funding history
• Board Engagement: Include detailed board member information showing strong governance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Mandatory pre-application consultation with the Executive Director is crucial - this step cannot be skipped; unsolicited applications are not considered
• The foundation has substantial assets (approximately $51 million) with consistent annual giving around $3.8 million
• Focus exclusively on education-related initiatives that benefit Mississippi residents
• Board meets regularly (10 months per year), providing multiple decision opportunities
• As Mississippi's first statewide foundation with a 60-year history, they value sustained impact and proven programmes
• Application support is available through Shery Flood for technical questions
• The foundation gives special emphasis to Meridian and Lauderdale County, investing at least 50% of grant funding locally

References

• Phil Hardin Foundation Official Website (https://www.philhardin.org) - Accessed December 2024
• Phil Hardin Foundation Grant Application Page (https://www.philhardin.org/grant-application) - Accessed December 2024
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Phil Hardin Foundation 2023 Form 990 Data (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/646024940) - Accessed December 2024
• Meridian Star - "Phil Hardin Foundation celebrates 50 years" - Coverage of 50th anniversary celebration
• Foundation established June 29, 1964 per historical records