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By Lloyd Gray
Foundations and nonprofits are currently experiencing one of the most unusual and disruptive periods in recent history, coming on the heels of the Covid era that threw much of the sector into temporary disarray.
In recent months the abrupt cancelation of federal grants has threatened the programming and long-term viability of many of the Phil Hardin Foundation's grantee partners. We are working with several of them to help mitigate their losses and be prepared for the future.
At the same time, we have also committed recently to several major multi-year projects in our home community of Meridian and our capital city of Jackson. Helping to stabilize some of our existing partners will not curtail our efforts to generate momentum in new initiatives that will strengthen these communities critical to the Hardin Foundation's educational mission.
Trying to meet both emergency and long-term needs has meant that our grants budget for calendar year 2026 is nearing completion. We are not considering any further new applications for funding in 2026, with the exception of current grantees who seek renewal of their existing grants. Any discussions with prospective new grantee partners will be for funding in 2027 at the earliest.
Our partners are resilient. All of them came through the Covid disruption intact, and they have shown that they value their mission too much to throw in the towel when times get tough. But we understand clearly that they need us now more than ever. The organizations and institutions we have served are front and center for us.
Our mission is to improve educational and life outcomes for Mississippi children and youth and to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities. We have only one means of accomplishing that mission -- through our grantee partners who actually do the work. Our goal during this period of crisis and challenge is to help ensure that they continue to meet the needs of those they serve as well or better than before.
Lloyd Gray is executive director of The Phil Hardin Foundation. He may be reached at lgray@philhardin.org or 601.483.4282.
