4S Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 93-2481820

4S Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in deaf education, youth homelessness, Christian education, and other areas.

Key facts about 4S Family Foundation

In short: 4S Family Foundation gave $170K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
93-2481820
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$170,000
Grants made (2025)
10
Average grant
$17,000
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$1,446,376
Primary geography
Washington (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.4M

-4.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$170K

+28.3% YoY

Grant Count

10

+11.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

+15.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, 4S Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $79K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How 4S Family Foundation gives

  • In 2025 it paid out 231% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. International Deaf Education Association says it works to foster self-reliance by providing opportunities for deaf children, adults, and families. New Horizons Ministries describes its mission as “ending homelessness, one young person at a time.” Bellevue Christian School says its mission is to prepare young people to live faithfully and fully for Christ. Other recipients included organizations focused on Bible teaching, poverty alleviation, and operating the John Wayne Birthplace for public enjoyment and appreciation.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $170,000 through 10 grants. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $60,000, with a median grant of $10,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, 28% to Montana, and 6% each to Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio. The listed grants also included a recipient in Kentucky.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.

Cities

BellevueSeattleBillingsClevelandErlangerCarol StreamChicagoEvanstonWinterset

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K0 grants2023 9 grants2024 10 grants2025

From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $133K (2024) to $170K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $170K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2025

Crossroads Bible Church: $60KCrossroads Bible Church$60KInternational Deaf Education Association: $48K across 2 grantsInternational Deaf EducationAssociation$48K · 2 grantsNew Horizons Ministries: $20K across 2 grantsNew Horizons Ministries$20K · 2 grantsBellevue Christian School: $10KBellevue Christian School$10KJohn Wayne Birthplace Society Ltd: $10KJohn Wayne Birthplace SocietyLtd$10KOpportunity International Inc: $10KOpportunity International Inc$10KTruth for Life: $10KTruth for Life$10KDisabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trus: $3KDisabled American VeteransCharitable Service Trus$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Crossroads Bible Church ($60K). Together the top 8 received $170K.

Grant Size Distribution

19 grants across all recorded years

17<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 19 (89%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Crossroads Bible Church Bellevue, WASow to Reap Building Campaign$60,000
International Deaf Education Association Billings, MTGeneral & Unrestricted$37,500
Bellevue Christian School Bellevue, WACharitable Event$10,000
International Deaf Education Association Billings, MTMulti-year grant for long term planning and birthday/christmas gifts for at least two students$10,000
John Wayne Birthplace Society Ltd Winterset, IASigma Chi Memorial Campaign$10,000
New Horizons Ministries Seattle, WALong Term Grant Commitment for General Financial Support$10,000
New Horizons Ministries Seattle, WAGeneral & Unrestricted$10,000
Opportunity International Inc Carol Stream, ILGeneral & Unrestricted$10,000
Truth for Life Cleveland, OHGeneral & Unrestricted$10,000
Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trus Erlanger, KYGeneral & Unrestricted$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $1,446,376 $129,033 $195,035 $170,000 across 10 grants
2024 $1,512,378 $75,993 $157,909 $132,500 across 9 grants
2023 $1,594,294 $1,600,794 $6,500 0 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,446,376$1,512,378$1,594,294
Revenue$129,033$75,993$1,600,794
Expenses$195,035$157,909$6,500
Qualifying Distributions$182,730$143,595$6,500
Net Investment Income$129,422$268,790$6,167
Distributable Amount$79,003$77,628$5,749

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 25, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Sherri Ann Smolinske as secretary, treasurer, and director, and Stephen B Smolinske as president and director.

4S Family Foundation is led by Stephen B Smolinske, President & Director on every filing since 2023; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Stephen B Smolinske

    President & Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sherri Ann Smolinske

    Secretary, Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754

Frequently asked questions about 4S Family Foundation

How much does 4S Family Foundation give each year?

4S Family Foundation gave $170K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $133K across 9 grants.

What is 4S Family Foundation's typical grant size?

4S Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does 4S Family Foundation give grants?

4S Family Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Montana (28%) and Iowa (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bellevue, WA (2 grants), Billings, MT (2 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).

Does 4S Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 60% of 4S Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are 4S Family Foundation's largest grantees?

4S Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Crossroads Bible Church ($60,000), International Deaf Education Association ($47,500 across 2 grants) and New Horizons Ministries ($20,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is 4S Family Foundation?

4S Family Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $183K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $79K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does 4S Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. International Deaf Education Association says it works to foster self-reliance by providing opportunities for deaf children, adults, and families. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from 4S Family Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is 4S Family Foundation's EIN?

4S Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-2481820. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.

Does 4S Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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