Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund
The Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund is a public charity and supporting organization of the Omaha Community Foundation, based in Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 2015, the fund operates as a vehicle for philanthropic giving by Paul and Annette Smith, focusing on charitable, educational, and religious purposes aligned with the Omaha Community Foundation's mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
+47.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
-0.4% YoY
Grant Count
45
+4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
-4.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious purposes by supporting the Omaha Community Foundation's mission.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts, Culture & Humanities — including support for museums, music organizations, and contemporary arts centers
- Education & Youth — including support for private schools, colleges, and youth organizations
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The fund does not currently list active grant opportunities for external applicants, as it operates as a supporting organization of the Omaha Community Foundation.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund's giving focuses primarily on the Omaha, Nebraska region, with additional support in New York and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total assets: $981,127
- Total revenues: $3,550,227
- Total expenses: $3,373,784
- Number of employees: 0
Earlier Data (2024):
- Total assets: $1,445,703
- Total giving: $3,301,490
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,445,703 | $981,127 | $809,025 |
| Revenue | $3,827,859 | $3,550,227 | $2,515,762 |
| Expenses | $3,354,282 | $3,373,784 | $3,270,662 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $27,859 | $50,227 | $15,762 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
209 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Joslyn Art Museum ($1,100,000), Ashland Area Foundation ($250,000), Community Information Trust ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU Nebraska Foundation Inc Lincoln, NE | Civil Rights, Social Action, Advoc | $25,000 |
| Amplify Arts Omaha, NE | Educational Institutions | $15,000 |
| Ashland Area Foundation Ashland, NE | Philanthropy, Voluntarism, Grants | $250,000 |
| Bemis Center for Contemp Art Omaha, NE | Arts, Culture, Humanities | $60,690 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters-Midl Omaha, NE | Youth Development | $45,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Midlands Omaha, NE | Youth Development | $110,000 |
| CIRA Center for ImmigrantRef Omaha, NE | Human Services | $20,000 |
| Civic Nebraska Lincoln, NE | Civil Rights, Social Action, Advoc | $15,000 |
| Common Senses Omaha, NE | Human Services | $10,000 |
| Community Information Trust Omaha, NE | Educational Institutions | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Paul G. Smith
- Graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in mechanical engineering
- Holds an M.B.A. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Senior managing director of Tenaska Capital Management, a private equity firm focused on power and energy sector investments
- Founded Paul G. Smith Associates
- Chairman of the board of Joslyn Art Museum
- Past chairman of boards for Film Streams, Omaha Conservatory of Music, and Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
Annette Smith
- Graduated from Dana College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and business administration
- Holds a degree in architecture from the University of Nebraska
- Active fundraiser and community volunteer
- Works with Alley, Poyner, Macchietto Architecture
- Board member of Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Simon | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Susan Lebens | Director | 1 | — |
| Michael C Lebens | Director | 1 | — |
| Paul G Smith | Vice Pres/Sec | 1 | — |
| Annette L Smith | President/Treas | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Smiths have demonstrated sustained commitment to major cultural and educational institutions in Omaha. Their giving has supported:
**Creighton Prep** — at least $1 million in cumulative support to the private, Jesuit high school for boys
**Joslyn Art Museum** — significant ongoing support, with Paul Smith serving as board chairman
**Omaha Conservatory of Music** — major funding and board leadership
**Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands** — family support and Annette's board service
**Jesuit Academy** — educational support
**Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts** — board leadership and support
The couple's philanthropy reflects a focus on arts and culture institutions, educational access, and youth development in the Omaha region.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund fund?
The fund is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious purposes by supporting the Omaha Community Foundation's mission. Primary funding areas include: • **Arts, Culture & Humanities** — including support for museums, music organizations, and contemporary arts centers • **Education & Youth** — including support for private schools, colleges, and youth organizations • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services**
How do I apply for a grant from Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $3,301,490 (most recent filing) • Typical award range: $5,500–$1,101,100 • The fund has made at least 43 grants in recent years **Recent Major Grants (2023):** • Joslyn Art Museum: $1,080,500 • Ashland Area Foundation: $250,000 • Omaha Conservatory of Music: $185,000 • College of Saint Mary: $150,000 The fund does not currently list active grant opportunities for external applicants, as it operates as a supporting organization of the Omaha Community Foundatio…
Where does Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund make grants?
The fund's giving focuses primarily on the Omaha, Nebraska region, with additional support in New York and Illinois.
What size grants does Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund award?
In 2024, Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund awarded 45 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund's EIN?
Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1773564. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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