Carolyn Smith Foundation
The Carolyn Smith Foundation is a private foundation based in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Its 2026 priorities include economic prosperity—particularly housing, food security, and economic mobility—and dementia and neurodegenerative diseases, alongside support for areas such as animal welfare, education, arts and culture, the environment, and healthcare.
Carolyn Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: Carolyn Smith Foundation gave $4.8M across 165 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Tennessee. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,783,828
- +22.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 165
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,993
- +20.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $2,115,164
- +250.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (57 of 152, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Carolyn Smith Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its website describes an open Spring application cycle for operational grants, with an optional section for information about strategic initiatives, capital needs, or medical research that may be considered for the invitation-only Fall cycle. The 2026 open cycle has closed. The foundation’s 2025 filing lists a formal request from applicants and says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations; it also lists awards as restricted to total assets.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists February 1–March 1 each year for the Spring cycle; the next cycle is scheduled to begin February 1, 2027. The filing lists no specific deadlines.
- Deadline
- The website lists February 1–March 1 each year for the Spring cycle; the next cycle is scheduled to begin February 1,…
- Contact
Application contact: Randy Smith
Mailing address: 1000 Cages Bend Court, Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (615) 973-3613
Website: https://carolynsmithfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Carolyn Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vanderbilt University Medical Center ($400K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($12,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
757 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 676 grants of 757 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website identifies Middle Tennessee as the primary service area, emphasizing Davidson and Sumner Counties, while allowing for occasional support beyond the region. In 2025, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 4% to South Carolina, 3% to North Carolina, 2% to New York, and 1% to Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 165 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Carolyn Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 57 of 152 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 108% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $4.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 165 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Store Nashville, TN | Provide food for needy | $225,000 |
| Cure Sanflippo Foundation Columbia, SC | Medical Research | $200,000 |
| Gallatin Shalom Zone Gallatin, TN | Aid children & families | $200,000 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN | Medical research | $200,000 |
| Inspiritus Inc Nashville, TN | Food Bank | $150,000 |
| Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Assoc New York, NY | Improve lives of alzheimer patients | $100,000 |
| FiftyForwardSenior Citizens Inc Nashville, TN | Programs assist adults | $100,000 |
| Grace Place Ministry Inc Hendersonville, TN | Safe home for mothers & children | $100,000 |
| Nashville Rescue Mission Nashville, TN | Help people that are homeless | $100,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN Nashville, TN | Food to poor families | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Carolyn Smith Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 165 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings report 162 and 147 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,115,164 | $6,603,000 | $5,093,580 | $4,783,828 | 165 | $4,875,000 | $24,782 |
| 2024 | $603,182 | $4,002,000 | $4,061,622 | $3,895,000 | 162 | $3,895,000 | $30,214 |
| 2023 | $662,225 | $3,200,000 | $3,169,784 | $3,021,200 | 147 | $3,021,200 | $27,518 |
| 2022 | $631,342 | $2,600,000 | $2,430,597 | $2,302,650 | 141 | $2,302,650 | $20,755 |
| 2021 | $460,892 | $1,600,000 | $1,593,711 | $1,539,500 | 142 | $1,539,500 | $23,381 |
| 2020 | $452,345 | $1,000,000 | $1,229,824 | $1,226,000 | 64 | — | $23,358 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carolyn Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website does not state a formal mission statement. It describes a multi-issue approach that prioritizes work addressing connected economic, health, and social challenges. Its 2026 priorities are economic prosperity—including affordable housing, food security, and economic mobility—and dementia and neurodegenerative diseases, including research, treatment, advocacy, and support for families and caregivers. It also welcomes opportunities in animal welfare, education, arts and culture, the environment, and healthcare.
Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, have operated for at least two years, and primarily serve Middle Tennessee, with emphasis on Davidson and Sumner Counties. The foundation says it occasionally supports statewide, national, or international organizations, especially in animal welfare, the environment, and healthcare.
Recent recipients illustrate the range of work supported. The Store in Nashville, which received $225,000 in 2025, describes its mission as addressing hunger through a year-round free grocery store and partnerships focused on food security. Gallatin Shalom Zone in Gallatin, which received $200,000, says it empowers individuals and families through assistance and programs. Grace Place Ministry in Hendersonville, a $100,000 recipient, describes its work as helping single mothers and children develop healthy, safe, and independent lives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 165 grants totaling $4,783,828. The median grant was $15,000; grants ranged from $328 to $225,000. Among the largest grants were $225,000 to The Store; $200,000 each to Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, Gallatin Shalom Zone, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and $150,000 to Inspiritus. Other notable awards included $100,000 each to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, FiftyForward Senior Citizens, Grace Place Ministry, Nashville Rescue Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Siloam Health, and UNC Health Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Randy Smith as president, Alexander Smith as secretary, and Jessica Haywood as treasurer.
Carolyn Smith Foundation is led by Randy Smith, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Randy Smith
President
President & Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alexander Smith
Secretary
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jessica Haywood
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Carolyn Smith Foundation
How much does Carolyn Smith Foundation give each year?
Carolyn Smith Foundation gave $4.8M across 165 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.9M across 162 grants.
What is Carolyn Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
Carolyn Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $28,993, across 165 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Carolyn Smith Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does Carolyn Smith Foundation give grants?
Carolyn Smith Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (95 grants), Gallatin, TN (24 grants), Hendersonville, TN (9 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Carolyn Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Carolyn Smith Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 165) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Human services - local community" (5 grants) and "Medical Research" (4 grants).
Who are Carolyn Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
Carolyn Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Vanderbilt University Medical Center ($400,000 across 3 grants), The Store ($255,000 across 2 grants) and Gallatin Shalom Zone ($210,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($12,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Carolyn Smith Foundation?
Carolyn Smith Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Carolyn Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website does not state a formal mission statement. It describes a multi-issue approach that prioritizes work addressing connected economic, health, and social challenges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carolyn Smith Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Carolyn Smith Foundation's EIN?
Carolyn Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4706113. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Carolyn Smith Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carolyn Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Carolyn Smith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carolyn-smith-foundation-morg_434ac27ac3c246d2a2e8c520b61ccc91
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814706113_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Carolyn Smith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carolyn-smith-foundation-morg_434ac27ac3c246d2a2e8c520b61ccc91},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Carolyn Smith Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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