Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation
The Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been tax-exempt since October 1968. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization supporting charitable causes across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$731K
-8.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$70K
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
32
-5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Wildlife and animal-related causes
- Science education
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $69,000. In 2023, it distributed $39,000 across 30 grants with a median grant of $1,000.
Grant Range
$2,000 (2024)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, Ohio, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position (2024):
- Total Assets: $796,000–$880,000
- Total Giving: $69,000–$70,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $926,000
- 2022: $932,000
- 2020: $853,000
- 2019: $844,000
Revenue & Expenses (2024):
- Revenue: -$8,202
- Expenses: $75,400
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $731,334 | $796,432 | $880,046 |
| Revenue | $9,622 | $-8,202 | $26,871 |
| Expenses | $74,720 | $75,412 | $72,466 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $72,285 | $73,362 | $70,325 |
| Net Investment Income | $39,378 | $23,967 | $25,207 |
| Distributable Amount | $33,026 | $32,912 | $33,217 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
158 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Navy Seal Foundation ($5,000), Park View 19 Scholarship Fund ($5,000), American Heart Association ($4,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION PHOENIX, AZ | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT CRITICAL RESEARCH, IMPROVE CARE, AND TO HELP SAVE LIVES. | $4,500 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS FORT WAYNE, IN | CONTRIBUTION TO HELP PREVENT AND ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING IN THE FACE OF EMERGENCIES. | $2,000 |
| COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION WILLIAMSBURG, VA | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED RESEARCH OF AMERICAN HISTORY. | $1,500 |
| FIELDSTONE FARM THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE THERAPEUTIC POWER OF HORSES TO DISCOVER THE SPECIAL ABILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. | $2,000 |
| FORGING INDUSTRY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE FORGING INDUSTRY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION. | $1,500 |
| FSTOP FOUNDATION PLANTATION, FL | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION BY CREATING AWARENESS THROUGH THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY. | $1,000 |
| HATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT INNOVATION, EXCELLENCE, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY STUDENT. | $2,000 |
| KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA FOUNDATION DUBLIN, OH | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT WITH THE RESOURCES THAT FULFILL THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF WOMEN. | $500 |
| LANAI CAT SANCTUARY LANAI CITY, HI | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR LANAI'S FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM BY SAVING CATS AND PROTECTING NATIVE BIRDS THROUGH INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, AND EDUCATION. | $2,000 |
| LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ARLINGTON, VA | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF YOUNG CONSERVATIVE LEADERS. | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH R DOWDELL | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JANICE G CARLSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 5 | — |
| LAURA G GIFFORD | VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Wildlife and animal-related causes • Science education
How do I apply for a grant from Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$6,000 • Median grant size: $2,000 (2024) • Grant range: $500–$5,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 35 grants totaling $69,000. In 2023, it distributed $39,000 across 30 grants with a median grant of $1,000. **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Navy SEAL Foundation ($5,000) • San Antonio Zoological Society ($5,000) • Park View 19 Scholarship Fund ($5,000) • Tulane University Development ($5,000) • Leesburg Presbyte…
Where does Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, Ohio, and Texas.
What size grants does Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation award?
In 2025, Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $70K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation's EIN?
Charles Henry Smith Sr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6609892. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
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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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