Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation
DOROTHY & CHESTER SMITH is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in California and other states, including organizations working in areas such as research, community services, animal rescue, and disaster response.
Key facts about Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation
In short: Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation gave $74K across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in California. 52% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-2385678
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $74,444
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- Average grant
- $1,772
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (22 of 42, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,525,260
- Primary geography
- California (66% of itemized 2024 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 for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.5M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$74K
-77.7% YoY
Grant Count
42
+23.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-82.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 22 of 42 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $836; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Velvet Ashes says it is an online community of women serving overseas; World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises; and Dog Ranch Rescue says it rescues dogs and provides them with care and rehabilitation. Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated work involves scholarships for women, support for formerly incarcerated and formerly gang-involved people, and women’s leadership and education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $74,444. The median grant was $1,000, and grants ranged from $100 to $16,000. Among the largest reported grants were $16,000 to LACNETS Foundation, $15,444 to All Saints by the Sea, $5,300 to Net Research Foundation, $5,000 to Single Mothers Outreach of Santa Cl, and $2,500 to Acton Methodist Church. Each was listed for general support.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California organizations received 66% of grant dollars. The next-largest reported shares went to Massachusetts (9%), Texas (6%), Iowa (3%), and Washington (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $74K (2024) to $334K (2023). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $74K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lacnets Foundation ($16K). Together the top 10 received $52K.
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 145 grants of 148 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lacnets Foundation Cardiff by the Sea, CA | General Support | $16,000 |
| All Saints by the Sea Santa Barbara, CA | General Support | $15,444 |
| Net Research Foundation Boston, MA | General Support | $5,300 |
| Single Mothers Outreach of Santa CL Valencia, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Acton Methodist Church Granbury, TX | General Support | $2,500 |
| Asap Cats Goleta, CA | General Support | $2,000 |
| Team Expansion Rolla, MO | General Support | $1,500 |
| Velvet Ashes Newton Square, PA | General Support | $1,500 |
| Snafu Rescue Council Bluffs, IA | General Support | $1,500 |
| Santa Barbara AFE Foundation Summerland, CA | General Support | $1,400 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $74,444 | 42 |
| 2023 | $334,147 | 34 |
| 2022 | $106,665 | 27 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,525,260 | $1,544,644 | $1,936,133 |
| Revenue | $35,124 | $-91,642 | $25,357 |
| Expenses | $98,939 | $361,408 | $136,116 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $74,444 | $334,147 | $106,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $55,060 | $16,616 | $42,667 |
| Distributable Amount | $80,156 | $78,763 | $82,525 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert L. Smith and Valerie S. Tippy as trustees.
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert L. Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie S. Tippy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dorothy Smith (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 601 E Micheltorena St 107, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Phone: (661) 713-4421
Frequently asked questions about Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation
How much does Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation give each year?
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation gave $74K across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $334K across 34 grants.
What is Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,772, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation that year got $836 on average.
Where does Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation give grants?
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (9%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (8 grants), Granbury, TX (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (42 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Lacnets Foundation ($16,000), All Saints by the Sea ($15,444) and Net Research Foundation ($5,300), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation?
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $74K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $80K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2385678. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Dorothy & Chester Smith Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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.
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