The Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation established in 1993 in North Carolina. Based in Greenville, NC, the foundation was created by Eddie Smith Jr., owner and CEO of Grady-White Boats, and his late wife Jo Allison Smith. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and functions as a private grantmaking foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$302.1M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$20.7M
+100.3% YoY
Grant Count
206
+2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$100K
+96.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eddie and Jo Allison Smith reported a distributable amount of $15.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is giving primarily for the arts, education, the environment, health, and human services. The foundation's giving philosophy is rooted in stewardship and the principle "to whom much is given, much is expected," reflecting values instilled by Eddie's father who rose from poverty to successful entrepreneurship.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Environmental conservation
- Health care
- Religion
- Human services
- Science and STEM education
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, operating on an invitation-only basis.
Grant Range
$200 to $11,003,000
Average Grant
amount varies by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on organizations in North Carolina, with additional support extending to Florida and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $302,058,851 (2025)
- Total revenues: $29,407,462 (2025)
- Total expenses: $23,718,015 (2025)
- Total liabilities: $25,700 (2025)
- Annual income: $115.1 million (reported in some filings)
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $43.6 million in 2011 to $302.1 million in 2024.
Staffing: The foundation employs 3 staff members.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $302,058,851 | $294,338,522 | $280,818,371 |
| Revenue | $29,407,462 | $30,986,328 | $161,966,018 |
| Expenses | $23,718,015 | $12,837,298 | $17,109,204 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $21,026,474 | $10,457,373 | $16,198,051 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,216,395 | $8,659,231 | $3,614,451 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,103,956 | $14,918,963 | $8,340,002 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Carteret County General Hospital ($1,334,000), Augie's Quest to Cure Als ($1,000,000), Christ Covenant School ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A TIME FOR SCIENCE GREENVILLE, NC | EASTERN NC WATERWAYS AND THEIR INHABITANTS EXHIBIT SPONSORSHIP | $76,500 |
| ACCESS DENTAL CARE INC ASHEBORO, NC | EXPANSION PROJECT | $100,000 |
| ALS UNITED NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH, NC | PROGRAMS & SUPPORT - EASTERN NC | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC RALEIGH, NC | DIAN-TU PRIMARY PREVENTION | $200,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHARLOTTE, NC | VARIOUS PROJECTS IN EASTERN NC | $57,500 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION NEW YORK CITY, NY | FUND DRIVE | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DURHAM, NC | IMPROVING HEALTH IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA | $19,735 |
| AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL WASHINGTON, DC | FUND DRIVE | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS GREENVILLE, NC | VARIOUS RELIEF PROJECTS | $107,500 |
| AMERICANS FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE MIAMI, FL | FUND DRIVE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Eddie Smith Jr. - Chairman, Founder
- Kristin Carroll - President
- Samuel E. Soliman - Executive Vice President
- Jill A. Carraway - Secretary and Treasurer
- Laurence S Graham - Principal Officer (listed in some filings)
The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDWARD C SMITH JR | CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR | 3.75 | — |
| KRISTIN CARROLL | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SAMUEL E SOLIMAN | EXEC VP/ASST. SEC/ASST. TREAS/ DIR. | 6 | — |
| JILL A CARRAWAY | SECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity in recent years, with notable support for:
Focused ultrasound treatment research for neurodegenerative disorders, including establishment of a dedicated fund
The Focused Ultrasound Foundation and ALS Association Award ...University of North Carolina football program support through a transformational gift
Legacy of Love: Transformational gift to support Tar Heel football programPitt Community College, which broke ground on the Eddie & Jo Allison Smith Center for Student Advancement
PCC Breaks Ground on Eddie & Jo Allison Smith Center for Student ...ALS research and treatment initiatives
Parkinson's research funding
The foundation's grantmaking activity was particularly high in 2023, distributing $16.1 million across 183 grants.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Eddie and Jo Allison Smith fund?
The foundation's mission is giving primarily for the arts, education, the environment, health, and human services. The foundation's giving philosophy is rooted in stewardship and the principle "to whom much is given, much is expected," reflecting values instilled by Eddie's father who rose from poverty to successful entrepreneurship. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Education • Environmental conservation • Health care • Religion • Human services • Science and STEM educa…
How do I apply for a grant from Eddie and Jo Allison Smith?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $10.3 million (2024) • Total giving: $20.6 million (most recent filing) • Number of grants: 202-210 grants awarded annually • Grant range: $200 to $11,003,000 • Median grant: $5,000-$10,000 • Average grant amount varies by year **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, operating on an invitation-only basis. **Recent Grant Exa…
Where does Eddie and Jo Allison Smith make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on organizations in North Carolina, with additional support extending to Florida and Virginia.
What size grants does Eddie and Jo Allison Smith award?
In 2025, Eddie and Jo Allison Smith awarded 206 grants totaling $20.7M — an average of about $100K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Eddie and Jo Allison Smith required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Eddie and Jo Allison Smith reported a distributable amount of $15.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Eddie and Jo Allison Smith's EIN?
Eddie and Jo Allison Smith's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1844198. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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