Flora Bernice Smith Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Syracuse, NY EIN: 51-0181016

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation is a private foundation, based in Syracuse, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $156K. Net investment income was $244K.

Key facts about Flora Bernice Smith Foundation

In short: Flora Bernice Smith Foundation gave $156K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
51-0181016
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$156,000
Grants made (2025)
9
Average grant
$17,333
Median grant
$16,000
Total assets
$2,760,922
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.8M

+3.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$156K

-2.2% YoY

Grant Count

9

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

-2.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Flora Bernice Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $147K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Flora Bernice Smith Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

States

Cities

SyracuseSkaneateles

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K9 grants2020 8 grants2021 9 grants2022 9 grants2023 9 grants2024 9 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $146K (2022) to $173K (2021). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $156K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2025

Elmcrest Chidlren's Center: $25KElmcrest Chidlren's Center$25KHouse of Providence Association: $20KHouse of ProvidenceAssociation$20KAurora of Central New York Inc: $18KAurora of Central New York Inc$18KBoys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse: $18KBoys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse$18KCentral New York Society for Prevention of Cruelty Animals: $16KCentral New York Society forPrevention of Cruelty Animals$16KSt Mary's of the Lake: $15KSt Mary's of the Lake$15KSt Thomas Preparatory: $15KSt Thomas Preparatory$15KCrouse Irving Foundation: $15KCrouse Irving Foundation$15KSt Joseph's Health Foundation: $15KSt Joseph's Health Foundation$15K

The largest 2025 recipient was Elmcrest Chidlren's Center ($25K). Together the top 9 received $156K.

Grant Size Distribution

44 grants across all recorded years

44<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 44 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Elmcrest Chidlren's Center Syracuse, NYCapital Improvementscapital Improvements$25,000
House of Providence Association Syracuse, NYIt Equipment Purchases$20,000
Aurora of Central New York Inc Syracuse, NYAdaptive equipment and devices for program participants; equipment upgrades$18,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse Syracuse, NYHorizons education tour expenses (food, lodging, transportation, etc.)support for crucial safety improvement to clubs$18,000
Central New York Society for Prevention of Cruelty Animals Syracuse, NYCapital Improvements$16,000
St Mary's of the Lake Skaneateles, NYCapital Improvements$15,000
St Thomas Preparatory Syracuse, NYEducation Costs for Seminarians$15,000
Crouse Irving Foundation Syracuse, NYRefurbishment of Dedicated Lactation Rooms$14,500
St Joseph's Health Foundation Syracuse, NYTraining materials and training programstraining materials and training programstraining materials and training programs$14,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,760,922$2,679,617$2,759,514
Revenue$294,533$129,187$79,739
Expenses$213,228$209,084$201,879
Qualifying Distributions$162,679$165,226$163,235
Net Investment Income$243,984$85,327$41,027
Distributable Amount$147,312$147,521$142,396

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 21, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Anne Ruffer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $2K (2020) → $3K (2025)

  • Edward Spencer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $2K (2020) → $3K (2025)

  • Mary Anne Cody

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $2K (2020) → $3K (2025)

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Mary Anne Cody — Trustee: $3KMary Anne CodyTrustee$3KAnne Ruffer — Trustee: $3KAnne RufferTrustee$3KEdward Spencer — Trustee: $3KEdward SpencerTrustee$3K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Mary Anne Cody (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Flora Bernice Smith Foundation

How much does Flora Bernice Smith Foundation give each year?

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation gave $156K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $160K across 9 grants.

What is Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's typical grant size?

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $16,000, and its average grant was $17,333, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Flora Bernice Smith Foundation give grants?

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Syracuse, NY (8 grants).

Does Flora Bernice Smith Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's largest grantees?

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Elmcrest Chidlren's Center ($25,000), House of Providence Association ($20,000) and Aurora of Central New York Inc ($18,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Flora Bernice Smith Foundation?

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $163K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $147K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's EIN?

Flora Bernice Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0181016. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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