Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation
The Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation is a private foundation based in Potomac, Maryland. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $641,821 in grants to 15 organizations. Its filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation gave $642K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in Ohio. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $641,821
- +200.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,788
- +200.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $3,549,186
- -17.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (78% 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 Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8716 Crider Brook Way, Potomac, MD 20854
Phone: (301) 469-8597
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ohio Wesleyan University ($500K). Together the top 10 received $641K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 72 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Ohio recipients accounted for 78% of grant dollars, South Dakota for 11%, Illinois for 6%, Washington, DC, for 2%, and Maryland for 1%. The listed grants also included recipients in Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $468; repeat grants $64K. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $6K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 147% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 671% of 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 $121K (2021) to $650K (2020). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $642K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Wesleyan University Dublin, OH | General Support | $500,000 |
| American Friends Sch of St Jude Rapid City, SD | General Support | $67,530 |
| Opportunity International Chicago, IL | General Support | $40,000 |
| Cornerstone Schools of Washington Washington, DC | General Support | $15,000 |
| Bethesda United Methodist Church Bethesda, MD | General Support | $6,450 |
| Young Life Colorado Springs, CO | General Support | $5,000 |
| Tukutana Studio City, CA | General Support | $2,500 |
| Pittsburgh Kids Foundation Pittsburgh, PA | General Support | $2,000 |
| Aetas Mirabilis Foundation Clifton, VA | General Support | $1,500 |
| The Falls Church Anglican Falls Church, VA | General Support | $600 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,549,186 | $52,056 | $682,602 | $641,821 | 15 | $650,277 | $11,425 | $96,844 |
| 2024 | $4,322,475 | $44,197 | $216,459 | $213,785 | 15 | $213,922 | $41,660 | $109,343 |
| 2023 | $4,590,275 | $17,626 | $178,936 | $159,927 | 13 | $166,982 | $5,672 | $120,965 |
| 2022 | $4,614,352 | $28,325 | $317,902 | $259,571 | 18 | $272,760 | — | $203,700 |
| 2021 | $4,601,251 | $313,874 | $186,123 | $121,255 | 11 | $148,665 | $299,723 | $164,983 |
| 2020 | $4,471,368 | $2,378,805 | $709,857 | $650,341 | 12 | — | $2,333,979 | $71,732 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $97K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a university, faith-based organizations, schools, and community-serving groups. Ohio Wesleyan University describes its purpose as providing a liberal education and pursuing truth. Opportunity International says it provides financial solutions, support, and training to help people living in poverty in developing countries build sustainable incomes and educate their children. Young Life describes its work as ministry to adolescents, including club meetings, Bible studies, camps, and short-term missions. Pittsburgh Kids Foundation says it serves churches and youth-serving agencies in the Greater Pittsburgh area and supports Haitian orphanages, schools, and medical care. Rock Creek Conservancy describes its mission as restoring Rock Creek and its parklands as a natural oasis.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $641,821. Grant amounts ranged from $91 to $500,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest grants included $500,000 to Ohio Wesleyan University, $67,530 to American Friends Sch of St Jude, $40,000 to Opportunity International, and $15,000 to Cornerstone Schools of Washington. Other reported grants included $6,450 to Bethesda United Methodist Church, $5,000 to Young Life, $2,500 to Tukutana, $2,000 to Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, and $150 to Rock Creek Conservancy. The listed purposes for the largest grants were general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Helen Smith as president, Gordon V Smith as treasurer, Bruce G Smith and Douglas I Smith as directors, and Cynthia J Skarbek as vice president.
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation is led by Helen C. Smith, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helen C. Smith
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce G. Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Douglas I. Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Cynthia J. Skarbek
Vice President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Gordon V. Smith
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $41K, to Cynthia J Skarbek (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation
How much does Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation give each year?
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation gave $642K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $214K across 15 grants.
What is Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $42,788, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation that year got $468 on average.
Where does Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation give grants?
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Dakota (11%) and Illinois (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bethesda, MD (2 grants).
Does Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ohio Wesleyan University ($500,000), American Friends Sch of St Jude ($67,530) and Opportunity International ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation?
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $650K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $97K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a university, faith-based organizations, schools, and community-serving groups. Ohio Wesleyan University describes its purpose as providing a liberal education and pursuing truth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gordon V and Helen C Smith 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 Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's EIN?
Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1440846. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Gordon V and Helen C Smith 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.
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 May 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gordon-v-and-helen-c-smith-foundation-morg_37bd9fbc21b044dbba6ed2f8c4946b97
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521440846_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gordon-v-and-helen-c-smith-foundation-morg_37bd9fbc21b044dbba6ed2f8c4946b97},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Gordon V and Helen C 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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