The J M Smith Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 1996 and based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The foundation is sponsored by the J M Smith Corporation and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It functions as a grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations in its region.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$982K
-19.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$537K
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
108
+0.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-1.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, J M Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Education
- Hunger and food assistance
- Human services
- Christianity and religious organizations
- Arts and culture
- Housing development
- Community development
- Health
Grantmaking
The foundation made 166 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2025). Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 81% of grants remain in South Carolina. The foundation also funds organizations in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year (2025):
- Total Assets: $981,590
- Total Revenues: $294,927
- Total Expenses: $536,890
- Total Giving: $536,524
Staff: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $981,590 | $1,218,870 | $1,186,274 |
| Revenue | $294,927 | $573,028 | $549,403 |
| Expenses | $536,890 | $540,432 | $629,880 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $536,890 | $540,432 | $629,880 |
| Net Investment Income | $49,027 | $33,788 | $3,253 |
| Distributable Amount | $54,690 | $51,207 | $53,016 |
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 First Presbyterian Church ($25,000), First Baptist Church of Spartanburg ($17,000), Make-a-wish South Carolina ($16,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADULT LEARNING CENTER SPARTANBURG, SC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,000 |
| ADVANCE GLOBAL BOILING SPRINGS, SC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $200 |
| AGAPE TO THE NATION GALLATIN, TN | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION - CLT CHARLOTTE, NC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $200 |
| AMBER GILL SCHOLARSHIP FUND PARAGOULD, AR | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $700 |
| AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $600 |
| ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH FOUNDATION LITTLE ROCK, AR | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $300 |
| BALLET SPARTANBURG SPARTANBURG, SC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $5,000 |
| BEN AVON BAPTIST CHURCH SPARTANBURG, SC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $200 |
| BETHEL UMC ENDOWMENT FUND CHARLESTON, SC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $300 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Rob Barrett, President
- Joe Strayer, Director
- Kyle Waltz, Director
- Tammy Devine, Secretary Treasurer
- Terry Cash, Director
- Wade Lewis, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROB BARRETT | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| TAMMY DEVINE | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| TERRY CASH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOE STRAYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WADE LEWIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KYLE WALTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent Grant Distribution
Recent developments and announcements
Historical grant data shows the foundation's giving patterns:
49% to Religion
15% to Education
11% to Social & Human Services
Recent grants have included support for First Church of God ($15,280), First Baptist North Spartanburg ($14,000), Calvary Academy ($14,000), Quogue Library Society ($10,000), Mobile Meals ($28,000), and YMCA ($6,000).
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does J M Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Education • Hunger and food assistance • Human services • Christianity and religious organizations • Arts and culture • Housing development • Community development • Health
How do I apply for a grant from J M Smith Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 166 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2025). Recent grants include: • United Way of the Piedmont: $17,009 • First Baptist Church of Spartanburg: $17,000 • Mobile Meals of Spartanburg County: $16,000 **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $20,000 to $55,000. **Application Process:** Applicants must complete an online application on the foundation website. There are no application deadlines. **Contact Information:** • Phone: 864-542-9419 • Address:…
Where does J M Smith Foundation make grants?
Approximately 81% of grants remain in South Carolina. The foundation also funds organizations in Tennessee and North Carolina.
What size grants does J M Smith Foundation award?
In 2025, J M Smith Foundation awarded 108 grants totaling $537K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is J M Smith Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, J M Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is J M Smith Foundation's EIN?
J M Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-1046595. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in J M Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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