James C & Norma I Smith Foundation
The James C & Norma I Smith Foundation is a private foundation headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Established in 1994 in Illinois and Texas, it operates as a successor to the original James C. and Norma I. Smith Foundation, with its current structure formalized in 2003. The foundation employs a trust-based philanthropic approach, maintaining strategic relationships with high-impact nonprofits across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$101.9M
+1479.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+16.4% YoY
Grant Count
37
-15.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$94K
+38.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James C & Norma I Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide educational, nutritional, medical, and environmental assistance to underserved members of our shared world, with particular emphasis on:
- Children and families in areas with limited growth and development opportunities
- Senior citizens
- Unemployed and underemployed adults
- Animals in need of care and shelter
- Communities residing in food deserts with limited access to nutritious food
Grantmaking
The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. All funded organizations are selected through a targeted and relational approach.
Average Grant
amount: approximately $68,000 (based on FY23 data)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations operating nationally across the United States, with particular emphasis on Arizona, Texas, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of FY 2024:
- Total assets: $101,891,224
- Total giving: $3,470,000–$4.3 million
- Total revenues: $43,513,006
- Total expenses: $3,708,441
- Staff: 2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $101,891,224 | $6,451,281 | $72,872,897 |
| Revenue | $43,513,006 | $5,171,757 | $3,965,002 |
| Expenses | $3,708,441 | $3,042,401 | $2,523,214 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,470,000 | $2,982,000 | $2,475,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $40,571,778 | $5,131,757 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $4,276,847 | $3,466,925 | $2,992,453 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mayo Clinic ($700,000), Arizona Animal Welfare League ($200,000), Medecins Sans Frontiers Usa ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 412 FOOD RESCUE PITTSBURG, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $200,000 |
| BIRCH COMMUNITY SERVICES PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE VALLEY PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $25,000 |
| CAROLE ROBERTSON CENTER FOR LEARNING CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CHEF ANN FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CHICAGO YOUTH PROGRAMS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| DC CENTRAL KITCHEN BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| DALLAS PETS ALIVE DALLAS, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| DION'S CHICAGO DREAM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- August Nisell – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES C SMITH | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| AUGUST J NISELL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR | 40 | $97,500 |
| CHRISTINA A NISELL | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 40 | $97,500 |
| NORMA I SMITH | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOSEPH WHITTERS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| HILL A FEINBERG | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained consistent growth in philanthropic impact, increasing grant distribution from $2.98 million in FY 2023 to $4.3 million in FY 2024. Recent grants reflect the foundation's commitment to animal welfare, international humanitarian assistance, and medical research organizations.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James C & Norma I Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide educational, nutritional, medical, and environmental assistance to underserved members of our shared world, with particular emphasis on: • Children and families in areas with limited growth and development opportunities • Senior citizens • Unemployed and underemployed adults • Animals in need of care and shelter • Communities residing in food deserts with limited access to nutritious food
How do I apply for a grant from James C & Norma I Smith Foundation?
The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. All funded organizations are selected through a targeted and relational approach. **Grant Activity:** • FY 2024: $4.3 million distributed across 37 grants • FY 2023: $2.98 million distributed across 44 grants • Typical award range: $1,000–$700,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $68,000 (based on FY23 data) **Recent Grantees (FY 2024):** • The Arizona Animal Welfare League: $200,000 • Doctors without Bor…
Where does James C & Norma I Smith Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations operating nationally across the United States, with particular emphasis on Arizona, Texas, and Illinois.
What size grants does James C & Norma I Smith Foundation award?
In 2024, James C & Norma I Smith Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $94K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James C & Norma I Smith Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James C & Norma I Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James C & Norma I Smith Foundation's EIN?
James C & Norma I Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0938986. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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