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.
Key facts about James C & Norma I Smith Foundation
- EIN
- 71-0938986
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,275,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- Average grant
- $115,541
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (4 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (31% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not publicly disclose a formal application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James C & Norma I Smith Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for James C & Norma I Smith Foundation's 37 itemized 2025 grants were Arizona (31%), Illinois (15%) and Oregon (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (6 grants), Chicago, IL (5 grants), Scottsdale, AZ (3 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is James C & Norma I Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 37 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $86K; repeat grants $119K. How we count
Medians: $65K first-time, $100K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with James C & Norma I Smith Foundation
- How to evaluate James C & Norma I Smith Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.3M
+23.2% YoY
Grant Count
37
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$116K
+23.2% YoY
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
Average Grant
amount: approximately $68,000 (based on FY23 data)
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with James C & Norma I Smith Foundation?
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
Share of all 37 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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
170 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Mayo Clinic ($700,000), Arizona Animal Welfare League ($250,000), Medecins Sans Frontieres USA ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MAYO CLINIC Scottsdale, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $700,000 |
| ARIZONA ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE Phoenix, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $250,000 |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA New York, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $200,000 |
| ST MARY'S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE Phoenix, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $200,000 |
| DION'S CHICAGO DREAM Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $175,000 |
| PAWS CHICAGO Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| BIRCH COMMUNITY SERVICES Portland, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| CAROLE ROBERTSON CENTER FOR LEARNING Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY Phoenix, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT. | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- August Nisell – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James C Smith | President/Director | — | — |
| August J Nisell | Executive Director/Director | 40 | $100,000 |
| Christina a Nisell | Secretary/Treasurer | 40 | $100,000 |
| 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 does not publicly disclose a formal application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2025, James C & Norma I Smith Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $116K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.