John I Smith Charities Inc
John I Smith Charities Inc is a private foundation established in 1985 and based in Greer, South Carolina. The organization holds tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 57-0806327) and has been tax-exempt since December 1986. The foundation focuses on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors with a primary emphasis on higher education, human services, and the arts.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.4M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-9.4% YoY
Grant Count
44
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
-17.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John I Smith Charities Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher Education — including graduate and professional education
- Human Services
- Arts and Culture
- Religion — with emphasis on Christianity and theology
- Education — broadly conceived
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Southeast, with particular emphasis on upstate South Carolina.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
approximately $134 (based on recent data)
Average Grant
approximately $134 (based on recent data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- South Carolina (with emphasis on upstate South Carolina)
- Georgia
- North Carolina
Specific communities supported include Clinton, Columbia, Davidson, Decatur, Greenville, Greer, Seneca, Spartanburg, and Taylors.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Most Recent Fiscal Year):
- Total Assets: $23.4 million
- Total Revenue: approximately $1.36–$1.98 million
- Total Expenses: approximately $1.47–$1.57 million
- Total Giving: approximately $1.25–$1.4 million
Financial Position:
- Total Liabilities: $0
- The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding debt
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,432,448 | $22,929,011 | $23,139,181 |
| Revenue | $1,977,403 | $1,358,994 | $475,855 |
| Expenses | $1,473,966 | $1,569,164 | $1,531,556 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,266,400 | $1,396,400 | $1,359,400 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,824,262 | $1,211,414 | $574,742 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,442,625 | $1,359,935 | $1,307,197 |
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
203 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Columbia Seminary ($100,000), Pendleton Place Inc ($100,000), American Red Cross Upstate ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A CHILD'S HAVEN GREENVILLE, SC | MATCHING GRANT FOR HOLIDAY BRUNCH | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS UPSTATE GREENVILLE, SC | FUNDING FOR DISASTER RELIEF AND MILITARY MEMBER SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES DECATUR, GA | SUPPORT THE PRESBYTERIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | $15,000 |
| CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES GREENVILLE, SC | SUPPORT PRESENTING SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2025 EGGS BENEFIT FOR CDS | $25,000 |
| COLUMBIA SEMINARY DECATUR, GA | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| CREATIVE ADVANCEMENT CENTERS GREER, SC | AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE DAVIDSON, NC | SUPPORT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS | $50,000 |
| ETV ENDOWMENT OF SC SPARTANBURG, SC | CHILDRENS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FUNDING | $15,000 |
| FINE ARTS CENTER PARTNERS CO THE FINE ARTS CENTER GREENVILLE, SC | SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY GREENVILLE, SC | FUNDING RILEY INSTITUTE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jefferson V Smith Jr — Director and President
- Elizabeth Clayton — Director and Vice President
- Travis V Olmert — Director and Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON V SMITH JR | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 4 | $12,000 |
| ELIZABETH CLAYTON | DIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT | 4 | $12,000 |
| TRAVIS V OLMERT | DIRECTOR, TREASURER | 4 | $12,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a new gift to the SCICU Student Lifeline Grants Program, demonstrating continued commitment to supporting higher education access in South Carolina.
John I. Smith Charities makes new gift to SCICU Student Lifeline Grants ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
What does John I Smith Charities Inc fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • **Higher Education** — including graduate and professional education • **Human Services** • **Arts and Culture** • **Religion** — with emphasis on Christianity and theology • **Education** — broadly conceived The foundation supports nonprofit organizations serving communities across the Southeast, with particular emphasis on upstate South Carolina.
How do I apply for a grant from John I Smith Charities Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 49 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical award range: $5,000–$150,000 • Average grant size: approximately $134 (based on recent data) • Total giving in recent year: approximately $1.25–$1.4 million **Types of Support:** • General operating support • Project support • Seed money • Endowments • Challenge and matching grants • Building funds • Equipment • Scholarships **Recent Grant Examples:** • Columbia Theological Seminary: $100,000 (unrestricted) • Pendleto…
Where does John I Smith Charities Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • South Carolina (with emphasis on upstate South Carolina) • Georgia • North Carolina Specific communities supported include Clinton, Columbia, Davidson, Decatur, Greenville, Greer, Seneca, Spartanburg, and Taylors.
What size grants does John I Smith Charities Inc award?
In 2025, John I Smith Charities Inc awarded 44 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John I Smith Charities Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, John I Smith Charities Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John I Smith Charities Inc's EIN?
John I Smith Charities Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0806327. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John I Smith Charities Inc'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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