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
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
No grants recorded for .
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 ProgramRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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