Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Monica, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $230K. Net investment income was $327K.
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation at a glance
In short: Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation gave $230K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $230,000
- +2.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,750
- +15.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $2,018,521
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Union of Concerned Scientists ($120K). Together the top 7 received $220K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 43 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2019) to $230K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $230K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Union of Concerned Scientists Cambridge, MA | To assist the organization to maintain its charitable and scientific services benefiting the general public and the scientific community. | $120,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Los Angeles, CA | To assist the organization in achieving its goals to help end social and legal injustice. | $30,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Hagerstown, MD | To assist the organization to maintain its charitable services benefiting the general public. | $15,000 |
| Salk Insttute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CA | To assist the institute in its continuing research programs dedicated to curing diseases and advancing knowledge in the fields of microbiology and genetics. | $15,000 |
| Death Penalty Focus Sacramento, CA | To assist the organization in maintaining its commitment to bringing about the abolition of the death penalty. | $15,000 |
| Trinity Care Hospice Foundation Torrance, CA | To help sustain the foundation's goals of providing palliative care for patients afflicted with terminal illness. | $15,000 |
| Los Angeles Innocence Project Los Angeles, CA | To assist the organization in maintaining its charitable goals benefitting wrongly convicted and incarcerated innocent victims and in helping to reform the criminal justice system. | $10,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,018,521 | $338,668 | $274,150 | $230,000 | 8 | $230,000 | $326,810 | $221,807 |
| 2024 | $1,954,003 | $331,188 | $268,355 | $224,000 | 9 | $224,000 | $319,254 | $208,722 |
| 2023 | $1,891,171 | $360,511 | $248,753 | $223,000 | 8 | $223,000 | $352,048 | $204,318 |
| 2022 | $1,779,413 | $302,005 | $237,489 | $210,000 | 8 | $210,000 | $293,699 | $208,281 |
| 2021 | $1,714,898 | $312,813 | $229,567 | $202,000 | 10 | $202,000 | $298,574 | $197,709 |
| 2020 | $1,631,652 | $293,799 | $202,947 | $183,000 | 3 | — | $287,016 | $182,417 |
| 2019 | $1,540,800 | $301,935 | $197,131 | $175,000 | 9 | — | $295,829 | $172,256 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brigitte Targhetta Irell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$15K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Maia Irell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$15K (2024) → $15K (2025)
Lauren Irell
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Stephen C. Irell (2019–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to Brigitte Targhetta Irell (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation
How much does Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation give each year?
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation gave $230K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $224K across 9 grants.
What is Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's typical grant size?
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $28,750, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation give grants?
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (41%) and Maryland (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's largest grantees?
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Union of Concerned Scientists ($120,000), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($30,000) and Doctors Without Borders USA ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation?
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $230K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $222K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's EIN?
Lawrence E & Elaine Smith Irell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6058214. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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