Marlene a Smith Foundation
The Marlene a Smith Foundation is a Form 990-PF (a private foundation) based in Lindstrom, Minnesota. In its 2025 filing, it reported 11 grants totaling $38,500; all listed grants were for scholarships to colleges and technical colleges. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 18 grants totaling $39,000.
Marlene a Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: Marlene a Smith Foundation gave $39K across 18 grants in 2026 (avg $2K), top state Kentucky. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $39,000
- +1.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 18
- +63.6% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $2,167
- -38.1% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $585,693
- +5.9% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (32% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Marlene a Smith Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 13116 Lake Blvd, Lindstrom, MN 55045
Phone: (651) 257-5980
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marlene a Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Minnesota recipients received 52% of grant dollars and Kentucky recipients received 39%. Missouri received 6%, South Carolina 1%, and Tennessee 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
How Marlene a Smith Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+18%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 143% 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2021) to $39K (2026). In 2026 it made 18 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 18 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $39,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $585,693 | $51,760 | $41,238 | $39,000 | 18 | $39,950 | $32,017 | $27,983 |
| 2025 | $553,174 | $42,931 | $40,514 | $38,500 | 11 | $39,400 | $24,343 | $26,675 |
| 2024 | $524,562 | $83,551 | $34,698 | $32,500 | 9 | $33,425 | $15,361 | $22,614 |
| 2023 | $459,005 | $128,670 | $36,182 | $33,000 | 6 | $33,926 | $14,020 | $20,158 |
| 2022 | $370,349 | $69,123 | $14,785 | $13,000 | 6 | $13,858 | $13,385 | $19,544 |
| 2021 | $365,352 | $69,282 | $12,932 | $11,150 | 6 | — | $7,038 | $18,255 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marlene a Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to colleges and technical colleges for scholarships. Dunwoody College of Technology, which received $7,500, describes its mission as building opportunities for graduates to have successful careers, develop as leaders and entrepreneurs, and engage in “the better performance of life’s duties.”
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $38,500 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest grants were $10,000 to Elizabethtown Community College and $7,500 to Dunwoody College of Technology. Other grants included $5,000 to an individual recipient & Community College and $2,500 each to an individual recipient Community College, Bluegrass Community & Technical College, Lake Superior College, Midwest Tech Institute, an individual recipient Community & Technical College, and Century College. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 18 grants totaling $39,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Charles Mark Davidson as past president, Tricia Ann Wilmot as president, Rebecca Ann Erickson as treasurer, and Jennifer LaDuke as secretary.
Marlene a Smith Foundation is led by Tricia Ann Wilmot, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 4 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Tricia Ann Wilmot
President
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Ann Erickson
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Laduke
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2026
On filings since 2025
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Bennett
Secretary
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charles Mark Davidson (2021–2025) — Past President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Marlene a Smith Foundation
How much does Marlene a Smith Foundation give each year?
Marlene a Smith Foundation gave $39K across 18 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $39K across 11 grants.
What is Marlene a Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
Marlene a Smith Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,167, across 18 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Marlene a Smith Foundation give grants?
Marlene a Smith Foundation's top state is Kentucky, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (26%) and North Dakota (13%).
Does Marlene a Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Marlene a Smith Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Marlene a Smith Foundation?
Marlene a Smith Foundation reported $586K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Marlene a Smith Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to colleges and technical colleges for scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marlene a Smith Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Marlene a Smith Foundation's EIN?
Marlene a Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5603437. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does Marlene a Smith Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 5, 2022)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Marlene a Smith Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Marlene a Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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