Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Albany, NY EIN: 13-3318167

The Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation is a private foundation based in Albany, New York. Its 2025 filing lists 11 grants totaling $1,160,000, with grant purposes reported as general charitable purposes.

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation at a glance

In short: Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation gave $1.2M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $105K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,160,000
+20.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
11
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$105,455
+20.2% vs 2024
Median grant
$70,000
Total assets
$9,568,548
-1.6% vs 2024
Primary geography
California (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: C/O Goldman Sachs Ayco PO Box 15201, Albany, NY 12212-5201
Phone: (518) 640-5000

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Peninsula Open Space Trust: $300KPeninsula Open Space Trust$300KMetropolitan Opera Association Inc: $250KMetropolitan Opera AssociationInc$250KSierra Watch: $100KSierra Watch$100KNatural Resources Defense Council Inc: $100KNatural Resources DefenseCouncil Inc$100KThe Wilderness Society: $100KThe Wilderness Society$100KTufts University: $70KTufts University$70KLifeMoves: $50KLifeMoves$50KSecond Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley: $50KSecond Harvest Food Bank ofSilicon Valley$50KTrustees of Dartmouth College: $50KTrustees of Dartmouth College$50KPenn State University: $50KPenn State University$50K

The largest 2025 recipient was Peninsula Open Space Trust ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

30 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K11$50–100K10$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 11 grants of 30 (37%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, California organizations received 43% of grant dollars and New York organizations received 30%. Recipients in Washington, DC, received 9%; Massachusetts, 6%; and New Hampshire, 4%. The listed grants also include recipients in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkAlbanyNew HavenMedfordMenlo ParkNevada CityPalo AltoSan JoseBristolHanoverLos AngelesMemphisRedwood CityState CollegeWashington

How Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation gives

  • 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M1 grant2020 1 grant2021 1 grant2022 6 grants2023 11 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $675K (2022) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $1.2M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Peninsula Open Space Trust Palo Alto, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$300,000
Metropolitan Opera Association Inc New York, NYGeneral Charitable Purposes$250,000
Sierra Watch Nevada City, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$100,000
Natural Resources Defense Council Inc New York, NYGeneral Charitable Purposes$100,000
The Wilderness Society Washington, DCGeneral Charitable Purposes$100,000
Tufts University Medford, MAGeneral Charitable Purposes$70,000
LifeMoves Menlo Park, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$50,000
Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley San Jose, CAGeneral Charitable Purposes$50,000
Trustees of Dartmouth College Hanover, NHGeneral Charitable Purposes$50,000
Penn State University State College, PAGeneral Charitable Purposes$50,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$9,568,548$1,188,100$1,343,805$1,160,00011$1,226,279$1,081,574$926,784
2024$9,724,253$829,369$1,169,270$965,00011$1,039,364$714,463$829,223
2023$10,064,154$731,119$915,363$725,0006$771,169$596,925$823,244
2022$10,248,398$704,916$884,507$675,0001$675,000$553,054$885,883
2021$10,427,989$229,616$1,197,360$1,065,2821—$104,038$777,858
2020$11,395,733$539,376$954,729$768,0001—$400,749$769,501

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation reported a distributable amount of $927K for 2025 — 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 separate mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants support organizations working in areas including land conservation, the arts, housing services, food assistance, and education. For example, Peninsula Open Space Trust says it protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay; The Wilderness Society says it works to protect wilderness and public lands; and LifeMoves says it provides interim housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $1,160,000. Grants ranged from $40,000 to $300,000, with a median of $70,000. The largest grants were $300,000 to Peninsula Open Space Trust and $250,000 to Metropolitan Opera Association Inc. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Sierra Watch, Natural Resources Defense Council Inc, and The Wilderness Society.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Henry F Smeal and Mary Margaret Smeal as trustees.

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Henry F. Smeal

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $17K (2020) → $19K (2025)

  • Mary Margaret Smeal

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $17K (2020) → $19K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Henry F Smeal — Trustee: $19KHenry F SmealTrustee$19KMary Margaret Smeal — Trustee: $19KMary Margaret SmealTrustee$19K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $19K, to Henry F Smeal (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation

How much does Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation give each year?

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation gave $1.2M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $965K across 11 grants.

What is Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's typical grant size?

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $70,000, and its average grant was $105,455, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation give grants?

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's top state is California, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (30%) and District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's largest grantees?

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Peninsula Open Space Trust ($300,000), Metropolitan Opera Association Inc ($250,000) and Sierra Watch ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation?

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation reported $9.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $927K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation fund?

No separate mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants support organizations working in areas including land conservation, the arts, housing services, food assistance, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation?

The foundation 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 Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's EIN?

Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3318167. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mary-jean-and-frank-p-smeal-foundation-morg_6c2bf1efbec84da1a0bd81ca709da52b

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133318167_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/mary-jean-and-frank-p-smeal-foundation-morg_6c2bf1efbec84da1a0bd81ca709da52b},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-25. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Mary Jean and Frank P Smeal Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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