Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation
The Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, and the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation gave $10K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $731.071), mostly in Pennsylvania. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,235
- +19.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $731
- +19.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $482
- Total assets
- $105,266
- -3.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Paul L Smith Charitable 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: PO Box 1504, Buffalo, NY 14240
Phone: (716) 842-5506
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Paul Smith Library ($2K). Together the top 10 received $8K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 70 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 9% to Georgia, and 5% to Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $716; repeat grants $734. How we count
Medians: $716 first-time, $482 repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2024) to $10K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Smith Library Shrewsbury, PA | General Support | $1,766 |
| Veteran's Helping Hand Inc York, PA | General Support | $949 |
| Arthritis Foundation of York Atlanta, GA | General Support | $949 |
| Pressley Ridge York, PA | General Support | $949 |
| Salem United Church of Christ Jacobus, PA | General Support | $883 |
| Salvation Army of York County York, PA | General Support | $883 |
| Alzheimers Association Chicago, IL | General Support | $482 |
| York Benevolent Assn York, PA | General Support | $482 |
| Mental Health Assn York, PA | General Support | $482 |
| New Life for Girls Dover, PA | General Support | $482 |
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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 | $105,266 | $14,675 | $19,309 | $10,235 | 14 | $11,735 | $7,155 | $11,026 |
| 2024 | $108,483 | $7,876 | $11,992 | $8,564 | 14 | $8,564 | $4,548 | $8,829 |
| 2023 | $112,595 | $10,249 | $12,276 | $9,092 | 14 | $9,092 | $7,164 | $8,568 |
| 2022 | $114,675 | $10,402 | $13,473 | $10,013 | 14 | $10,013 | $7,107 | $9,088 |
| 2021 | $122,769 | $10,549 | $12,281 | $8,727 | 14 | — | $6,966 | $10,014 |
| 2020 | $119,496 | $4,607 | $11,772 | $8,606 | 16 | — | $1,537 | $8,726 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose work, as described by the organizations themselves, includes services and emergency shelter for veterans (Veteran’s Helping Hand), women’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation (New Life for Girls), and domestic violence services and advocacy (Pennsylvania Coalition Against). Pressley Ridge describes its vision as “All Kids Thrive” and its mission as working toward success for children and families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $10,235. Grants ranged from $482 to $1,766, with a median of $482. All itemized grants listed below were for general support.
Notable grants included $1,766 to PAUL SMITH LIBRARY; $949 each to Veteran’s Helping Hand Inc, Arthritis Foundation of York, and Pressley Ridge; and $883 each to Salem United Church of Christ and Salvation Army of York County. Other listed recipients include Alzheimer’s Association, York Benevolent Assn, Mental Health Assn, New Life for Girls, Pennsylvania Coalition Against, and York Literacy Council, each receiving $482.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Manufacturers Traders Trust Co as trustee.
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's only listed officer is Manufacturers Traders Trust CO, Trustee on the 2025 filing (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Manufacturers Traders Trust CO
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$8K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: M&t (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: M&T Bank (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: M & T Trust Company (2020) — Trustee
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Manufacturers Traders Trust CO (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation
How much does Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation give each year?
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation gave $10K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9K across 14 grants.
What is Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $482, and its average grant was $731, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation that year got $716 on average.
Where does Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation give grants?
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were York, PA (8 grants).
Does Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Paul Smith Library ($1,766), Veteran's Helping Hand Inc ($949) and Arthritis Foundation of York ($949), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation?
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation reported $105K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paul L Smith Charitable 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 Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Paul L Smith Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6807863. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Paul L Smith Charitable 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
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Figures come from Paul L Smith Charitable 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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