Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation logo

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Newton, MA EIN: 23-7090011 Website
Children and youthAdolescentsAdultsYoung adultsEconomically disadvantaged people

The Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Newton, Massachusetts. Its stated mission is to effect permanent positive change in the lives of individuals and families across Greater Boston, especially in economically disadvantaged communities. It invests in organizations that improve human health, raise educational attainment, increase economic security, and meet community needs.

Key facts about Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

In short: Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation gave $15.6M across 137 grants in 2025 (avg $114K), mostly in Massachusetts. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
23-7090011
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$15,577,783
Grants made (2025)
137
Average grant
$113,706
Median grant
$35,606
New grantees (estimate)
36% first-time grantees (35 of 97, 2025)
Total assets
$302,919,250
Primary geography
Massachusetts (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
For Small Capital Grants, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a 15-minute call with Faouzi Talabi before applying. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$302.9M

+2.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$15.6M

-14.6% YoY

Grant Count

137

-8.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$114K

-7.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation open to new grantees?

36%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 35 of 97 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $59K; repeat grants $218K. How we count

Medians: $13K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation describes its work as engaged, multigenerational family philanthropy. Its Small Capital Grants program supports tax-exempt nonprofits in Greater Boston and Gateway Cities with one-time capital expenses, prioritizing organizations with operating budgets under $3 million and focusing on human services and community development.

Its 2025 grants included support for health, medical research, education, youth development, human services, Jewish causes, and cultural vitality. The grantees describe their own work in varied ways: Boston Medical Center says its mission is to provide excellent, accessible health services regardless of a patient’s status or ability to pay; More Than Words says it empowers youth facing challenges such as foster care, homelessness, or being out of school through business ownership; and the Esplanade Association says it works to enhance the Charles River Esplanade, preserve green space, and provide educational, cultural, and recreational programs. Combined Jewish Philanthropies describes work to sustain and enrich Jewish life in Greater Boston and coordinate Jewish communal services.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 137 grants totaling $15,577,783. The grants ranged from $100 to $1,500,000, with a median of $35,606. Notable awards included $1,500,000 each to Boston Medical Center and Combined Jewish Philanthropies; $1,000,000 to the Esplanade Association; $800,000 to YMCA Cape Cod; and $730,000 to the University of Massachusetts Boston.

The foundation’s Small Capital Grants program is listed as active, with awards of $25,000 to $100,000 for eligible nonprofits. The program description strongly encourages potential applicants to sign up for a 15-minute call with Faouzi Talabi before applying.

How to Apply

For Small Capital Grants, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a 15-minute call with Faouzi Talabi before applying. The available program information does not specify application materials or a deadline.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Small Capital Grants program serves tax-exempt nonprofits in Greater Boston and Gateway Cities. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts; the listed shares for Connecticut and California were 1% each, and those for New York and Rhode Island were 0% each.

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 137 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonCambridgeBrooklineLowellNeedhamNewtonDorchesterWorcesterNew HavenBelmontNew YorkWalthamMiltonProvidenceRoxburyWestonMedfordArlingtonJamaica PlainWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M125 grants2021 162 grants2022 178 grants2023 149 grants2024 137 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14.8M (2021) to $18.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 137 grants totaling $15.6M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Boston Medical Center: $1.6M across 3 grantsBoston Medical Center$1.6M · 3 grantsCombined Jewish Philanthropies: $1.5M across 3 grantsCombined Jewish Philanthropies$1.5M · 3 grantsHarvard College President and Fellows of: $1.5M across 10 grantsHarvard College President andFellows of$1.5M · 10 grantsEsplanade Association: $1.0MEsplanade Association$1.0MYMCA Cape Cod: $800KYMCA Cape Cod$800KBoston University: $733K across 4 grantsBoston University$733K · 4 grantsUniversity of Massachusetts Boston: $730KUniversity of MassachusettsBoston$730KBrigham and Women's Hospital: $525K across 2 grantsBrigham and Women's Hospital$525K · 2 grantsBoston Children's Hospital: $510K across 4 grantsBoston Children's Hospital$510K · 4 grantsMore Than Words: $500KMore Than Words$500K

The largest 2025 recipient was Boston Medical Center ($1.6M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $9.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

751 grants across all recorded years

406<$50K67$50–100K200$100–250K46$250–500K21$500K–1M11$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 406 grants of 751 (54%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Boston Medical Center Boston, MAHEALTH$1,500,000
Combined Jewish Philanthropies Boston, MAJewish Causes$1,500,000
Esplanade Association Boston, MACultural Vitality$1,000,000
YMCA Cape Cod West Barnstable, MAHuman Services$800,000
University of Massachusetts Boston Boston, MAEducation$730,000
Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MAHEALTH$500,000
More Than Words Waltham, MAYouth Development$500,000
Health Resources in Action Boston, MAMedical Research$373,158
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology Boston, MAEducation$250,000
Boston Children's Hospital Boston, MAHEALTH$250,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grants reported Grant count
2025 $15,577,783 137
2024 $18,236,150 149
2023 $18,325,319 178

Filing type: 990T.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$25M$50M$75M$100M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$302,919,250$296,058,142$318,152,176
Revenue$28,349,721$5,681,852$30,619,653
Expenses$23,886,671$26,492,706$29,401,503
Qualifying Distributions$18,012,938$20,435,658$20,487,965
Net Investment Income$15,561,516—$18,620,861
Distributable Amount$19,017,619$18,199,550$20,343,394

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 14, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 6, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 10, 2025)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Amy S. Berylson, Debra S. Knez, Robert A. Smith, Dana W. Smith, Jennifer Block, Jonathan Block, Jessica Knez Dulac, and Andrew Knez as trustees. Lynne Doblin is listed as executive director, and Marjorie Ringrose as director of education.

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation is led by Lynne Doblin, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 4 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lynne Doblin

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $356K (2021) → $433K (2025)

  • Marjorie Ringrose

    Director of Education

    Senior Program Officer → Director of Education, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $192K (2021) → $240K (2025)

  • Shanna Shulman

    Director Health & Medical Research

    Senior Program Officer → Director Health & Medical Research, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $204K (2021) → $245K (2025)

  • Amy S. Berylson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Knez

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana W. Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Debra S. Knez

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Berylson Katz

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Berylson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Block

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jonathan Block

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Krista Knez

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Madeleine Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert A. Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Katz

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ryan Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jackson Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jessica Knez Dulac

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nicolas Dulac

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Halle Kendall Smith

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy Hampe

    Senior Program Officer

    Program Officer → Senior Program Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $112K (2021) → $168K (2025)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Jessica Knez (2021–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: John G. Berylson (2021–2023) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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

Lynne Doblin — Executive Director: $433KLynne DoblinExecutive Director$433KShanna Shulman — Director Health and Medical Research: $245KShanna ShulmanDirector Health and Medical…$245KMarjorie Ringrose — Director of Education: $240KMarjorie RingroseDirector of Education$240KAmy Hampe — Senior Program Officer: $168KAmy HampeSenior Program Officer$168K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $433K, to Lynne Doblin (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: One Newton Executive Park 104, Newton, MA 02462
Phone: (857) 404-0700

Frequently asked questions about Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation

How much does Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation give each year?

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation gave $15.6M across 137 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $18.2M across 149 grants.

What is Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $35,606, and its average grant was $113,706, across 137 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation that year got $59K on average.

Where does Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation give grants?

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (55 grants), Cambridge, MA (15 grants), Worcester, MA (5 grants) and Needham, MA (5 grants).

Does Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 137 grants with a stated purpose on Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (39 grants), "Medical Research" (31 grants) and "Human Services" (18 grants).

Who are Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boston Medical Center ($1,550,000 across 3 grants), Combined Jewish Philanthropies ($1,510,900 across 3 grants) and Harvard College President and Fellows of ($1,506,000 across 10 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation?

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation reported $302.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation fund?

The foundation describes its work as engaged, multigenerational family philanthropy. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation?

For Small Capital Grants, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a 15-minute call with Faouzi Talabi before applying. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's EIN?

Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7090011. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

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

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