Robert H Smith Family Foundation
The Robert H Smith Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1987 in Virginia and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Based in Arlington, Virginia, the foundation was founded by Robert H. and Clarice R. Smith. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts primarily on the arts and education.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.4M
-15.2% YoY
Grant Count
16
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$464K
-15.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert H Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on:
- Arts
- Education
Grantmaking
The foundation has made significant grants to higher education institutions. A notable grant of $10 million was awarded to the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business to support continued excellence at the institution.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates from Arlington, Virginia, though its grantmaking extends beyond the local region, as evidenced by grants to national institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent available data:
- 2023 Revenue: −$2.86M
- 2023 Expenses: $7.45M
- 2023 Total Assets: $0
- 2023 Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation filed a final return for tax year 2022.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $10,315,724 | $22,691,767 |
| Revenue | $-2,864,960 | $-3,599,936 | $13,169,230 |
| Expenses | $7,450,764 | $8,776,107 | $2,872,545 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,438,332 | $8,761,866 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $10,128 | $395,971 | $372,951 |
| Distributable Amount | $288,916 | $353,232 | $596,929 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include University of Maryland College Park Foundation ($6,007,000), National Gallery of Art ($400,000), American Friends of Hebrew University ($391,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $391,000 |
| BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HOUSE FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | DONATION | $7,500 |
| CAPITAL JEWISH MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DC | DONATION | $30,000 |
| CHARLES E SMITH JEWISH DAY SCHOOL ROCKVILLE, MD | DONATION | $186,000 |
| DAVID BRUCE SMITH FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, VA | DONATION | $548 |
| DC HISTORY CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | DONATION | $20,000 |
| HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON ROCKVILLE, MD | DONATION | $100,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON NORTH BETHESDA, MD | DONATION | $100,000 |
| JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY (JSSA) ROCKVILLE, MD | DONATION | $25,000 |
| NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART LANDOVER, MD | DONATION | $400,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID B SMITH | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MENACHEM GOTTLIEB | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a $10 million gift to the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business, demonstrating continued commitment to educational excellence. The foundation has also supported the National Park Foundation's Inclusive Storytelling Program, with grant recipients announced in 2024.
$10M Gift Promises Continued Excellence for University of Maryland RobertFrequently Asked Questions
What does Robert H Smith Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on: • Arts • Education
How do I apply for a grant from Robert H Smith Family Foundation?
The foundation has made significant grants to higher education institutions. A notable grant of $10 million was awarded to the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business to support continued excellence at the institution.
Where does Robert H Smith Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates from Arlington, Virginia, though its grantmaking extends beyond the local region, as evidenced by grants to national institutions.
What size grants does Robert H Smith Family Foundation award?
In 2023, Robert H Smith Family Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $7.4M — an average of about $464K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robert H Smith Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Robert H Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robert H Smith Family Foundation's EIN?
Robert H Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1502273. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert H Smith Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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