Smile Train Inc
Smile Train Inc is a public charity (Form 990) based in New York, NY. Its primary purpose, as stated in its filing, is to provide people born with clefts the same opportunities in life as those born without clefts. The organization supports free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care through local healthcare partners, as well as education and training for cleft-care professionals.
Smile Train Inc at a glance
In short: Smile Train Inc gave $1.8M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $163K), top state Pennsylvania. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,788,851
- -14.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -42.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $162,623
- +48.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $46,701
- Total assets
- $423,870,929
- +10.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Smile Train Inc
- How to Apply
-
Smile Train’s application materials say organizations must be invited to apply, and its funding resources state that not all organizations are eligible for every clinical area. Prospective applicants should reach out to their local Smile Train contact before completing documentation to confirm eligibility. Invited applicants use Smile Train’s online portal; application forms vary by application type.
- Contact
Mailing address: 633 Third Avenue 9Th Fl, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 689-9199
Website: https://smiletrain.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Smile Train Inc
Who Smile Train Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Be Team International Inc ($587K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 58 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Smile Train’s funding principles identify low- and middle-income countries with the highest incidence of clefts as a focus for its cleft-care programs. Its website reports work in more than 95 countries. The 2025 filing’s largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (33%), New York (30%), and Virginia (22%).
The College Scholarship Program is described as serving cleft-affected American high school seniors in the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Smile Train Inc open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $176K. How we count
Medians: $27K first-time, $56K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2019) to $3.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Be Team International Inc Harrisburg, PA | Cleft Surgeries and Comprehensive Cleft Care | $586,500 |
| Lifebox Foundation Inc Brooklyn, NY | Education/Training and Equipment | $542,953 |
| Ghayour Charitable Foundation (FBM Lazer Estetik Plastik Cerrahi Klinigi Sa Falls Church, VA | Comprehensive Cleft Care and Education/Training | $375,550 |
| Aproquen Inc Miami, FL | Cleft Surgeries, Comprehensive Cleft Care, and Education/Training | $65,585 |
| American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Assoc Chapel Hill, NC | Education/Training | $64,852 |
| Seattle Children's Hospital DBA Seattle Children's Research Seattle, WA | Education/Training | $46,701 |
| Plastic Surgery Foundation Norwood, MA | Education/Training | $40,360 |
| The American Society of Plastic Surgeons Arlington Heights, IL | Education/Training | $26,750 |
| International Association for Dental Research Alexandria, VA | Comprehensive Cleft Care | $17,000 |
| Clear Global Inc (Translators Without Borders) Garden City, ID | Comprehensive Cleft Care and Education/Training | $15,600 |
Ready to take the next step with Smile Train Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $423,870,929 | $121,687,237 | $97,518,703 | $1,788,851 | 11 | $18,071,766 |
| 2024 | $384,154,596 | $99,619,387 | $108,766,380 | $2,080,469 | 19 | $16,032,394 |
| 2023 | $374,570,132 | $99,402,851 | $116,010,503 | $1,362,943 | 10 | $10,190,133 |
| 2022 | $375,482,848 | $119,364,316 | $113,975,222 | $3,619,896 | 10 | $26,132,742 |
| 2021 | $431,829,319 | $113,091,064 | $94,637,818 | $1,179,434 | 8 | $21,342,892 |
| 2020 | $367,014,519 | $98,260,551 | $81,685,168 | $105,100 | 4 | $6,060,572 |
| 2019 | $342,781,080 | $96,732,484 | $77,024,190 | $72,000 | 4 | $16,534,533 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Smile Train’s stated mission is to provide people born with clefts the same opportunities in life as those born without clefts. Its funding principles focus on cleft lip and palate programs, free treatment for patients in need, local capacity, and safety and quality.
Its website describes support for cleft surgery and other essential care, including nutrition, speech therapy, dental and orthodontic treatment, equipment and supplies, patient logistics, outreach, and awareness. Education and training support may cover surgery, anesthesia, nursing, comprehensive cleft care, speech therapy, nutrition and feeding, and oral health and dental care.
The organization’s 2025 grants went to a range of healthcare, training, and related organizations. For example, BE TEAM INTERNATIONAL INC describes its mission as working with partners in Afghanistan to improve healthcare resources, service delivery, and training capacity. Lifebox Foundation Inc says its mission is to improve healthcare safety in low- and middle-income countries. APROQUEN INC describes its mission as supporting children vulnerable to or suffering from burns and/or cleft lip and palate throughout Latin America.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Smile Train reported 11 grants totaling $1,788,851. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $586,500, with a median of $46,701.
The largest reported grants included $586,500 to BE TEAM INTERNATIONAL INC for cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care; $542,953 to Lifebox Foundation Inc for education, training, and equipment; and $375,550 to GHAYOUR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION for comprehensive cleft care and education and training. Other grants included $65,585 to APROQUEN INC for cleft surgeries, comprehensive cleft care, and education and training; $64,852 to the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association for education and training; and $46,701 to Seattle Children’s Hospital for education and training.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susannah Schaefer as President/CEO/Executive Vice Chair and Roy E Reichbach as Chairperson. Arthur J McCarthy is listed as Treasurer. Board members listed are Richard Ruderman, Mathias Kiwanuka, Paula Shugart, Crystle Stewart, Jennifer Jacobs, Michael H Goldberg, and Tim Alavathil.
Smile Train Inc is led by Susannah Schaefer, President, CEO & Executive Vice Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 10 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susannah Schaefer
President, CEO & Executive Vice Chair
Executive Vice Chair & CEO → President & CEO, 2021
President & CEO → President, CEO & Executive Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$431K (2019) → $538K (2025)
Roy E. Reichbach
Chairperson
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Ochs
COO, Secretary & General Counsel
COO, General Counsel & Secretary → COO & General Counsel, 2023
COO & General Counsel → COO, Secretary & General Counsel, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$165K (2019) → $315K (2025)
Elyse Taub
Chief Development Officer
Vice President & Marketing → Senior Vice President, Development & Marketing, 2020
Senior Vice President, Development & Marketing → Chief Development Officer, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$166K (2019) → $277K (2025)
Erin Stieber
Chief Programs Strategy Officer
Senior Vice President & Programs → Chief Programs Officer, 2022
Chief Programs Officer → Chief Programs Strategy Officer, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$171K (2019) → $260K (2025)
Troy Reinhart
Senior Vice President, Comty. & Ambassador Development
Senior Vice President & Development → Senior Vice President, Comty. & Ambassador Development, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$213K (2019) → $244K (2025)
Philip Carroll
Senior Vice President & Communications
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$211K (2023) → $239K (2025)
Vivian Lewis
Vice President & Human Resources
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$193K (2023) → $217K (2025)
Premali Shah
CFO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$41K (2024) → $293K (2025)
R. James Madigan
In-House Counsel
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$194K (2024) → $203K (2025)
Wendell Thomas
Vice President, Information Systems & Tech.
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$194K (2024) → $202K (2025)
Arthur J. McCarthy
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Ruderman
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mathias Kiwanuka
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystle Stewart
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Shugart
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Jacobs
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael H. Goldberg
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Alavathil
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Beatriz Gonzalez (2019–2024) — Former CFO
- Former: Ed Goren (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Robert T. Bell (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Shell Xue (2019–2023) — Senior Vice President & Regional Director N.a. · Filing note: Thru 062022
- Former: William Horan (2019–2023) — Former Chief Operating Officer · Filing note: Thru 032022
- Former: Melanie Buhrmaster (2022–2023) — Vice President & Development
- Former: Shannon Lambert (2022) — Vice President & Regional Director
- Former: Shari Levine (2022) — Vice President & Brand Marketing
- Former: Charles B Wang (2019) — Founder & Chair
- Former: Michael Dowling (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Mohamed Fakhreldin (2019) — Chief Programs Officer · Filing note: Thru 618
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $538K, to Susannah Schaefer (President/CEO/Exec Vice Chair). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Smile Train Inc
How much does Smile Train Inc give each year?
Smile Train Inc gave $1.8M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 19 grants.
What is Smile Train Inc's typical grant size?
Smile Train Inc's median grant in 2025 was $46,701, and its average grant was $162,623, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Smile Train Inc that year got $27K on average.
Where does Smile Train Inc give grants?
Smile Train Inc's top state is Pennsylvania, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (30%) and Virginia (22%).
Does Smile Train Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Smile Train Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education/Training" (4 grants).
Who are Smile Train Inc's largest grantees?
Smile Train Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Be Team International Inc ($586,500), Lifebox Foundation Inc ($542,953) and Ghayour Charitable Foundation (FBM Lazer Estetik Plastik Cerrahi Klinigi Sa ($375,550), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smile Train Inc?
Smile Train Inc reported $423.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $121.7M.
What does Smile Train Inc fund?
Smile Train’s stated mission is to provide people born with clefts the same opportunities in life as those born without clefts. Its funding principles focus on cleft lip and palate programs, free treatment for patients in need, local capacity, and safety and quality. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smile Train Inc?
Smile Train’s application materials say organizations must be invited to apply, and its funding resources state that not all organizations are eligible for every clinical area. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Smile Train Inc's EIN?
Smile Train Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3661416. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 9, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smile Train Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smile Train Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smile-train-inc-morg_916bb007e07d4381a55d30976fe42b27
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133661416_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smile Train Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smile-train-inc-morg_916bb007e07d4381a55d30976fe42b27},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Smile Train Inc'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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