Smiles Christian Foundation
Smiles Christian Foundation is a private foundation based in Melbourne, Florida. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation has terminated or is winding down; it therefore appears to have stopped or be stopping grantmaking.
Smiles Christian Foundation at a glance
In short: Smiles Christian Foundation gave $331K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state South Carolina. 79% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $330,923
- +2657.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +180.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,637
- +884.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 79% first-time grantees (11 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Smiles Christian 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. This policy is reported on a filing marked as the organization’s final return; it should not be treated as a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1161 Royal Fern Drive, Melbourne, FL 32940
Phone: (321) 751-0365
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smiles Christian Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Spartanburg Methodist College ($160K). Together the top 10 received $323K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 41 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina (49%), North Carolina (39%), Tennessee (4%), Texas (3%), and Florida (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Smiles Christian Foundation open to new grantees?
79%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 14 grantees (79%) 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 $15K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 7% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1770% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2023) to $331K (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $331K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg, SC | Donation | $160,000 |
| NC Wesleyan University Rocky Mount, NC | Donation | $50,000 |
| Methodist University Fayetteville, NC | Donation | $37,000 |
| Sanctuary Relief of Ukraine Franklin, NC | Donation | $21,000 |
| St Judes Memphis, TN | Donation | $12,423 |
| Billy Graham Boone, NC | Donation | $10,000 |
| Samaritans Purse Boone, NC | Donation | $10,000 |
| Mercy Ships Garden Valley, TX | Donations | $10,000 |
| New Life Mission Melbourne, FL | Donations | $7,500 |
| Tunnel to Towers Staten Island, NY | Donation | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Smiles Christian Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | — | $331,273 | $330,923 | 14 | $330,923 | — | — |
| 2023 | $2,045 | $54,896 | $12,388 | $12,000 | 5 | $12,000 | $54,896 | $11,894 |
| 2022 | $293,162 | $-38,039 | $16,856 | $15,500 | 6 | $15,500 | — | $12,805 |
| 2021 | $179,627 | $-22,077 | $20,736 | $17,700 | 8 | $17,700 | — | $14,666 |
| 2020 | $373,313 | $-16,746 | $23,999 | $22,700 | 8 | — | $7,542 | $14,952 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing identifies Spartanburg Methodist College, NC Wesleyan University, Methodist University, and Sanctuary Relief of Ukraine as direct charitable activities. Its grants also supported organizations whose missions, as described by those grantees, include higher education, international humanitarian aid, and child and family well-being.
Spartanburg Methodist College describes its mission as providing a liberal arts education, career skills, and holistic support to help students thrive and lead purposeful lives. Methodist University says it provides undergraduate and graduate education grounded in the liberal arts, nurturing moral values and ethical decision-making. Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as a Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, disasters, disease, and famine. Epworth Children’s Home describes its work as supporting child and family well-being through residential, independent living, family care, and foster care services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $330,923. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $160,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Notable 2024 grants included $160,000 to Spartanburg Methodist College, $50,000 to NC Wesleyan University, $37,000 to Methodist University, and $21,000 to Sanctuary Relief of Ukraine. Other reported grants included $12,423 to St Judes, $10,000 each to Billy Graham, Samaritan’s Purse, and Mercy Ships, and $7,500 to New Life Mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William C Suttles and Robert W Suttles as trustees.
Smiles Christian Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert W. Suttles
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William C. Suttles
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Smiles Christian Foundation
How much does Smiles Christian Foundation give each year?
Smiles Christian Foundation gave $331K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $12K across 5 grants.
What is Smiles Christian Foundation's typical grant size?
Smiles Christian Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,637, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Smiles Christian Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Smiles Christian Foundation give grants?
Smiles Christian Foundation's top state is South Carolina, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was North Carolina (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boone, NC (2 grants).
Does Smiles Christian Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Smiles Christian Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (8 grants) and "Christian Orphanage" (4 grants).
Who are Smiles Christian Foundation's largest grantees?
Smiles Christian Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Spartanburg Methodist College ($160,000), NC Wesleyan University ($50,000) and Methodist University ($37,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does Smiles Christian Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing identifies Spartanburg Methodist College, NC Wesleyan University, Methodist University, and Sanctuary Relief of Ukraine as direct charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smiles Christian 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 Smiles Christian Foundation's EIN?
Smiles Christian Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6761081. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Smiles Christian 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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Smiles Christian Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smiles Christian Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smiles Christian Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smiles-christian-foundation-morg_a7c0ac73c793450cb5cdfecb9b17849b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_206761081_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smiles Christian Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smiles-christian-foundation-morg_a7c0ac73c793450cb5cdfecb9b17849b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Smiles Christian 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.
Smiles Christian Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?