Smith Family Foundation
The Smith Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee. It supports local nonprofits, churches, schools, and government agencies through grants intended to benefit Knox County and neighboring communities.
Smith Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Smith Family Foundation gave $177K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $176,500
- +720.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +325.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,382
- +93.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $593,239
- +13.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Smith Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Applicants should submit an application through the foundation website with the materials described above. The filing lists Reed T. Smith as the application contact.
- Contact
Application contact: Reed T Smith
Mailing address: 4909 Ball Road, Knoxville, TN 37931
Phone: (865) 694-7756
Website: https://www.sfftn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smith Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Camp Koinonia Foundation Inc ($25K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website describes the foundation’s focus as Knox County, Tennessee, and neighboring communities. The 2024 filing says applicants must be located in a Tennessee county, including (but not limited to) Knox, Anderson, Roane, Loudon, Blount, Sevier, Jefferson, Grainger, and Union. All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Smith Family Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 559% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2024) to $177K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $177K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Camp Koinonia Foundation Inc Knoxville, TN | To serve individuals with disabilities with unique, needs-based programs that enrich their lives. | $20,000 |
| Emerald Youth Foundation Knoxville, TN | To provide over 3,300 children, teens and young adults through a network of churches and faith-based organizations in the heart of knoxville. | $20,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House of Knoxville TN Inc Knoxville, TN | To serve as a home-away-from-home for families who need to travel to knoxville seeking medicial treatment for their seriously ill or injured child. They may stay with us for as long as their child is being treated, all at no charge to them. We hope to renovate two outdoor play areas and if funds allow, to update the interior playroom as well since these areas have received no upgrades for close to 20 years. | $20,000 |
| Wesley House Community Center Knoxville, TN | To create a supportive and empowering environment where individuals of all ages can access the resources they need to succeed. Wesley house offers a variety of programs that focus on youth development, senior engagement, and family support, ensuring that everyone in our community has the opportunity to live a healthier, more stable life. | $20,000 |
| St Mary's Legacy Clinic Inc Knoxville, TN | To assist with the urgent healthcare and relief efforts in Tennessee. | $15,000 |
| Knoxville Family Justus Center Knoxville, TN | Support: one safe placea community-focused social services center in west knoxville | $15,000 |
| St Mary's Legacy Clinic Inc Knoxville, TN | To assist with the urgent healthcare and relief efforts in Tennessee. | $10,000 |
| A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee Maryville, TN | To continue the mission is to protect the most defenseless among us, newborn infants, by educating and informing women and communities of safe, secret options under the safe haven law. Our goal is to save lives by increasing the safe surrender and eliminating the unsafe abandonment of newborns in every community of our state. | $10,000 |
| Girls Inc - TN Valley Oak Ridge, TN | Our mission at girls incorporated of Tennessee valley(GITNV) is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. | $10,000 |
| Helen Ross McNabb Foundation Knoxville, TN | Elevate recovery high school is the only recovery school in the state of Tennessee and provides Knox county high school students a sober, safe learning environment while on the path to recovery. | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Smith Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $593,239 | $252,388 | $184,450 | $176,500 | 17 | $176,500 | $31,550 |
| 2024 | $522,656 | $550,686 | $28,030 | $21,500 | 4 | $21,500 | $24,814 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K 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
The foundation’s website says its mission is to fund initiatives that bring meaningful change and a brighter future to its community. Its stated funding interests span a wide range of projects.
Its grants include support for organizations addressing disability services, youth programs, healthcare, family support, behavioral health and recovery, girls’ development, and athletics. These examples reflect grantees’ work, not separate mission statements from the foundation. For example, Emerald Youth Foundation describes its work as serving urban youth through faith, education, and sports programs; Helen Ross McNabb Foundation says it administers funds for the Helen Ross McNabb Center, its facilities, and programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $176,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $20,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $20,000 each to Camp Koinonia Foundation, Emerald Youth Foundation, Ronald McDonald House of Knoxville, and Wesley House Community Center. Other listed awards included $15,000 each to St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic and Knoxville Family Justice Center, and $10,000 each to A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Girls Inc. – TN Valley, and Helen Ross McNabb Foundation.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its application instructions call for submission through the foundation website and require an organization’s IRS determination letter and information about its mission, programs, beneficiaries, geographic focus, funding sources, and funding needs. The website says it does not consider requests for debt retirement, deficit funding, travel or conferences, political lobbying, or individuals. The filing also excludes projects that are the funding responsibility of federal, state, or local government, and says recipients receiving more than $50,000 must submit an annual report.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Reed T. Smith as president; Joshua B. Sanderson as secretary; Cody T. Smith as treasurer; and Mary Ann Smith, Traci K. Smith, Beverly K. Smith, Jesse H. Smith, Sean H. Sanderson, and Kennedy A. Smith as directors.
Smith Family Foundation is led by Reed T. Smith, President on every filing since 2024; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Reed T. Smith
President
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Beverly K. Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Jesse H. Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Kennedy A. Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Mary Ann Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Sean H. Sanderson
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Traci K. Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Cody T. Smith
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Joshua B. Sanderson
Secretary
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2024–2025. "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 Smith Family Foundation
How much does Smith Family Foundation give each year?
Smith Family Foundation gave $177K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22K across 4 grants.
What is Smith Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Smith Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,382, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Smith Family Foundation give grants?
Smith Family Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Knoxville, TN (15 grants).
Does Smith Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Smith Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Smith Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Smith Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Camp Koinonia Foundation Inc ($25,000 across 2 grants), St Mary's Legacy Clinic Inc ($25,000 across 2 grants) and Emerald Youth Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smith Family Foundation?
Smith Family Foundation reported $593K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $177K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Smith Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says its mission is to fund initiatives that bring meaningful change and a brighter future to its community. Its stated funding interests span a wide range of projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smith Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Smith Family Foundation's EIN?
Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4090190. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2024–2025.
Does Smith Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2024–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smith Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smith Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smith-family-foundation-morg_7abc50220faf49acbe603e0c4fbe4240
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204090190_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smith Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smith-family-foundation-morg_7abc50220faf49acbe603e0c4fbe4240},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Smith Family 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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