Smith Vicars Family Foundation
The Smith Vicars Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Its mission is to invest in innovative initiatives that benefit communities, with a special focus on Central and Southwest Virginia.
Smith Vicars Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Smith Vicars Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $79K), mostly in Virginia. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,104,500
- +84.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $78,893
- +177.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $45,000
- Total assets
- $403,566
- -13.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (77% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Smith Vicars Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Applicants must be invited to apply; once invited, they complete an application process to present innovative initiatives aligned with the foundation’s funding and geographic priorities.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Boars Head Pointe Suite 150, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 972-7700
Website: https://www.smithvicarsfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smith Vicars Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Foundation for Recovery ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 82 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission gives special focus to Central and Southwest Virginia. In filing year 2025, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 23% to recipients in Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Smith Vicars Family Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) 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 $96K; repeat grants $72K. How we count
Medians: $64K first-time, $45K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $254K (2020) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation for Recovery Las Vegas, NV | Operational Support | $250,000 |
| University of Virginia Alumni Association Charlottesville, VA | Fund for Free Expression and Diversity | $250,000 |
| The Blue Ridge Center Charlottesville, VA | Operational Support | $150,000 |
| Virginia Athletics Foundation Charlottesville, VA | Operational Support | $110,000 |
| Camp Holiday Trails Charlottesville, VA | 2025 camper financial aid, campership fund, and med korner capital campaign | $102,500 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College Educational Foundation Charlottesville, VA | Supplemental Instruction Program | $100,000 |
| Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Verona, VA | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville Charlottesville, VA | Critical Home Repairs | $40,000 |
| Feeding Southwest Virginia Salem, VA | Operational Support | $25,000 |
| The Paramount Theater Charlottesville, VA | Operational Support | $9,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $403,566 | $1,173,660 | $1,235,610 | $1,104,500 | 14 | $1,234,405 | $23,012 | $28,803 |
| 2024 | $465,516 | $541,302 | $606,502 | $598,000 | 21 | $605,279 | $40,094 | $39,202 |
| 2023 | $530,716 | $1,051,064 | $538,938 | $535,200 | 16 | $538,911 | $1,064 | $4,372 |
| 2022 | $18,590 | $901,954 | $907,870 | $899,400 | 19 | $907,869 | $1,954 | $8,507 |
| 2020 | $29,291 | $255,398 | $257,305 | $254,000 | 12 | — | $398 | $2,532 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Smith Vicars Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $29K 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 identifies six funding priorities: providing access to the arts; meeting health and human resource needs; enhancing education and life skills; preserving history; embracing civic engagement and discourse; and addressing other critical issues in communities.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as recovery, children’s medical needs, food assistance, education, housing repairs, journalism, and the arts. For example, Foundation for Recovery describes its work as promoting recovery from addiction and behavioral health disorders and supporting individuals and families affected by addiction. Camp Holiday Trails says it creates a community that empowers children and teens with medical needs to thrive. Blue Ridge Area Food Bank describes distributing food to people in need through a network of providers and community programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $1,104,500. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $250,000, with a median of $45,000.
Among its largest reported grants were $250,000 to Foundation for Recovery for operational support; $250,000 to the University of Virginia Alumni Association for the Fund for Free Expression and Diversity; $150,000 to The Blue Ridge Center for operational support; and $110,000 to Virginia Athletics Foundation for operational support. Other reported grants included $102,500 to Camp Holiday Trails for camper financial aid, its campership fund, and the Med Korner capital campaign; $100,000 to Piedmont Virginia Community College Educational Foundation for its Supplemental Instruction Program; and $50,000 to Blue Ridge Area Food Bank for operational support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Hunter J. Smith as Chair and Director; Stuart P. Smith as President and Director; Randolph H. Huffman as Treasurer and Director; Jill J. Whitley as Secretary and Assistant Treasurer; and Bruce E. Gibson as Assistant Secretary.
Smith Vicars Family Foundation is led by Stuart P. Smith, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stuart P. Smith
President & Director
Secretary → President, 2022
President → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hunter J. Smith
Chair & Director
President → Chair, 2022
Chair → Chair & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randolph H. Huffman
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer & CFO → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill J. Whitley
Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer & Assistant Secretary → Secretary & Assistant Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce E. Gibson
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Vicars Family Foundation
How much does Smith Vicars Family Foundation give each year?
Smith Vicars Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $598K across 21 grants.
What is Smith Vicars Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Smith Vicars Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $45,000, and its average grant was $78,893, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Smith Vicars Family Foundation that year got $96K on average.
Where does Smith Vicars Family Foundation give grants?
Smith Vicars Family Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nevada (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlottesville, VA (8 grants).
Does Smith Vicars Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Smith Vicars Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Smith Vicars Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Smith Vicars Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Foundation for Recovery ($250,000), University of Virginia Alumni Association ($250,000) and The Blue Ridge Center ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smith Vicars Family Foundation?
Smith Vicars Family Foundation reported $404K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $29K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Smith Vicars Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website identifies six funding priorities: providing access to the arts; meeting health and human resource needs; enhancing education and life skills; preserving history; embracing civic engagement and discourse; and addressing other critical issues in communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smith Vicars Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Smith Vicars Family Foundation's EIN?
Smith Vicars Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1607153. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Smith Vicars Family 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Smith Vicars Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smith Vicars Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smith-vicars-family-foundation-morg_4d473165ce084806be013e7d521ccef7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261607153_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smith Vicars Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smith-vicars-family-foundation-morg_4d473165ce084806be013e7d521ccef7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Vicars 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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