Smokies Life
The Smokies Life supports the perpetual preservation of the great smoky mountains national park and the national park system by promoting greater public understanding and appreciation through education, interpretation, and research.
Smokies Life at a glance
In short: Smokies Life gave $1.6M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $1.6M), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,634,054
- +10.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,634,054
- +10.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,634,054
- Total assets
- $14,175,023
- +1.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Smokies Life funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Great Smoky Mountains National Park ($1.6M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Smokies Life gives
- Giving grew 148% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $659K (2021) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park Gatlinburg, TN | To support the many educational, scientific, and interpretive programs of the national park. | $1,634,054 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,175,023 | $8,804,233 | $9,327,896 | $1,634,054 | 1 | $577,389 |
| 2023 | $13,964,030 | $9,846,297 | $7,881,616 | $1,473,470 | 1 | $327,045 |
| 2022 | $11,534,645 | $8,245,646 | $7,056,073 | $1,275,221 | 1 | $120,956 |
| 2021 | $10,410,506 | $8,681,942 | $5,300,481 | $659,346 | 1 | $50,323 |
| 2020 | $7,676,104 | $5,065,895 | $5,143,780 | $835,575 | 1 | $46,295 |
| 2019 | $7,041,613 | $6,862,770 | $5,290,017 | $723,813 | 1 | $76,332 |
About Smokies Life
Based on IRS filings
Smokies Life is a public charity, based in Gatlinburg, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $14.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.6M. Net investment income was $577K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Smokies Life is led by Laurel Rematore, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2019; 3 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Laurel Rematore
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$112K (2019) → $160K (2024)
Jacqueline Harp
Chief Executive Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$38K (2024)
Geoff Cantrell
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed McAlister
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Deweese
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch Crisp
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Railsback
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet McCue
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Jones
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie McNair
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Royce Pevy
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leah Larocco
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Hines
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zak Lancaster
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$100K (2024)
Jan Houston-Hickman
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Davis
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Thompson
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Dan Pierce (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Gaynell Lawson (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jamie Ballinger (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Tom Taylor (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Turner (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Kelly Leonard (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ronald Storto (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ellis S. Bacon (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Katie Kerr (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Herb Handly (2019) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $160K, to Laurel Rematore (Chief Executive Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Smokies Life
How much does Smokies Life give each year?
Smokies Life gave $1.6M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 1 grant.
How large is Smokies Life?
Smokies Life reported $14.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.8M.
Where does Smokies Life operate?
Smokies Life has awarded grants in Tennessee.
What is Smokies Life's EIN?
Smokies Life's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-0576032. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Smokies Life'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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