Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith is a private foundation based in Palo Alto, California. In 2024, it reported 48 grants totaling $61,090 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in community services, health, education, arts and museums, and global and human rights.
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith at a glance
In short: Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith gave $61K across 48 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $61,090
- +13.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 48
- +11.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,273
- +1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $675,947
- +0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (6 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (58% 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 Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 620 Sand Hill Road 206C, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: (650) 888-3611
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Independent Foundation ($8K). Together the top 10 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 246 grants of 246 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California organizations received 58% of grant dollars, followed by organizations in Washington, DC (25%), New York (7%), Minnesota (5%), and Oregon (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 47 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 142% 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 $46K (2021) to $61K (2024). In 2024 it made 48 grants totaling $61K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Independent Foundation Washington, DC | Community | $7,500 |
| Colorectal Cancer Alliance Washington, DC | Health | $5,100 |
| Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Jose, CA | Health | $5,000 |
| East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring Palo Alto, CA | Education | $3,000 |
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MN | Global/Human Rights | $3,000 |
| Computer History Museum Mountain View, CA | Arts, Museums | $2,500 |
| Edwards Center Aloha, OR | Community | $2,500 |
| The Voter Participation Center Washington, DC | Community | $2,500 |
| Redeemer Lutheran School Redwood City, CA | Education | $2,044 |
| Youth On Course Monterey, CA | Community | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $675,947 | $85,718 | $81,618 | $61,090 | 48 | $62,415 | $79,276 | $44,107 |
| 2023 | $673,016 | $63,071 | $72,758 | $54,069 | 43 | $66,752 | $57,065 | $42,931 |
| 2022 | $682,703 | $23,067 | $71,324 | $48,400 | 44 | $48,400 | $14,582 | $47,512 |
| 2021 | $730,476 | $75,484 | $66,236 | $45,832 | 51 | $51,378 | $63,215 | $49,448 |
| 2020 | $1,048,477 | $24,450 | $70,183 | $52,450 | 60 | — | $43,402 | $47,076 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 grants show support for organizations in several areas. For example, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance describes its mission as ending colon and rectal cancer through prevention, research, and support for patients and families. East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring received a grant designated for education, while the Computer History Museum received one designated for arts and museums.
Other grantees describe work in areas including services for people with developmental disabilities: Edwards Center says it supports individuals through training, education, employment, housing, and social opportunities. The Voter Participation Center says it works to increase civic engagement among under-represented communities. Ambition Angels describes its work as equipping underserved teens with skills for school, careers, and life.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 48 grants totaling $61,090. Grants ranged from $100 to $7,500, with a median grant of $1,000. Among the largest were $7,500 to American Independent Foundation for community purposes; $5,100 to Colorectal Cancer Alliance for health; $5,000 to Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired for health; and $3,000 each to East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring for education and the International Rescue Committee for global and human rights.
Other listed grants included $2,500 each to Computer History Museum, Edwards Center, and The Voter Participation Center, and $2,000 to Youth On Course. Ecumenical Hunger Program, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, First Graduate, and Ambition Angels each received $1,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stephen S Smith as president and Paula K Smith as secretary. Edward V Pollack and Marcia H Pollack are listed as directors.
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith is led by Stephen S Smith, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephen S Smith
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward V Pollack
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia H Pollack
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula K Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $10K, to Paula K Smith (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith
How much does Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith give each year?
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith gave $61K across 48 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $54K across 43 grants.
What is Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's typical grant size?
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,273, across 48 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith that year got $3K on average.
Where does Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith give grants?
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith gives mostly in California: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (25%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Palo Alto, CA (11 grants), San Francisco, CA (6 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (16 grants), "Education" (11 grants) and "Health" (10 grants).
Who are Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's largest grantees?
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's largest 2024 grantees include American Independent Foundation ($7,500), Colorectal Cancer Alliance ($5,100) and Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith?
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith reported $676K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $62K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations in several areas. For example, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance describes its mission as ending colon and rectal cancer through prevention, research, and support for patients and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith?
The foundation 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 Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's EIN?
Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0524641. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stephen-s-smith-and-paula-k-smith-morg_806cfce428be44d19e7d7ffd22087523
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770524641_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stephen-s-smith-and-paula-k-smith-morg_806cfce428be44d19e7d7ffd22087523},
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 Stephen S Smith and Paula K Smith'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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