The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $188K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $20K. Net investment income was $13K.
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation gave $20K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $187,727
- -4.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Castro Valley Unified School District ($20K).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation gives
- Giving fell 67% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 183% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2020) to $60K (2022). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Castro Valley Unified School District Castro Valley, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
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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 | $187,727 | $14,657 | $23,155 | $20,000 | 1 | $21,875 | $13,377 | $11,966 |
| 2024 | $196,225 | $25,263 | $22,917 | $20,000 | 1 | $21,775 | $4,319 | $11,320 |
| 2023 | $193,877 | $22,785 | $22,857 | $20,000 | 1 | $21,775 | $3,397 | $9,761 |
| 2022 | $193,949 | $9,329 | $62,889 | $60,000 | 2 | $61,775 | $1,064 | $10,168 |
| 2021 | $247,509 | $16,638 | $64,150 | $55,000 | 2 | $62,996 | $15,619 | $14,805 |
| 2020 | $294,998 | $11,671 | $18,976 | $15,000 | 1 | — | $7,641 | $14,819 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chere Villines
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erma Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Smith Cole
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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 The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation
How much does The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation give each year?
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation gave $20K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 1 grant.
How large is The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation?
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation reported $188K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $22K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation operate?
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation has awarded grants in California.
What is The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation's EIN?
The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3641366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Erma and Owen Smith Foundation funds
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