The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Mishawaka, Indiana. It makes contributions to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities, and its 2024 filing says it gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation gave $3.2M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $84K), mostly in Indiana. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,178,792
- +107.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +22.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $83,652
- +69.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $51,949,068
- +18.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (7 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (99% 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 The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4215 Edison Lakes Pkwy Ste 325, Mishawaka, IN 46545
Phone: (574) 271-5145
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Career Academy ($1.3M). Together the top 10 received $3.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
168 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 168 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana. The reported shares for recipients in Washington, D.C., Florida, Michigan, and Virginia were 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 38 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $100K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 139% 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 $1.3M (2020) to $3.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Career Academy South Bend, IN | General Charitable Gift | $1,329,142 |
| Rise Mishawaka, IN | General Charitable Gift | $546,500 |
| Ivy Tech Fdn South Bend, IN | General Charitable Gift | $273,500 |
| Garatoni Smith Scholarship Mishawaka, IN | General Charitable Gift | $251,500 |
| Cultivate Culinary South Bend, IN | General Charitable Gift | $230,000 |
| Annual Bishop Appeal Fort Wayne, IN | General Charitable Gift | $100,000 |
| South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership Foundation South Bend, IN | General Charitable Gift | $100,000 |
| WBL Hub Corp Mishawaka, IN | General Gift | $54,300 |
| St Pius Church Granger, IN | General Charitable Gift | $50,000 |
| Queen of Peace Mishawaka, IN | General Charitable Gift | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation?
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 | $51,949,068 | $12,408,483 | $3,475,264 | $3,178,792 | 38 | $3,178,792 | $1,408,744 | $2,283,255 |
| 2023 | $43,977,223 | $1,549,558 | $1,889,597 | $1,529,690 | 31 | $1,529,690 | $1,206,473 | $2,197,475 |
| 2022 | $48,452,253 | $1,280,940 | $1,525,586 | $1,355,070 | 39 | $1,355,070 | $1,123,744 | $2,323,436 |
| 2021 | $46,534,810 | $581,035 | $3,990,729 | $3,888,348 | 32 | $3,888,348 | $490,955 | $2,279,350 |
| 2020 | $46,309,408 | $1,343,685 | $1,600,038 | $1,336,173 | 28 | — | $1,187,892 | $2,419,016 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose work, as described by those organizations, includes education, regional economic development, homelessness services, food assistance, and religious activities. For example, the South Bend–Elkhart Regional Partnership Foundation describes its work as advancing the region’s economy, while the Food Bank of Northern Indiana says it works with the community to feed people experiencing hunger.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $3,178,792. Awards ranged from $100 to $1,329,142, with a median grant of $10,000. Its largest grants included $1,329,142 to Career Academy, $546,500 to RISE, $273,500 to Ivy Tech Foundation, $251,500 to Garatoni Smith Scholarship, and $230,000 to Cultivate Culinary. Each was listed with a general charitable gift purpose.
Other 2024 recipients included the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership Foundation ($100,000), the Center for the Homeless ($15,000), and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana ($15,000). The Center for the Homeless describes its work as providing emergency and transitional housing; the Food Bank describes its mission as feeding people experiencing hunger and addressing hunger in the community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lawrence H Garatoni, Michael Garatoni, Shane Fimbel, Susan Ford, Pam Veldman, and Mary Hunt as trustees. Steve Wheatley is listed as executive vice president.
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lawrence H. Garatoni
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Hunt
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Garatoni
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Veldman
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shane Fimbel
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Ford
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Wheatley
Executive Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Judith A. Garatoni (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation
How much does The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation give each year?
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation gave $3.2M across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 31 grants.
What is The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $83,652, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation give grants?
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were South Bend, IN (18 grants), Mishawaka, IN (7 grants), Notre Dame, IN (2 grants) and Indianapolis, IN (2 grants).
Does The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Career Academy ($1,329,142), Rise ($546,500) and Ivy Tech Fdn ($273,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation?
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation reported $51.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose work, as described by those organizations, includes education, regional economic development, homelessness services, food assistance, and religious activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's EIN?
The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2866592. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Garatoni-Smith 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-garatoni-smith-family-foundation-morg_685923dcd97a42fc870703a0dce507d2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_262866592_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-garatoni-smith-family-foundation-morg_685923dcd97a42fc870703a0dce507d2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 The Garatoni-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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