The Harold C Smith Foundation to
The Harold C. Smith Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in September 2015 and launched operations in 2017. Based in Wheaton, Illinois, with an office in New York, the foundation was created to continue founder Harold C. Smith's legacy of stewardship and impactful grant-making in Christian ministry and philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.8M
-4.9% YoY
Grant Count
39
+18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$122K
-19.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "For the glory of God we steward our Founder's legacy, wisely investing in Christian churches and non-profits where they effectively share the Gospel, bringing hope and healing to our broken world."
The foundation focuses exclusively on Christian ministry across three primary areas:
- Passing the Faith to the Rising Generation in the United States — Supporting youth leadership development and faith formation programs
- Strengthening & Sustaining the Christian Church in the Middle East — Funding Christian churches and organizations in the region
- Supporting Persecuted Followers of Christ Around the World — Providing assistance to persecuted Christian communities globally
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$151,485
Average Grant
$151,485
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Harold C Smith Foundation to?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in the United States (24 states) and the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Christian ministry work in both regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $82,695,341
- Total revenues: $3,248,514
- Total expenses: $6,037,348
- Total giving: $4,753,100
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $78,987,384
- Total revenues: $2,228,395
- Total expenses: $6,122,455
Staff: 4 employees (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Vanessa Jerome — President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2020)
- 2024 compensation: $314,712
Board Members:
- Jeffrey Whittle — Chair and Director
- Margaret Lemaire — Treasurer and Director
- Pierre Arty — Secretary and Director
Founder:
- Harold C. Smith (born 1934) — Served as Chief Investment Officer of YMCA Retirement Fund and voluntary pastor
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY WHITTLE | DIRECTOR, CHAIRPERSON | 5 | — |
| PIERRE ARTY | DIRECTOR, SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| MARGARET LEMAIRE | DIRECTOR, TREASURER | 5 | — |
| VANESSA JEROME | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $299,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has launched groundbreaking collaborative partnerships in Christian philanthropy:
**MENA Collaboration** — Bringing together dozens of foundations to drive greater collective impact in Christian ministry in the Middle East and North Africa region
**US Collaboration** — A similar multi-foundation initiative focused on Christian work in the United States
The foundation continues to expand its grantmaking reach while maintaining its invitation-only application model and focus on strategic Christian ministry partnerships.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Fostering Success
WAYNE, IL
Assets
$38K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Harold C Smith Foundation to on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities