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
**
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include International Generosity Foundation Trust ($500,000), World Compassion Fellowship Inc ($380,000), Gc Relief ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM SCOTTSDALE, AZ | PERSECUTED CHURCH: SUPPORT LEGAL ADVOCACY IN NIGERIA AND TO DEVELOP A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA LAWYERS NETWORK. | $150,000 |
| ALPHA MINISTRIES LYNCHBURG, VA | PERSECUTED CHURCH: PROVIDE 35 NEW HOMES FOR DISPLACED KUKI BELIEVERS IN MANIPUR. | $100,000 |
| ALPHA USA CAROL STREAM, IL | US YOUTH: IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC CITIES INITIATIVE AS PART OF ALPHA'S ROLL-OUT STRATEGY IN THE US FOR THE NEW ALPHA YOUTH SERIES 3.0. | $125,000 |
| ANANIAS HOUSE HOUSTON, TX | MIDDLE EAST: PROVIDE LIFE-CHANGING CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN IN LEBANON & PERSECUTED CHURCH: SUPPORT LEADERSHIP/MARRIAGE TRAINING, AND COUNSELING IN THE MIDDLE EAST. | $200,000 |
| APPALACHIAN CHURCH WEST JEFFERSON, NC | US YOUTH: EMPOWER YOUTH TO SERVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE HELENE THROUGH BOTH PRACTICAL SUPPORT AND SPIRITUAL CARE. | $96,600 |
| BARNAISSACHAR COMPANIES VENTURA, CA | US YOUTH: FACILITATE THE FOUNDATIONS ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES TO BETTER SERVE YOUTH STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES BY PUBLISHING A RESEARCH-INFORMED, ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS REPORT THAT PRACTITIONERS CAN USE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. | $81,000 |
| BECAUSE PROJECT INC YARDLEY, PA | BOARD DESIGNATED: RELOCATE 13 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN THE LITTLE HEARTS HOME IN PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI TO A SAFE LOCATION IN HAITI NOT IMPACTED BY GANG VIOLENCE. | $10,000 |
| BIBLEPROJECT PORTLAND, OR | US YOUTH: WRITE, PRODUCE, AND LAUNCH A NEW VIDEO ON THE THEME OF REDEMPTION IN SCRIPTURE. | $125,000 |
| BLACK ROCK CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FAIRFIELD, CT | US YOUTH: SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE GENERATIONS TO COME COUNSELING CENTER. | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO HOPE ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | US YOUTH: ENHANCE CHRIST-CENTERED STUDENT SPIRITUAL LIFE AND SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH THE DIVERSE LEARNERS, COUNSELING, AND SPIRITUAL LIFE PROGRAMS. | $225,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Harold C Smith Foundation to fund?
**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: 1. **Passing the Faith to the Rising Generation in the United States** — Supporting youth leadership development and faith formation programs 2. **Strengthening & Sustaining the Christian Chur…
How do I apply for a grant from The Harold C Smith Foundation to?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Average grant size: $151,485 • Grant range: Up to $500,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $5 million (2023) • Number of grants: 33 grants in 2023; 38 grants in 2024 **Application Process:** • Invitation-only model (no unsolicited applications) • Applications reviewed in the first three quarters of the year • Decision time: 6-8 weeks **Recent Grant Examples (2023-2024):** • Vision Communications International: $600,000 (Middle East women's campaign in Egypt) • Wheato…
Where does The Harold C Smith Foundation to make 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.
What size grants does The Harold C Smith Foundation to award?
In 2024, The Harold C Smith Foundation to awarded 39 grants totaling $4.8M — an average of about $122K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Harold C Smith Foundation to's EIN?
The Harold C Smith Foundation to's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1491651. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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