The John H & Cynthia Lee Smet Foundation is a private foundation established in August 2015 and based in Manhattan Beach, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused primarily on educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$261.1M
+35.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+67.9% YoY
Grant Count
28
+300.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
-58.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on increasing reading skills for students in kindergarten through third grade at selected schools. The foundation provides comprehensive support through its "Onward Readers and Scholars" program, which funds salaries, books, materials, computers, school construction, and supplies needed for the program.
Additional program areas include:
- St. Pius X St. Matthias Academy Educational Expenses — Supporting tuition fees, grants, school construction, and other religious and educational expenses
- General charitable purposes — Including housing and community support initiatives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s range from approximately $90,000 to $459,000
Ready to take the next step with The John H & Cynthia Lee?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. locations, with primary focus in:
- California (including Los Angeles, San Diego, and other cities)
- Colorado
- Maryland
- New York
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $261,121,227
- Total Revenue: $43,848,016
- Total Expenses: $9,428,602
- Total Liabilities: $6,790,000
- Investments: $192.2 million
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total Assets: $193,137,525
- Total Revenue: $14,185,856
- Total Expenses: $7,337,615
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $261,121,227 | $193,137,525 | $150,545,667 |
| Revenue | $43,848,016 | $14,185,856 | $8,948,233 |
| Expenses | $9,428,602 | $7,337,615 | $7,876,503 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,118,156 | $3,734,306 | $6,150,855 |
| Net Investment Income | $28,853,674 | $8,486,068 | $4,652,485 |
| 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
105 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance ($459,000), Usopf ($167,000), California Science Center ($155,390).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN MARTYRS CHURCH MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $101,533 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | EDUCATION | $155,390 |
| CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF LATINO LEADERS INC LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| FRIENDS OF ST LAWRENCE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| FROM THE HEART PRODUCTIONS OXNARD, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| FUNDACION SCHOLAS OCCURENTES USA LOS ANGELES, CA | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| GIRL SCOUTS INGLEWOOD, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $90 |
| HERMOSA BEACH EDUCATION FOUNDATION HERMOSA BEACH, CA | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John H. Smet — President (30 hours per week, no compensation)
- Cynthia Lee Smet — Secretary (30 hours per week, no compensation)
Staff:
- Liliana Funes — Operations Director
- Edgar Alonso — Operations Director
- Melissa Turcios — Operations Director
- Michele Rice — Operations Director
- Anthony Boulahoud — Operations Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN H SMET | PRESIDENT | 30 | — |
| CYNTHIA LEE SMET | SECRETARY | 30 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John H & Cynthia Lee fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on increasing reading skills for students in kindergarten through third grade at selected schools. The foundation provides comprehensive support through its "Onward Readers and Scholars" program, which funds salaries, books, materials, computers, school construction, and supplies needed for the program. Additional program areas include: • **St. Pius X St. Matthias Academy Educational Expenses** — Supporting tuition fees, grants, school construction, and …
How do I apply for a grant from The John H & Cynthia Lee?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 23 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Total giving of approximately $1.4 million to $3.7 million annually (varies by year) • Grant sizes range from approximately $90,000 to $459,000 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Open to new applicants **Recent Grants:** • Our Lady Queen of Angels Housing Alliance: $459,000 (2024) • American Martyrs Catholic Church: General Purpose support (2024)
Where does The John H & Cynthia Lee make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. locations, with primary focus in: • California (including Los Angeles, San Diego, and other cities) • Colorado • Maryland • New York • Virginia • Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The John H & Cynthia Lee award?
In 2024, The John H & Cynthia Lee awarded 28 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The John H & Cynthia Lee's EIN?
The John H & Cynthia Lee's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4399946. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John H & Cynthia Lee's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The John H & Cynthia Lee 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
Go from researching The John H & Cynthia Lee to a real strategy.