The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in BELLEVUE, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2023. As of 2023, the organization holds $3.1M in total assets. In 2023, it awarded 20 grants totaling $245K. Net investment income was $47K.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$245K
-12.1% YoY
Grant Count
20
+17.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-25.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $197K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in BELLEVUE, WA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2023. As of 2023, the organization holds $3.1M in total assets. In 2023, it awarded 20 grants totaling $245K. Net investment income was $47K.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,138,681 | $3,365,814 | $3,487,198 |
| Revenue | $52,300 | $187,071 | $56,997 |
| Expenses | $279,433 | $308,455 | $341,056 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $246,275 | $282,443 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $46,553 | $159,580 | $45,306 |
| Distributable Amount | $196,903 | $210,892 | $240,402 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include The Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer ($105,000), The Cuyamungue Institute ($25,000), Hawaii State Junior Golf Association ($16,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION BELLEVUE, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL OPERATION | $15,000 |
| HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION LIHUE, HI | GENERAL OPERATION | $16,000 |
| HO 'OLA NA PUA HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL OPERATION | $2,500 |
| KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER RENTON, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $10,000 |
| RENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION RENTON, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $1,000 |
| RENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION RENTON, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $10,000 |
| SAFE CROSSINGS SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $5,000 |
| THE CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE SEDONA, AZ | GENERAL OPERATION | $25,000 |
| THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL REDMOND, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDER M SMITH | DIRECTOR (PART-TIME) | — | — |
| KIMBERLY MILLER | DIRECTOR (PART-TIME) | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in BELLEVUE, WA. It holds $3.1M in total assets as of 2023.
How large is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation?
As of 2023, The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation holds $3.1M in total assets with $52K in annual revenue. It awarded 20 grants totaling $245K in 2023.
Where does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation operate?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington.
What size grants does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation award?
In 2023, The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $245K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $197K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's EIN?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1156087. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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