The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation is a private foundation based in Bellevue, Washington. It supports other qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in carrying out charitable activities; on its 2023 filing, it reported serving 28 organizations.
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation gave $244K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Washington. 44% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $243,500
- -7.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -23.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,219
- +21.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,952,044
- -2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (7 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3010, Bellevue, WA 98009
Phone: (425) 455-0923
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance ($50K). Together the top 10 received $196K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 113 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington (65%), Hawaii (10%), Arizona (10%), Alabama (6%), and Oregon (4%), according to the reported state shares.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 16 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $244K (2025) to $311K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $244K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance New York, NY | General Operation | $50,000 |
| Hawaii State Junior Golf Association Lihue, HI | General Operation | $27,000 |
| The Cuyamungue Institute Sedona, AZ | General Operation | $25,000 |
| San Juan Island Museum of Art Friday Harbor, WA | General Operation | $25,000 |
| Holy Names Academy Foundation Seattle, WA | General Operations | $15,000 |
| Village Theatre Issaquah, WA | General Operation | $13,000 |
| Bellevue Rotary Foundation Bellevue, WA | General Operation | $11,000 |
| Overlake Medical Center Foundation Bellevue, WA | General Operation | $10,000 |
| Renton Schools Foundation Renton, WA | General Operation | $10,000 |
| The Rose International Fund for Children Bellevue, WA | General Operation | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lester and Bernice Smith 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,952,044 | $204,070 | $274,097 | $243,500 | 16 | $244,111 | $174,323 | $242,829 |
| 2024 | $3,023,571 | $164,933 | $293,156 | $262,350 | 21 | $263,560 | $135,578 | $206,305 |
| 2023 | $3,138,681 | $52,300 | $279,433 | $245,200 | 20 | $246,275 | $46,553 | $196,903 |
| 2022 | $3,365,814 | $187,071 | $308,455 | $279,000 | 17 | $282,443 | $159,580 | $210,892 |
| 2021 | $3,487,198 | $56,997 | $341,056 | $311,250 | 39 | — | $45,306 | $240,402 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $243K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants support organizations with varied charitable activities. For example, the Renton Schools Foundation says its mission is to promote and help fund learning opportunities for students in the Renton School District. The Overlake School describes its work as providing engaging educational experiences in a diverse and inclusive community.
Other 2024 recipients describe work in health, arts, youth mentoring, and assistance to children and families. Providence Portland Medical Foundation says it serves all, especially people who are poor and vulnerable. Village Theatre describes its work in family theatre, including productions and training young people. Friends of the Children Tacoma says it supports youth facing significant obstacles through long-term professional mentoring. Toys for Kids says it provides toys, school supplies, and other assistance to homeless and disadvantaged children.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $262,350. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest reported grants included: Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 16 grants totaling $243,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alexander M. Smith and Kimberly Miller as part-time directors.
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alexander M. Smith
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kimberly Miller
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
How much does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation give each year?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation gave $244K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $262K across 21 grants.
What is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,219, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation give grants?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (21%) and Hawaii (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bellevue, WA (5 grants) and Seattle, WA (4 grants).
Does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance ($50,000), Hawaii State Junior Golf Association ($27,000) and The Cuyamungue Institute ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation?
The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $244K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $243K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation fund?
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants support organizations with varied charitable activities. For example, the Renton Schools Foundation says its mission is to promote and help fund learning opportunities for students in the Renton School District. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Does The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 9, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
Live grants for the work The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- UK Annual Writing Award: 'Pleasure in the Task of Writing' £250 (1st prize); £50 (runners-up); books for school library · Due November 5, 2026
- Nellie Mae Event Sponsorship Fund Grant Up to US $5,000 · Due November 5, 2026
- Rubin and Gloria Feldman Family Educational Institute Up to $5,000 · Due November 5, 2026
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lester-and-bernice-smith-foundation-morg_18e8d84ae44445838c9eaba73d099c1d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911156087_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lester-and-bernice-smith-foundation-morg_18e8d84ae44445838c9eaba73d099c1d},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-05. 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 Lester and Bernice Smith 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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