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.
Key facts about The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
- EIN
- 91-1156087
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023
- Annual giving (2023)
- $245,200
- Grants made (2023)
- 20
- Average grant
- $12,260
- Median grant
- $6,350
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (7 of 20, 2023)
- Total assets
- $3,138,681
- Primary geography
- Washington (76% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation's 20 itemized 2023 grants were Washington (76%), Arizona (10%) and Hawaii (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (7 grants), Renton, WA (3 grants) and Bellevue, WA (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 7 of 20 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 45% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 125% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation
- How to evaluate The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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.
Ready to take the next step with The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 20 itemized 2023 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
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 recipients include The Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer ($105,000), The Cuyamungue Institute ($25,000), Hawaii State Junior Golf Association ($16,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE RIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER Seattle, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $105,000 |
| THE CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE Sedona, AZ | GENERAL OPERATION | $25,000 |
| HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION Lihue, HI | GENERAL OPERATION | $16,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS Salt Lake City, UT | GENERAL OPERATION | $15,000 |
| BELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION Bellevue, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $10,000 |
| KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER Renton, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $10,000 |
| RENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION Renton, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $10,000 |
| CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS Bellevue, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| VILLAGE THEATRE Issaquah, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $7,500 |
| KLINE GALLAND FOUNDATION Seattle, WA | GENERAL OPERATION | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2023 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.