The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation is a private foundation, based in Tucson, AZ. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $106K. Net investment income was $210K.
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation gave $106K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $106,000
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,143
- -22.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,614,037
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arizona (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation ($30K). Together the top 7 received $106K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 34 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $66K (2021) to $148K (2023). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $106K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation Tucson, AZ | Support | $30,000 |
| AZ Cyber Initiative Nogales, AZ | Support | $25,000 |
| Youth on Their Own Tucson, AZ | Support | $20,000 |
| KXCI Tucson Community Radio Tucson, AZ | Support | $10,000 |
| Tucson Badger Youth Wrestling Club Tucson, AZ | Support | $10,000 |
| Books for Classrooms Green Valley, AZ | Support | $6,000 |
| Angel Heart Pajama Project Tucson, AZ | Support | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,614,037 | $217,975 | $151,054 | $106,000 | 7 | $145,084 | $209,673 | $174,418 |
| 2024 | $2,547,116 | $171,263 | $135,897 | $97,303 | 5 | $124,282 | $164,291 | $4,103 |
| 2023 | $2,511,772 | $256,305 | $189,061 | $147,900 | 8 | $178,014 | $253,522 | $147,035 |
| 2022 | $2,444,528 | $340,045 | $147,927 | $107,480 | 8 | $142,876 | $336,352 | $162,071 |
| 2021 | $2,252,410 | $48,974 | $102,181 | $66,000 | 6 | — | $63,937 | $150,459 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $174K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation is led by Jennifer L. Carrell, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer L. Carrell
President
Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2022
Vice President & Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Pedicone
Vice President
Trustee → President, 2022
President → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Ackerman
Treasurer
Executive Director → Executive Director & Treasurer, 2024
Executive Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kris Boswell
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Jim Sakrison (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Linda Taufen (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Mary Belle McCorkle (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Laura K. Bosworth (2023–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Nicole Harrigan (2024) — Member
- Former: Phoebe Chalk Wadsworth (2024) — Member
- Former: Richard Imwalle (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: William Carrell (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Nina Daldrup (2021) — Trustee
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 Roberta Smith Foundation
How much does The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation give each year?
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation gave $106K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $97K across 5 grants.
What is The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,143, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation give grants?
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (5 grants).
Does The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (7 grants).
Who are The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation ($30,000), AZ Cyber Initiative ($25,000) and Youth on Their Own ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation?
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $145K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $174K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's EIN?
The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0986636. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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