The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker TUCSON, AZ EIN: 86-0986636

The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, 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.

Key facts about The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation

EIN
86-0986636
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$106,000
Grants made (2025)
7
Average grant
$15,143
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$2,614,037
Primary geography
Arizona (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated April 2026.

Who The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation's 7 itemized 2025 grants were Arizona (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (5 grants). None of its 7 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (7 grants).

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.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.6M

+2.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$106K

+8.9% YoY

Grant Count

7

+40.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-22.2% YoY

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.

About The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, 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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1states

Share of all 7 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

Cities

TucsonGreen ValleyNogales

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$94K$187K$281K$374K20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,614,037$2,547,116$2,511,772
Revenue$217,975$171,263$256,305
Expenses$151,054$135,897$189,061
Qualifying Distributions$145,084$124,282$178,014
Net Investment Income$209,673$164,291$253,522
Distributable Amount$174,418$4,103$147,035

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$37K$74K$111K$148K6 grants20218 grants20228 grants20235 grants20247 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2025

Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation: $30KSouthern Arizona AIDSFoundation$30KAZ Cyber Initiative: $25KAZ Cyber Initiative$25KYouth on Their Own: $20KYouth on Their Own$20KKxci Tucson Community Radio: $10KKxci Tucson Community Radio$10KTucson Badger Youth Wrestling Club: $10KTucson Badger Youth WrestlingClub$10KBooks for Classrooms: $6KBooks for Classrooms$6KAngel Heart Pajama Project: $5KAngel Heart Pajama Project$5K

Grant Size Distribution

34 grants across all recorded years

34<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation ($30,000), AZ Cyber Initiative ($25,000), Youth on Their Own ($20,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
SOUTHERN ARIZONA AIDS FOUNDATION TUCSON, AZSUPPORT$30,000
AZ CYBER INITIATIVE NOGALES, AZSUPPORT$25,000
YOUTH ON THEIR OWN TUCSON, AZSUPPORT$20,000
KXCI TUCSON COMMUNITY RADIO TUCSON, AZSUPPORT$10,000
TUCSON BADGER YOUTH WRESTLING CLUB TUCSON, AZSUPPORT$10,000
BOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS GREEN VALLEY, AZSUPPORT$6,000
ANGEL HEART PAJAMA PROJECT TUCSON, AZSUPPORT$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2025 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Todd AckermanTreasurer1—
Jennifer L CarrellPresident1—
John PediconeVice President1—
Kris BoswellSecretary1—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation?

The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in TUCSON, AZ. It holds $2.6M in total assets as of 2025.

How large is The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation?

As of 2025, The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation holds $2.6M in total assets with $218K in annual revenue. It awarded 7 grants totaling $106K in 2025.

Where does The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation operate?

The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona.

What size grants does The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation award?

In 2025, The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $106K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Lester and Roberta Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $174K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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