The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation

HOUSTON, TX EIN: 27-0040023

The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $66K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $4.0M. Net investment income was $10K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$66K

-21.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$4.0M

-30.3% YoY

Grant Count

3

-25.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$1.3M

-7.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $66K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $4.0M. Net investment income was $10K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1states

States

Cities

Houston

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$3M$6M$8M$11M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$65,844$83,690$123,043
Revenue$4,013,564$5,741,139$6,980,542
Expenses$4,031,410$5,780,492$6,987,057
Qualifying Distributions$4,028,032$5,777,680$6,984,042
Net Investment Income$10,186$63,327$27,527
Distributable Amount$8,390$18,733$48,134

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$5M$8M$10M6 grants20206 grants20216 grants20224 grants20233 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2024

HARRIS COUNTY HOSP DIST …$2.0MTEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL$2.0MAWTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL$25K

Grant Size Distribution

25 grants across all recorded years

4<$50K1$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K3$500K–1M14$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Harris County Hosp Dist Foundation ($2,000,000), Texas Children's Hospital ($2,000,000), Awty International School ($25,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
AWTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HOUSTON, TXINTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE$25,000
HARRIS COUNTY HOSP DIST FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TXHEALTH SERVICES$2,000,000
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HOUSTON, TXCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL$2,000,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
SUE A SMITHPRES/TRUSTEE1
STUART M SMITHTRUSTEE1
MICHELLE S HENDRYTRUSTEE1
KARLA NEALSECRETARY1
JILL MCDONALDTREASURER1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation?

The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. It holds $66K in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation?

As of 2024, The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation holds $66K in total assets with $4.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 3 grants totaling $4.0M in 2024.

Where does The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation operate?

The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation has awarded grants in Texas.

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

In 2024, The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation awarded 3 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $1.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

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

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation's EIN?

The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0040023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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