The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation
The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 and based in La Canada Flintridge, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no paid staff, relying on family leadership to direct its philanthropic activities.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$318K
-22.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$130K
-53.2% YoY
Grant Count
49
-31.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-31.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education: K-12 schools, charter schools, and scholarship programs
- Philanthropy & Grantmaking: Support for charitable causes
- Human Services: Community-focused initiatives
The foundation demonstrates a particular commitment to educational scholarships and support for secondary schools.
Grantmaking
Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Oregon, and Ohio, with a notable concentration of grants to schools and educational institutions in the Los Angeles area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $407,292
- Total Revenue: $106,112
- Total Expenses: $304,295
- Total Giving: $130,000–$171,000
Prior Year Data (2022):
- Total Assets: $681,000
- Total Distributions: $267,000
The foundation operates with minimal overhead and directs the majority of its resources toward grant distributions.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $317,744 | $407,292 | $605,475 |
| Revenue | $52,724 | $106,112 | $100,715 |
| Expenses | $142,272 | $304,295 | $276,458 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $137,084 | $297,329 | $266,952 |
| Net Investment Income | $48,617 | $100,046 | $92,808 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,114 | $27,603 | $38,846 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
245 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Mater Dei High School ($20,000), St Bede Catholic School ($15,000), Holy Family Cathedral School ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRACKENS KITCHEN INC GARDEN GROVE, CA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| CAMP RONALD MCDONALD FOR GOOD TIMES LOS ANGELES, CA | General & Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| CAPUCHIN FRANCISCAN ORDER OF CA BURLINGAME, CA | Seminarian Appeal | $1,000 |
| CAPUCHIN FRANCISCAN ORDER OF CA BURLINGAME, CA | Capuchin Franciscan Mexico Mission | $1,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION GLENDALE, CA | General & Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| DOLORES MISSION LOS ANGELES, CA | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| FAITH IN ACTION NETWORK OAKLAND, CA | General & Unrestricted | $500 |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DENVER, CO | General & Unrestricted | $500 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD SHELTER OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CA | Mending Broken Wings | $1,000 |
| HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL ORANGE, CA | Scholarship Fund | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by family members serving in volunteer capacities:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Michael J Smith | President, Chief Executive Officer, Director |
| Patricia M Smith | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Director |
| Meghan Smith Bender | Director |
| Kathleen Smith Reichert | Director |
| Peter Smith | Director |
| Tommy Smith | Director |
| Will Smith | Director |
| Carolyn Smith Snyder | Director |
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meghan Smith Bender | Dir | — | — |
| Kathleen Smith Reichert | Dir | — | — |
| Michael J Smith | Pres, CEO, Dir | 2 | — |
| Patricia M Smith | CFO, Sec, Treas, Dir | 2 | — |
| Peter Smith | Dir, Treas | 1 | — |
| Tommy Smith | Dir | — | — |
| Will Smith | Dir | — | — |
| Carolyn Smith Snyder | Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • **Education:** K-12 schools, charter schools, and scholarship programs • **Philanthropy & Grantmaking:** Support for charitable causes • **Human Services:** Community-focused initiatives The foundation demonstrates a particular commitment to educational scholarships and support for secondary schools.
How do I apply for a grant from The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation?
• **Typical Award Range:** $500–$55,000 • **Median Grant Amount:** $2,000 • **Grant Count:** Approximately 59 grants in recent years Recent grants include: | Recipient | Purpose | Year | Amount | |-----------|---------|------|--------| | Verbum Dei Jesuit High School | Scholarship Fund | 2024 | $32,000 | | St Francis High School of La Canada Flintridge | Scholarship Fund | 2024 | $25,000 | | Loyola High School of Los Angeles | Scholarship Fund | 2024 | $15,000 | | Welles Remy Crowther Charitabl…
Where does The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, Oregon, and Ohio, with a notable concentration of grants to schools and educational institutions in the Los Angeles area.
What size grants does The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation award?
In 2025, The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $130K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation's EIN?
The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4765933. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Michael & Patricia Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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