The R C Smith Foundation Inc
The R C Smith Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Norwich, New York. Created in 2005 by Norwich resident Robert C. Smith, it supports charitable and religious organizations and programs benefiting people in Chenango County.
The R C Smith Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The R C Smith Foundation Inc gave $861K across 48 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in New York. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $861,379
- +12.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 48
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,945
- +10.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $17,381,032
- +2.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (17 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The R C Smith Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and accepts grant applications. Submit the foundation’s application form as the first two pages of a typed or word-processed proposal, with the specific amount requested, total project cost, total funding identified, and project estimates or bid quotes. Two quotes are required when costs and funding are $10,000 or more. Submit 10 complete copies; the administrator provides written confirmation of a completed application. The application or letter should include financials, an exemption determination, and the purpose of the funds. Awards are restricted to charitable and religious purposes benefiting the people of Chenango County.
- Review Cycle
- January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1; the filing describes deadlines as quarterly.
- Deadline
- January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1; the filing describes deadlines as quarterly.
- Contact
Application contact: Richard M Runyon
Mailing address: 35 West Main Street PO Box 552, Norwich, NY 13815
Phone: (607) 336-5850
Email: rcsmithfoundation@frontiernet.net
Website: https://rcsmithfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The R C Smith Foundation Inc
Who The R C Smith Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Holy Family Catholic Church ($180K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $672K.
Grant Size Distribution
185 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 185 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated eligibility focuses on organizations, residents, facilities, or programs benefiting Chenango County, New York. The 2024 filing data reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. Separately, the supplied 2024 grantee information lists grants to organizations in Alabama and Colorado as well as New York; those records differ on recipient-state distribution.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The R C Smith Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 36 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $766K (2023) to $991K (2020). In 2024 it made 48 grants totaling $861K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Norwich Building Tomorrow Norwich, NY | South Broad Street Park | $50,000 |
| Holy Family Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| Holy Family Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| Holy Family Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| Holy Family Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| St Paul's Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| St Paul's Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| St Paul's Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| St Paul's Catholic Church Norwich, NY | Quarterly Distribution | $45,000 |
| The Impact Project Greene, NY | Building Materials | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The R C Smith Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,381,032 | $861,888 | $1,036,996 | $861,379 | 48 | $914,686 | $743,620 | $847,182 |
| 2023 | $17,036,252 | $378,815 | $960,768 | $766,252 | 47 | $828,251 | $362,710 | $797,727 |
| 2022 | $16,049,693 | $578,175 | $978,208 | $785,136 | 38 | $832,198 | $456,338 | $828,878 |
| 2021 | $19,385,311 | $1,364,895 | $1,070,072 | $897,031 | 25 | $939,367 | $1,245,829 | $913,990 |
| 2020 | $18,574,300 | $810,016 | $1,146,845 | $991,310 | 27 | — | $701,098 | $830,462 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The R C Smith Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $847K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to assist in maintaining charitable and religious organizations that benefit people in Chenango County. Its guidelines qualify 501(c)(3) organizations benefiting county residents, facilities, or programs.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of activities. Norwich Building Tomorrow describes its purpose as promoting economic development in Norwich and its environs; its 2024 grant was for South Broad Street Park. The Impact Project describes work rehabilitating homes for low-income people with disabilities and improving home access; its 2024 grants were for building materials. Other 2024 examples include Earlville Opera House, which describes its mission as maintaining a historic performing-arts building, and Oxford Memorial Library, which describes providing library services to residents in its service area.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 48 grants totaling $861,379. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable grants included $50,000 to Norwich Building Tomorrow for South Broad Street Park; four separate $45,000 grants each to Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Paul’s Catholic Church, listed for quarterly distributions; and two separate $40,000 grants to The Impact Project for building materials. Emmanuel Episcopal Church received $25,000 for a heating assistance program.
Awards may be less than the amount requested and may take the form of matching or challenge grants. The foundation says expenses incurred before an award are seldom reimbursable, grants generally have a 24-month completion period unless otherwise stated in the award letter, and progress reports are expected every six months.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William Acee as president, Kurt T. Edwards as vice president, John Franco as treasurer, Thomas C. Emerson as secretary, and Richard M. Runyon as administrator. It also lists Mary W. Davis, William Troxell, Terra Carnrike-Granata, Nancy Ritzel, and Roy E. Fuller as directors.
The R C Smith Foundation Inc is led by William Acee, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William Acee
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary W. Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Ritzel
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Troxell
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roy E. Fuller
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terra Carnrike-Granata
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard M. Runyon
Administrator
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$47K (2020) → $64K (2024)
John Franco
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kurt T. Edwards
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas C. Emerson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Pegi S LoPresti (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Betsey Baio (2020) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $64K, to Richard M Runyon (Administrator).
Frequently asked questions about The R C Smith Foundation Inc
How much does The R C Smith Foundation Inc give each year?
The R C Smith Foundation Inc gave $861K across 48 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $766K across 47 grants.
What is The R C Smith Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The R C Smith Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,945, across 48 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The R C Smith Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does The R C Smith Foundation Inc give grants?
The R C Smith Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norwich, NY (33 grants), Greene, NY (3 grants), Oxford, NY (3 grants) and New Berlin, NY (3 grants).
Does The R C Smith Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on The R C Smith Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Quarterly Distribution" (8 grants).
Who are The R C Smith Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The R C Smith Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Holy Family Catholic Church ($180,000 across 4 grants), St Paul's Catholic Church ($180,000 across 4 grants) and The Impact Project ($80,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The R C Smith Foundation Inc?
The R C Smith Foundation Inc reported $17.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $915K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $847K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The R C Smith Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to assist in maintaining charitable and religious organizations that benefit people in Chenango County. Its guidelines qualify 501(c)(3) organizations benefiting county residents, facilities, or programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The R C Smith Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and accepts grant applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The R C Smith Foundation Inc's EIN?
The R C Smith Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1893940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The R C Smith Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The R C Smith Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The R C Smith Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-r-c-smith-foundation-inc-morg_92f36078adc242f8abc445f46555259d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201893940_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The R C Smith Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-r-c-smith-foundation-inc-morg_92f36078adc242f8abc445f46555259d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The R C Smith Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The R C Smith Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?