The Smart Family Fund is a private family foundation based in Lisle, Illinois, established in 2016. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization guided by three entrepreneurial brothers committed to fostering social entrepreneurship and supporting emerging nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.3M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-4.1% YoY
Grant Count
32
-3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
-1.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to discover, support, and mentor emerging nonprofit organizations and their leaders, providing necessary backing to help them succeed. The fund describes itself as an "angel philanthropist," focusing on early-stage nonprofits with potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet demonstrated the efficacy needed for growth funding or sustainable models.
Organizations seeking funding must clearly articulate how they will demonstrate the efficacy of their intervention, quantify their potential positive impact, and communicate how they are differentiated from other ecosystem players.
Grantmaking
The Smart Family Fund makes first-time grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 annually. When the foundation identifies an organization making significant advances, it works with them to grow their programs and prepare them for larger-scale funders.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects throughout the United States, with particular activity in California, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $17,262,000
- Total Revenue: $2,976,342
- Total Expenses: $1,985,110
- Net Income: $991,232
- Total Liabilities: $3,190
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $16,282,187
- Total Revenue: $888,206
- Total Expenses: $2,002,405
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,265,221 | $16,282,187 | $17,396,287 |
| Revenue | $2,976,342 | $888,206 | $-460,958 |
| Expenses | $1,985,110 | $2,002,405 | $2,203,377 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,656,947 | $1,725,940 | $1,877,898 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,673,179 | $574,531 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,968,358 | $1,667,524 | $1,717,710 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
175 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Smart Family Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by three brothers:
- Archie Smart — Communications executive based in Washington, D.C.
- Roland Smart — Co-founder and CEO of TheraHive, based in Mill Valley, California
- Jesse Safir — Owner of ABG Print, based in New York City, New York
Each holds an executive role with compensation of $40,000 for 5 hours of work per week.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID ARCHIBALD SMART | PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | 5 | $40,000 |
| ROLAND M SMART | VP/TREASURER AND DIRECTOR | 5 | $40,000 |
| JESSE SAFIR | VP/SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR | 5 | $40,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Smart Family Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities