The Smith Family Foundation Inc
The Smith Family Foundation Inc is a private, non-operating family foundation established in 1997 and based in Carmel, Indiana. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes. With total assets of $43.7 million as of 2025, the foundation maintains a disciplined approach to charitable giving with a high program expense ratio of 97.3%, ensuring that nearly all expenditures support charitable purposes directly.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.7M
+14.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.8M
+37.5% YoY
Grant Count
64
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$91K
+54.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Smith Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on funding charitable contributions, with particular emphasis on:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropic initiatives
- Higher education
- Disaster preparedness and relief
- Immigration-related nonprofits
The foundation utilizes capital gains from securities sales and dividend income to support its charitable contributions.
Grantmaking
Applications are accepted in writing. The foundation does not appear to maintain a public website or dedicated grant application portal.
Grant Range
$1,000 - $1,000,000
Average Grant
$80,000-$90,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in California, Washington, and Utah, with additional support extending to organizations across 23 U.S. states. Primary support states include California, Massachusetts, and Utah, which account for approximately 40% of all grants. The foundation supports organizations in numerous states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending March 2025:
- Total Assets: $43.7 million
- Total Revenue: $11.3 million
- Total Expenses: $5.95 million
- Net Income: $5.37 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Annual Giving: $5.79 million
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities and consistent year-over-year growth in assets.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,716,199 | $38,341,732 | $38,109,123 |
| Revenue | $11,328,256 | $4,496,056 | $9,836,925 |
| Expenses | $5,953,789 | $4,263,447 | $3,238,595 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,792,500 | $4,213,000 | $3,145,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,308,715 | $3,958,008 | $431,689 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,613,661 | $4,043,627 | $2,897,924 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Kahn Academy ($1,000,000), International Rescue Committee ($525,000), Florence Immigration & Refugee Rights Project ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OPERATION SECOND CHANCE GERMANTOWN, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $100,000 |
| ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE CAMBRIDGE, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $100,000 |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $100,000 |
| BYU PATHWAY WORLDWIDE SALT LAKE CITY, UT | SUPPORT OF PATHWAY PROGRAM | $200,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS COUNTRY HOCKLEY, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $20,000 |
| CONVOY OF HOPE SPRINGFIELD, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $25,000 |
| BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY-IDAHO REXBURG, ID | SUPPORT OF PATHWAY PROGRAM | $250,000 |
| ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $50,000 |
| CANCER CAREPOINT SAN JOSE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $50,000 |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITY | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by:
- Lonnie M. Smith – President
- Cheryl D. Smith – Vice President
- Jeffrey H. Thomasson – Secretary & Treasurer
All three serve without compensation. Oxford Financial Advisors Inc serves as the principal officer managing the foundation's affairs.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LONNIE M SMITH | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| CHERYL D SMITH | DIRECTOR/VICE-PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| JEFFREY H THOMASSON | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY & TREAS | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with recent awards supporting diverse charitable causes. Notable 2025 grants include significant support for immigration-related organizations and educational initiatives, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to human services and educational advancement.
SMIF awards $279,800 to support the success of young children - SouthernSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Smith Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on funding charitable contributions, with particular emphasis on: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropic initiatives • Higher education • Disaster preparedness and relief • Immigration-related nonprofits The foundation utilizes capital gains from securities sales and dividend income to support its charitable contributions.
How do I apply for a grant from The Smith Family Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $5.79 million (2025) • Number of grants: 64-72 grants annually • Grant range: $1,000 - $1,000,000 • Average grant: $80,000-$90,000 • Median grant: $25,000 • Success rate for new applicants: 12% **Recent Grants (2025):** • Raices Action Fund: $450,000 • Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project: $450,000 • Brigham Young University-Idaho (Pathway Program support): $250,000 **Application Process:** Applications are accepted in writing. The foundation does n…
Where does The Smith Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in California, Washington, and Utah, with additional support extending to organizations across 23 U.S. states. Primary support states include California, Massachusetts, and Utah, which account for approximately 40% of all grants. The foundation supports organizations in numerous states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, …
What size grants does The Smith Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, The Smith Family Foundation Inc awarded 64 grants totaling $5.8M — an average of about $91K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Smith Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Smith Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Smith Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Smith Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2015637. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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