The Smith Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 36-4401344

The Smith Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 15 grants totaling $437K.

Key facts about The Smith Family Foundation

EIN
36-4401344
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$436,500
Grants made (2024)
15
Average grant
$29,100
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
73% first-time grantees (11 of 15, 2024)
Primary geography
District of Columbia (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who The Smith Family Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Smith Family Foundation's 15 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (63%) and Illinois (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (6 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is The Smith Family Foundation open to new grantees?

73%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 11 of 15 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $30K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $30K repeat.

  • 13% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 337% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$437K

+449.1% YoY

Grant Count

15

+200.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$29K

+83.0% YoY

About The Smith Family Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Smith Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 15 grants totaling $437K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of all 15 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoEvanstonWashingtonTinley ParkMcHenryWilliamsburgCedar FallsDenverDurhamLake BluffNashvilleNew YorkPrairie VillageRochesterRockfordShaker HeightsSpringfieldSterling

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$109K$218K$327K$437K15 grants202012 grants20217 grants20225 grants202315 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Democracy Matters Foundation: $250KDemocracy Matters Foundation$250KLoyola University Chicago: $50KLoyola University Chicago$50KNorthwestern University: $50KNorthwestern University$50KThe Aspen Institute: $25KThe Aspen Institute$25KFrancis W Parker School: $10KFrancis W Parker School$10KGreater Organization for Less Fortunate: $10KGreater Organization for LessFortunate$10KMisericordia: $10KMisericordia$10KPioneer Center: $10KPioneer Center$10KHorizons for Youth: $5KHorizons for Youth$5KIllinois Equal Justice Foundation: $5KIllinois Equal JusticeFoundation$5K

Grant Size Distribution

54 grants across all recorded years

47<$50K6$50–100K$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Democracy Matters Foundation ($250,000), Loyola University Chicago ($50,000), Northwestern University ($50,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
DEMOCRACY MATTERS FOUNDATION Washington, DCGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$250,000
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO Chicago, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$50,000
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Evanston, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$50,000
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE Washington, DCGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$25,000
FRANCIS W PARKER SCHOOL Chicago, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$10,000
GREATER ORGANIZATION FOR LESS FORTUNATE Lake Bluff, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$10,000
MISERICORDIA Chicago, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$10,000
PIONEER CENTER McHenry, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$10,000
HORIZONS FOR YOUTH Chicago, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$5,000
ILLINOIS EQUAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION Chicago, ILGENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Todd SmithDirector & President0.5—
Marcia FriedlDirector & Secretary0.5—
Benjamin SmithDirector & Treasurer0.5—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Smith Family Foundation?

The Smith Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chicago, IL. It holds — in total assets as of 2024.

Where does The Smith Family Foundation operate?

The Smith Family Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.

What size grants does The Smith Family Foundation award?

In 2024, The Smith Family Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $437K — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is The Smith Family Foundation's EIN?

The Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4401344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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