The Smith Foundation
The Smith Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations serving communities in Philadelphia and its surrounding four counties, including organizations working in housing, education, services for older adults, and support for veterans.
The Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: The Smith Foundation gave $666K across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $666,000
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,100
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,000
- Total assets
- $8,128,546
- +6.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (3 of 56, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Smith Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing says requests should be submitted electronically in letter format with proof of 501(c)(3) public charity status and a copy to the applicant’s designated liaison board member. Applications are limited to 501(c)(3) public charities located in Philadelphia and its surrounding four counties. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that requests are due before August 31 each year. The 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing states that requests are due before August 31 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Kenneth M Detreux
Mailing address: PO Box 111, Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 970-3080
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bethesda Project ($15K). Together the top 10 received $145K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($26,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
291 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 291 grants of 291 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 97% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients, 2% to Massachusetts recipients, and 2% to Virginia recipients. The filing’s application restrictions specify eligible organizations located in Philadelphia and its surrounding four counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 56 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 116% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $504K (2020) to $666K (2025). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $666K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Project Philadelphia, PA | Charitable Operations Support | $15,000 |
| Esperanza Immigration Philadelphia, PA | Naturalization Program Legal Services | $15,000 |
| Good Works Inc Coatesville, PA | Repair Substandard Housing | $15,000 |
| Senior Community Services Folsom, PA | Cognitive Stimulation Kit Program | $15,000 |
| The City School Philadelphia, PA | Support Scholarship Program | $15,000 |
| New Horizons Senior Center Narberth, PA | Charitable Operations Support | $14,500 |
| Cityteam Chester Chester, PA | Charitable Operations Support | $14,000 |
| Orion Communities of Phoenixville Phoenixville, PA | Community Emergency Fund | $14,000 |
| Veterans Multi-Service Center Philadelphia, PA | Essentials for Veterans in the Four County Area | $14,000 |
| Chester County Futures Coatesville, PA | Passport to College Program | $13,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Smith Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,128,546 | $1,274,147 | $773,177 | $666,000 | 60 | $738,034 | $1,272,508 | $634,817 |
| 2024 | $7,627,576 | $1,245,145 | $628,277 | $599,500 | 56 | $626,405 | $1,244,265 | $607,574 |
| 2023 | $7,010,708 | $443,756 | $597,270 | $565,500 | 61 | $591,207 | $443,213 | $549,152 |
| 2022 | $7,164,378 | $397,027 | $619,051 | $571,700 | 57 | $603,246 | $396,502 | $552,733 |
| 2021 | $7,386,402 | $818,600 | $643,380 | $598,300 | 57 | $623,592 | $817,297 | $591,158 |
| 2020 | $7,211,182 | $534,585 | $534,087 | $504,200 | 57 | — | $533,119 | $501,821 |
| 2019 | $7,210,684 | $486,339 | $586,094 | $546,300 | 63 | — | $483,896 | $500,219 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $635K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for activities including charitable operations, housing repairs, immigration legal services, scholarships, literacy, and services for older adults and veterans.
Grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Bethesda Project says it provides housing and support services to homeless and formerly homeless people. Good Works Inc says it repairs homes for low-income families, while Senior Community Services says it promotes independent and meaningful living for older adults. The City School describes its mission as educating students and serving the city; Veterans Multi-Service Center says it provides services and opportunities for veterans and their families. Other 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated work includes free public science education, active-aging programs, and services for people with disabilities and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $666,000 through 60 grants. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $15,000, with a median of $12,000. Notable awards included $15,000 each to Bethesda Project for charitable operations support, Esperanza Immigration for naturalization program legal services, Good Works Inc for housing repairs, Senior Community Services for its cognitive stimulation kit program, and The City School for its scholarship program. Other awards included $14,000 to Veterans Multi-Service Center for essentials for veterans in the four-county area and $13,000 to Chester County Futures for its Passport to College program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kenneth M. Detreux as president and executive director; William W. Heilig as vice president and treasurer; and Robert B. Murray as assistant secretary. Directors listed are Charles P. Barber, Kenneth L. Brier, Maura A. Gillen, Robert H. Morro, Paul F. Pugh, Charlie Shields, and Jack T. Tomarchio.
The Smith Foundation is led by Kenneth M. Detreux, President & Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 7 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kenneth M. Detreux
President & Executive Director
Board Member → President & Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
18 hrs/week
$700 (2022) → $50K (2025)
Charles P. Barber
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$700 (2019) → $700 (2025)
Charlie Shields
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$700 (2024) → $700 (2025)
Jack T. Tomarchio
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$700 (2019) → $700 (2025)
Kenneth L. Brier
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$700 (2019) → $700 (2025)
Paul F. Pugh
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$700 (2019) → $700 (2025)
William W. Heilig
Vice President & Treasurer
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$700 (2019) → $0 (2025)
Robert B. Murray
Assistant Secretary
Board Member → Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$700 (2022) → $700 (2025)
Maura A. Gillen
Board Member -
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert H. Morro
Board Member -
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Lee E. Daney (2019–2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Mark T. Ledger (2019–2024) — Vice President to May
- Former: Bruce M. Brown (2019–2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $50K, to Kenneth M Detreux (President/Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Smith Foundation
How much does The Smith Foundation give each year?
The Smith Foundation gave $666K across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $600K across 56 grants.
What is The Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
The Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,000, and its average grant was $11,100, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Smith Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Smith Foundation give grants?
The Smith Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (19 grants), West Chester, PA (6 grants), Phoenixville, PA (4 grants) and Norristown, PA (3 grants).
Does The Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 60 grants with a stated purpose on The Smith Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Operations Support" (22 grants) and "Support Two Scholarship Awards" (3 grants).
Who are The Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
The Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Bethesda Project ($15,000), Esperanza Immigration ($15,000) and Good Works Inc ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 individual scholarships ($26,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Smith Foundation?
The Smith Foundation reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $738K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $635K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Smith Foundation fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for activities including charitable operations, housing repairs, immigration legal services, scholarships, literacy, and services for older adults and veterans. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Smith Foundation?
The 2025 filing says requests should be submitted electronically in letter format with proof of 501(c)(3) public charity status and a copy to the applicant’s designated liaison board member. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Smith Foundation's EIN?
The Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6238148. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 25, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 2, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Smith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-smith-foundation-morg_81d6ad35192a423291ac89c60463138e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236238148_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Smith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-smith-foundation-morg_81d6ad35192a423291ac89c60463138e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Smith Foundation'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.
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