The Smith Foundation
The Hoxie Harrison Smith Foundation, also known as The Smith Foundation, is a private foundation based in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Incorporated in 1920 and tax-exempt since January 1951, the foundation operates with limited staffing and focuses on charitable, educational, and social welfare initiatives.
Key facts about The Smith Foundation
- EIN
- 23-6238148
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $666,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- Average grant
- $11,100
- Median grant
- $12,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (3 of 59, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Smith Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Smith Foundation's 60 itemized 2025 grants were Pennsylvania (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (20 grants), West Chester, PA (7 grants), Phoenixville, PA (4 grants) and Norristown, PA (3 grants). None of its 60 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Operations Support" (22 grants) and "Support Two Scholarship Awards" (3 grants).
Is The Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 59 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
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Smith Foundation
- How to evaluate The Smith Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$666K
+11.1% YoY
Grant Count
60
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+3.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to support benevolent, charitable, and educational undertakings; to further secular and religious education; to care for the sick, aged, and disabled; to minister to the poor; and to improve the physical, mental, and moral condition of humanity, and to promote American patriotism.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Housing and supportive housing shelters
- Women's shelters
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation is possibly open to applications and accepts grant applications.
Grant Range
$3,000–$22,000
Ready to take the next step with The Smith Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts, with a concentration of grants to Chester County and surrounding Pennsylvania communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 60 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,627,576
- Total Revenues: $1,245,145
- Total Expenses: $628,277
- Investment Income and Dividends: $29 (partial figure in source)
- Number of Employees: 0 (paid staff)
Historical Giving Trends:
| Year | Total Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants | Median Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7.0M–$7.6M | $566K–$599.5K | 56–61 | $10K–$12K |
| 2023 | $7.2M | $572K | 57 | $10K |
| 2022 | $7.4M | $598K | 57 | $10K |
| 2021 | $7.2M | $504K | 57 | $10K |
| 2020 | $7.2M | $546K | 63 | $10K |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
291 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Bethesda Project ($15,000), Esperanza Immigration ($15,000), Good Works Inc ($15,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Key Personnel (as of 2024):
- Charles P. Barber — President
- William W. Heilig — Vice President
- Lee E. Daney — Assistant Secretary
- Kenneth L. Brier — Board Member
- Kenneth M. DeTraux — Board Member
- Robert B. Murray — Board Member
- Paul F. Pugh — Board Member
- Charlie Shields — Board Member
- Jack T. Tomarchio — Board Member
Mark T. Ledger served as Vice President until May 2024.
The foundation operates with limited paid staffing, with board members contributing minimal hours annually.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenneth M Detreux | President/Executive Director | 18 | $50,000 |
| William W Heilig | Vice President/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Robert B Murray | Assistant Secretary | 1 | $700 |
| Charles P Barber | Board Member | 1 | $700 |
| Kenneth L Brier | Board Member | 1 | $700 |
| Maura a Gillen | Board Member - as of 4/2025 | 1 | — |
| Robert H Morro | Board Member - as of 4/2025 | 1 | — |
| Paul F Pugh | Board Member | 1 | $700 |
| Charlie Shields | Board Member | 1 | $700 |
| Jack T Tomarchio | Board Member | 1 | $700 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 665 Downingtown, PA 19335-0665
Telephone: 610-970-3080
EIN: 23-6238148
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to support benevolent, charitable, and educational undertakings; to further secular and religious education; to care for the sick, aged, and disabled; to minister to the poor; and to improve the physical, mental, and moral condition of humanity, and to promote American patriotism. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Housing and supportive housing shelters • Women's shelters • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Smith Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 56–61 grants in 2024 • Typical grant range: $3,000–$22,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000–$12,000 • Total giving in 2024: $566,000–$599,500 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023–2024):** • Bethesda Project (Operating Expenses) — $22,000 • West Chester Area Senior Center (Operating Expenses) — $13,000 • The Care Center Foundation (Operating Expenses) — $13,000 • Achieveability (Comprehensive Family Self-Sufficiency Program) — $11,000 • Friends Home in Kennett Square (Floor R…
Where does The Smith Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Massachusetts, with a concentration of grants to Chester County and surrounding Pennsylvania communities.
What size grants does The Smith Foundation award?
In 2025, The Smith Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $666K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.