The Smoliar Foundation
The Smoliar Foundation is a private foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. Its 2025 filing reports 18 grants totaling $33,250 to charitable organizations.
The Smoliar Foundation at a glance
In short: The Smoliar Foundation gave $33K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Missouri. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $33,250
- -14.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,847
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $224,132
- -3.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (68% 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 Smoliar Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 400 W 49Th Terrace Apt 2092 209, Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: (816) 561-6502
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Smoliar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Legal Aid of Western Missouri ($7K). Together the top 10 received $27K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 96 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Missouri recipients received 68% of grant dollars, Kansas recipients 9%, California recipients 8%, Wisconsin recipients 6%, and District of Columbia recipients 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Smoliar Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 18 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2025) to $39K (2021). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri Kansas City, MO | To Support Fund Activities. | $7,000 |
| Linda Hall Library Foundation Kansas City, MO | To Support Fund Activities. | $5,000 |
| Kansas City Public Library Kansas City, MO | To Support Fund Activities. | $3,000 |
| Johnson Cnty Public Library Shawnee Mission, KS | To Support Fund Activities. | $2,000 |
| Kansas City Symphony Kansas City, MO | To Support Fund Activities. | $2,000 |
| Mid-Continent Public Library Kansas City, MO | To Support Fund Activities. | $2,000 |
| Summerfest Concerts Milwaukee, WI | To Support Fund Activities. | $2,000 |
| Uc Berkeley Gift Services Berkeley, CA | To Support Fund Activities. | $2,000 |
| Assn of Women in Science Washington, DC | To Support Fund Activities. | $1,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | To Support Fund Activities. | $1,000 |
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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 | $224,132 | $25,944 | $34,515 | $33,250 | 18 | $33,900 | $24,679 | $39,145 |
| 2024 | $232,703 | $23,008 | $39,493 | $38,750 | 19 | $39,093 | $22,665 | $33,548 |
| 2023 | $249,188 | $22,939 | $35,819 | $35,600 | 19 | $35,819 | $22,720 | $35,125 |
| 2022 | $262,068 | $21,776 | $38,908 | $37,875 | 20 | $38,084 | $21,597 | $38,173 |
| 2021 | $279,200 | $49,362 | $39,715 | $39,200 | 20 | — | $49,347 | $33,649 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Smoliar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $39K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grant recipients include organizations whose own missions address legal assistance, science education and scholarship, and music. Legal Aid of Western Missouri describes its mission as improving the lives of people in need through quality legal assistance. Linda Hall Library Foundation says it promotes public understanding of science and advances education and scholarship in science, engineering, technology, and their histories. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as strengthening the human spirit and community through music.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $33,250 through 18 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $7,000, with a median grant of $1,000. Among the largest grants were $7,000 to Legal Aid of Western Missouri, $5,000 to Linda Hall Library Foundation, $3,000 to Kansas City Public Library, and $2,000 each to Johnson County Public Library, Kansas City Symphony, Mid-Continent Public Library, Summerfest Concerts, and UC Berkeley Gift Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Burton B Smoliar and Barbara A Smoliar as trustees.
The Smoliar Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara A. Smoliar
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Burton B. Smoliar
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Smoliar Foundation
How much does The Smoliar Foundation give each year?
The Smoliar Foundation gave $33K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 19 grants.
What is The Smoliar Foundation's typical grant size?
The Smoliar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,847, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Smoliar Foundation give grants?
The Smoliar Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kansas (9%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (10 grants).
Does The Smoliar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The Smoliar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Fund Activities." (18 grants).
Who are The Smoliar Foundation's largest grantees?
The Smoliar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Legal Aid of Western Missouri ($7,000), Linda Hall Library Foundation ($5,000) and Kansas City Public Library ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Smoliar Foundation?
The Smoliar Foundation reported $224K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $34K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Smoliar Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grant recipients include organizations whose own missions address legal assistance, science education and scholarship, and music. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Smoliar Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Smoliar Foundation's EIN?
The Smoliar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6732917. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Smoliar Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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