Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc

BOCA RATON, FL EIN: 47-3862135

The Thomas W. Smith Foundation Inc is a private, independent grantmaking foundation based in Boca Raton, Florida. Established in 2015, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a broad philanthropic mandate across multiple sectors and geographic regions throughout the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$9.2M

+6.9% YoY

Grant Count

52

-17.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$177K

+29.5% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation funds initiatives across diverse areas including:

  • Education — Youth education and K-12 schools
  • Public Policy — Advocacy and policy initiatives
  • Community — Civic education and youth education programs
  • Arts & Culture
  • Research — Including archaeology
  • Environmental Conservation — Ecology initiatives
  • Health
  • Historical Conservation

The foundation does not maintain a narrowly defined subject area focus, indicating broad philanthropic interests across multiple sectors.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$200 to $1,450,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds initiatives across a wide range of U.S. cities and states, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, San Francisco, and Miami, as well as smaller communities. Geographic focus areas include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C.

Grant Distribution by State

31states
+23 more states

Cities

ALBERT LEAALEXANDRIAARLINGTONASHLANDAUSTINAVENUE ERIEBALA CYNWYDBERKELEYBIRMINGHAMBOSTONBOZEMANBROOKLYNBURR RIDGECAMBRIDGECHESTNUT HILLCHICAGOCLEMSONCLINTONCORAL GABLESCOS COB

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Financial Data (2023–2024):

  • Total assets: $16.3–$28.3 million (variance reflects different reporting periods)
  • Total revenue: $18.4–$23.9 million
  • Total expenses: $9.4–$14.6 million
  • Total liabilities: $0

Contact Information:

  • Address: 2200 Butts Road, Suite 320, Boca Raton, FL 33431
  • Phone: (561) 314-0800
  • EIN: 47-3862135
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

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$7M$11M$15M134 grants2020115 grants202187 grants202263 grants202352 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

MANHATTAN INSTITUTE$1.1MINSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STU…$350KPRINCETON UNIVERSITY$350KREAL CLEAR FOUNDATION$350KPACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE$270KAMERICAN TRANSPARENCY$250KGRADUATE SCHOOL FOUNDATI…$250KHETERODOX ACADEMY$250KNEW CIVIL LIBERTIES ALLI…$250KTEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUN…$250K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

63<$50K41$50–100K115$100–250K28$250–500K1$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Manhattan Institute ($1,097,178), Institute for Humane Studies ($350,000), Princeton University ($350,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ABIGAIL ADAMS INSTITUTE CAMBRIDGE, MAEDUCATION$50,000
AEI WASHINGTON, DCPUBLIC POLICY$200,000
AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL ARLINGTON, VAPUBLIC POLICY$150,000
AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY BURR RIDGE, ILEDUCATION$250,000
AMERICAN WATCHDOGS INC PARIS, ILPUBLIC POLICY$150,000
ASHLAND UNIVERSITY ASHLAND, OHEDUCATION$100,000
ASSOC OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE EDUCATION LUBBOCK, TXPUBLIC POLICY$40,000
ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FDTN ARLINGTON, VAPUBLIC POLICY$150,000
BEACON CENTER OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TNPUBLIC POLICY$50,000
CALVIN COOLIDGE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION PLYMOUTH, VTEDUCATION$100,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Thomas W. Smith — President & Chairman (15 hours/week)
  • Diane G. Smith — Vice President, Trustee (1 hour/week)
  • Lori Smith Curley — Trustee (15 hours/week, $75,000 compensation)
  • James Piereson — Trustee/Director (25 hours/week, $350,000–$400,000 compensation)
  • Victoria McKenzie — Trustee (1 hour/week, $5,000 compensation)
  • Thomas McWilliams — Trustee (1 hour/week)
  • Randall Gilberd — Trustee (3 hours/week, $5,000 compensation)

The foundation maintains a staff of 2 employees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JAMES PIERESONTRUSTEE/DIRECTOR$400KLORI SMITH CURLEYTRUSTEE$75KVICTORIA MCKENZIETRUSTEE$5KRANDALL GILBERDTRUSTEE$5K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
THOMAS W SMITHPRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN15
LORI SMITH CURLEYTRUSTEE15$75,000
DIANE G SMITHVICE PRESIDENT, TRUSTEE1
JAMES PIERESONTRUSTEE/DIRECTOR25$400,000
VICTORIA MCKENZIETRUSTEE1$5,000
THOMAS MCWILLIAMSTRUSTEE1
RANDALL GILBERDTRUSTEE3$5,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

The foundation has been active in recent years with grants awarded through 2024. Recent grantmaking reflects continued support for education and policy research institutions, with significant grants to think tanks and educational organizations. The foundation's most recent tax filings were processed in 2024, indicating ongoing active grantmaking operations.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation funds initiatives across diverse areas including: • **Education** — Youth education and K-12 schools • **Public Policy** — Advocacy and policy initiatives • **Community** — Civic education and youth education programs • **Arts & Culture** • **Research** — Including archaeology • **Environmental Conservation** — Ecology initiatives • **Health** • **Historical Conservation** The foundation does not maintain a narrowly defined subject area focus, indicating broad philanthropic inter…

How do I apply for a grant from Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $9.2–$9.3 million annually • Grants awarded: 152 grants (most recent year) • Grant range: $200 to $1,450,000 • Median grant amount: $60,515 • Giving rate: 42.7% of assets **Grant Distribution by Program Area (most recent data):** • Public Policy: $110,369 average across 57 recipients • Education: $152,921 average across 54 recipients • Community: $56,030 average across 19 recipients • Arts: $14,396 average across 11 recipients • Research: $65,000 average acro…

Where does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation funds initiatives across a wide range of U.S. cities and states, including major metropolitan areas such as New York, San Francisco, and Miami, as well as smaller communities. Geographic focus areas include Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, T…

What size grants does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc awarded 52 grants totaling $9.2M — an average of about $177K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's EIN?

Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3862135. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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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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