Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boca Raton, Florida. In filing year 2025, it reported 55 grants totaling $9,519,936, including grants for education, public policy, energy policy, and research.
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc gave $9.5M across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $173K), top state New York. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,519,936
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $173,090
- -2.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $24,071,543
- +47.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (9 of 55, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (24% 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 Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2200 Butts Road 320, Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: (561) 314-0800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Manhattan Institute ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $4.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
372 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 155 grants of 372 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New York (24%), Washington, DC (23%), Virginia (11%), Texas (7%), and California (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 55 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $144K; repeat grants $179K. How we count
Medians: $150K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 727% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8.6M (2023) to $14.7M (2021). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $9.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Institute New York, NY | Education/Public Policy | $1,101,936 |
| Texas Public Policy Foundation Austin, TX | Energy Policy | $575,000 |
| Real Clear Foundation Washington, DC | Education | $400,000 |
| University of Notre Dame South Bend, IN | Education | $350,000 |
| George Mason University Fdtn - the Mercatus Center Arlington, VA | Education | $300,000 |
| New Civil Liberties Alliance Washington, DC | Public Policy | $300,000 |
| VMTS Education Inc Brooklyn, NY | Public Policy | $300,000 |
| Pacific Research Institute Pasadena, CA | Research | $270,000 |
| FDRLST Media Foundation Washington, DC | Public Policy | $250,000 |
| Heterodox Academy New York, NY | Education | $250,000 |
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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 | $24,071,543 | $15,529,852 | $10,250,266 | $9,519,936 | 55 | $10,197,341 | $483,427 | $1,402,638 |
| 2024 | $16,316,555 | $397,945 | $9,895,149 | $9,202,678 | 52 | $9,843,987 | $351,783 | $1,134,568 |
| 2023 | $28,282,354 | $18,355,087 | $9,383,740 | $8,610,771 | 63 | $9,289,335 | $304,694 | $1,082,330 |
| 2022 | $15,245,274 | $8,881,234 | $10,415,355 | $9,662,278 | 87 | $10,314,933 | $2,841,162 | $1,003,355 |
| 2021 | $35,370,958 | $23,899,669 | $15,591,798 | $14,687,557 | 115 | $15,344,445 | $16,764,321 | $1,311,621 |
| 2020 | $32,658,745 | $13,034,513 | $14,609,765 | $13,846,937 | 134 | — | $9,485,014 | $1,471,621 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, Texas Public Policy Foundation describes its mission as promoting and defending liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise through research and outreach. Heterodox Academy says it aims to improve university research and education through open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement. FDRLST Media Foundation describes its work as supporting public-interest journalism on policy and cultural issues and training aspiring journalists.
Other 2025 recipients include the Government Accountability Institute, which describes its mission as investigating and exposing government corruption and misuse of taxpayer money through journalism, and Intercollegiate Studies Institute, which says it inspires college students to discover and advance principles it associates with a good, free, and prosperous America.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 55 grants totaling $9,519,936. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $1,101,936, with a median grant of $150,000.
Among the largest grants were $1,101,936 to the Manhattan Institute for education/public policy; $575,000 to Texas Public Policy Foundation for energy policy; $400,000 to Real Clear Foundation for education; $350,000 to the University of Notre Dame for education; and $300,000 each to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University for education, New Civil Liberties Alliance for public policy, and VMTS Education Inc for public policy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas W Smith as president and chairman; Diane G Smith as vice president and trustee; and Lori Smith Curley, James Piereson, Victoria McKenzie, Thomas McWilliams, Randall Gilberd, and Thomas Tryforos as trustees or directors.
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc is led by Thomas W. Smith, President & Chairman on every filing since 2020; 4 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas W. Smith
President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Piereson
Trustee & Director
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$350K (2020) → $450K (2025)
Lori Smith Curley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $75K (2025)
Randall Gilberd
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Victoria McKenzie
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Diane G. Smith
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas McWilliams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Tryforos
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $450K, to James Piereson (Trustee/Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc
How much does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc give each year?
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc gave $9.5M across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9.2M across 52 grants.
What is Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $150,000, and its average grant was $173,090, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc that year got $144K on average.
Where does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc give grants?
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (23%) and Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (11 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Arlington, VA (6 grants) and Cambridge, MA (2 grants).
Does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (27 grants) and "Public Policy" (23 grants).
Who are Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Manhattan Institute ($1,101,936), Texas Public Policy Foundation ($575,000) and Real Clear Foundation ($400,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc?
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc reported $24.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-w-smith-foundation-inc-morg_4786277506124836a82b94802faacb90
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473862135_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-w-smith-foundation-inc-morg_4786277506124836a82b94802faacb90},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc'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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