Vivian L Smith Foundation
The Vivian L Smith Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Houston, Texas. Established in 1981 and receiving its IRS tax-exempt ruling in 1984, the foundation supports charitable, scientific, religious, literary, and educational organizations through annual philanthropic distributions.
Key facts about Vivian L Smith Foundation
- EIN
- 76-0101380
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,285,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 141
- Average grant
- $30,390
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (12 of 122, 2024)
- Total assets
- $67,854,094
- Primary geography
- Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Quarterly application deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, and October 25. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vivian L Smith Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Vivian L Smith Foundation's 141 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (125 grants), Austin, TX (3 grants) and Dallas, TX (2 grants). 26% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Vivian L Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 122 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $47K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). 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 Vivian L Smith Foundation
- How to evaluate Vivian L Smith Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$67.9M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.3M
+4.3% YoY
Grant Count
141
-7.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+12.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vivian L Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides support for charitable, scientific, religious, literary, and educational organizations. Primary funding interests include:
- Arts and cultural programs
- Education
- Medical research
- Religious agencies and churches
- Social services
- Health
- Community development
- Children and youth
- Animal welfare
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000 to $200,000
Review Cycle
February 15, May 15, August 15, and October 25
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Vivian L Smith Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While giving is directed primarily to organizations located in Houston and Harris County, Texas, the foundation maintains no formal restrictions on geographical areas or charitable fields. The foundation has funded initiatives across various cities including Austin, Dallas, and Philadelphia, and states including Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 141 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $66.7–$67.9 million (2023–2024)
- Total annual giving: $4.1–$4.3 million
- Total revenues (2023): $2,343,242
- Total expenses (2023): $4,581,128
- Total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $67,854,094 | $66,740,659 | $68,978,545 |
| Revenue | $5,929,655 | $2,343,242 | $435,663 |
| Expenses | $4,891,319 | $4,581,128 | $5,098,327 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,340,432 | $4,165,306 | $4,685,299 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,454,587 | $1,954,589 | $859,251 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,686,585 | $4,236,713 | $4,153,130 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
697 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Episcopal High School Donor Box Dept 313 ($202,000 across 2 grants), Tirr Foundation ($200,000 across 2 grants), Communities in Schools - Houston ($110,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL DONOR BOX DEPT 313 Houston, TX | CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BENITEZ CHAPEL | $200,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS - HOUSTON Houston, TX | SUPPORT CIS DROPOUT PREVENTION & CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT BASTIAN, MCNAMARA, NEFF & SUTTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | $100,000 |
| DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER Houston, TX | SUPPORT THE FAMILIES COUNT PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| HOUSTON HOSPICE Houston, TX | PROVIDE UNCOMPROMISING COMPASSIONATE END-OF-LIFE CARE TO THE COMMUNITY | $100,000 |
| UT HEALTH Houston, TX | FUNDS FOR THE CONTINUATION & EXPANSION OF THE CHILD & ADOLESCENT MOOD DISORDERS PROGRAM PILOT PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| UT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER Houston, TX | SUPPORT SINGLE-CELL SEQUENCING RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY NICHOLAS NAVIN, PH.D, CHAIR OF SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AT UT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | $100,000 |
| YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC Houston, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS & PROGRAMS IN 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR FOR HOUSTON STUDENTS | $100,000 |
| ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX SCHOOL Houston, TX | SUPPORT LIGHT THE WAY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $100,000 |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Houston, TX | CONSTRUCTION & INTERIOR BUILDOUT OF PLANNED HEALTH SCIENCES TOWER. | $100,000 |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL Houston, TX | CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BENITEZ CHAPEL | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ransom C Lummis – President/Trustee
- Amy M Meckel – Secretary/Treasurer
- Cynthia J Adkins – Vice President/Trustee
- Kirby Cohn McCool – Trustee
- Judy S Tate – Trustee
- Lindsey Holstead – Trustee
- Jesse H Jones II – Trustee
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy M Meckel | Secretary/Treasurer | 10 | — |
| Ransom C Lummis | President/Trustee | 2 | — |
| Cynthia J Adkins | VP/Trustee | 2 | — |
| Kirby Cohn McCool | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Judy S Tate | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Lindsey Holstead | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Jesse H Jones II | Trustee | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1900 West Loop South, Suite 1050, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 986-8030
Email: vlsf@vlsfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vivian L Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation provides support for charitable, scientific, religious, literary, and educational organizations. Primary funding interests include: • Arts and cultural programs • Education • Medical research • Religious agencies and churches • Social services • Health • Community development • Children and youth • Animal welfare
How do I apply for a grant from Vivian L Smith Foundation?
Quarterly application deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, and October 25. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Vivian L Smith Foundation make grants?
While giving is directed primarily to organizations located in Houston and Harris County, Texas, the foundation maintains no formal restrictions on geographical areas or charitable fields. The foundation has funded initiatives across various cities including Austin, Dallas, and Philadelphia, and states including Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Vivian L Smith Foundation award?
In 2024, Vivian L Smith Foundation awarded 141 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Vivian L Smith Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Vivian L Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vivian L Smith Foundation's EIN?
Vivian L Smith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0101380. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.