Vivian L Smith Foundation
The Vivian L Smith Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports grants to qualifying organizations across charitable fields, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Texas.
Vivian L Smith Foundation at a glance
In short: Vivian L Smith Foundation gave $4.5M across 189 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in Texas. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,525,000
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 189
- +34.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,942
- -21.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $69,056,801
- +1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (33 of 138, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (99% 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 Vivian L Smith Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says no specific form is required. Applicants must state the purpose and provide proof that they are qualifying organizations under section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3). The filing says the foundation does not make grants to individuals.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists submission dates of February 15, May 15, August 15, and October 25, before quarterly meetings. Those dates in 2026 have passed as of September 28, 2026.
- Deadline
- The filing lists submission dates of February 15, May 15, August 15, and October 25, before quarterly meetings.
- Contact
Application contact: Amy Meckel Vivian L Smith Foundatio
Mailing address: 1900 West Loop South Suite 1050, Houston, TX 77027-3207
Phone: (713) 986-8030
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vivian L Smith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($135K across 5 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
782 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 635 grants of 782 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it has no geographic restrictions. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients; the filing also reports grants to recipients in Alabama, Virginia, and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 189 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Vivian L Smith Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 33 of 138 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.4M (2020) to $4.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 189 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Communities in Schools Houston Houston, TX | Support cis dropout prevention & case management program during 2024-2025 school year | $100,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Office of Inst Advancement MSC #800 Houston, TX | Construction & interior buildout of planned health sciences tower. | $100,000 |
| Houston Hospice Houston, TX | Provide Uncompromising Compassionate End-of-Life Care to the Community | $100,000 |
| Yes Prep Public Schools Inc Houston, TX | General Operations and Programs in 2025-26 School Year | $100,000 |
| De Pelchin Children's Center Houston, TX | Support the Families Count Program | $100,000 |
| Holly Hall Christian Retirement Community Houston, TX | Support the Building on a Houston Legacy Campaign | $100,000 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Support the Critical Next Phase of Niche Development | $100,000 |
| Camp for All Houston, TX | Support Blazing New Trails Campaign | $75,000 |
| Springspirit Houston, TX | Funds for Capital Campaign | $70,000 |
| The Kinkaid School Houston, TX | Support the Capital Campaign | $60,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Vivian L Smith Foundation?
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 | $69,056,801 | $6,423,562 | $5,143,360 | $4,525,000 | 189 | $4,580,626 | $5,943,442 | $4,785,162 |
| 2024 | $67,854,094 | $5,929,655 | $4,891,319 | $4,285,000 | 141 | $4,340,432 | $5,454,587 | $4,686,585 |
| 2023 | $66,740,659 | $2,343,242 | $4,581,128 | $4,110,000 | 152 | $4,165,306 | $1,954,589 | $4,236,713 |
| 2022 | $68,978,545 | $435,663 | $5,098,327 | $4,630,000 | 161 | $4,685,299 | $859,251 | $4,153,130 |
| 2021 | $73,652,895 | $3,837,625 | $4,289,646 | $3,810,000 | 139 | $3,865,609 | $3,413,602 | $4,684,953 |
| 2020 | $74,104,825 | $-3,724,335 | $3,643,419 | $3,435,000 | 104 | — | $1,116,450 | $3,869,095 |
| 2019 | $81,472,579 | $7,907,945 | $4,351,442 | $3,935,000 | 116 | — | $7,564,258 | $3,541,228 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vivian L Smith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M 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
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission or identify specific funding priorities. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas that include education, health care, youth services, and family support.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. YES Prep Public Schools says it prepares low-income youth for four-year college through rigorous academics and community service. SpringSpirit describes its work as providing safe pathways for youth through sports, education, and mentoring. Memorial Hermann Foundation describes its health system’s purpose as improving health and creating healthier communities. The Arbor School says it educates and empowers children with significant special needs and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 189 grants totaling $4,525,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $100,000 to Communities in Schools Houston for dropout prevention and case management, $100,000 to YES Prep Public Schools for general operations and programs, and $100,000 to Houston Hospice for end-of-life care. Other examples include $75,000 to Camp For All for its Blazing New Trails campaign, $70,000 to SpringSpirit for a capital campaign, and $50,000 to Christian Community Service Center for family support groups.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amy M Meckel as Secretary/Treasurer; Ransom C Lummis as President/Trustee; Cynthia J Adkins as Vice President/Trustee; and Kirby Cohn McCool, Judy S Tate, Lindsey Holstead, and Jesse H Jones II as trustees.
Vivian L Smith Foundation is led by Ransom C. Lummis, President & Trustee on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ransom C. Lummis
President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia J. Adkins
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jesse H. Jones II
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy S. Tate
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kirby Cohn McCool
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Holstead
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy M. Meckel
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Vivian L Smith Foundation
How much does Vivian L Smith Foundation give each year?
Vivian L Smith Foundation gave $4.5M across 189 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.3M across 141 grants.
What is Vivian L Smith Foundation's typical grant size?
Vivian L Smith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $23,942, across 189 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vivian L Smith Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does Vivian L Smith Foundation give grants?
Vivian L Smith Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (163 grants), Austin, TX (5 grants), Dallas, TX (3 grants) and Bellaire, TX (2 grants).
Does Vivian L Smith Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Vivian L Smith Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 189) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Support the Area of Greatest Need" (6 grants).
Who are Vivian L Smith Foundation's largest grantees?
Vivian L Smith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($135,000 across 5 grants), Communities in Schools Houston ($130,000 across 3 grants) and Springspirit ($101,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($75,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Vivian L Smith Foundation?
Vivian L Smith Foundation reported $69.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.8M (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 Vivian L Smith Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission or identify specific funding priorities. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas that include education, health care, youth services, and family support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vivian L Smith Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says no specific form is required. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 1, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vivian L Smith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Vivian L Smith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vivian-l-smith-foundation-morg_06b6654ad216484c8b57c65520be6b22
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760101380_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Vivian L Smith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/vivian-l-smith-foundation-morg_06b6654ad216484c8b57c65520be6b22},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Vivian L Smith Foundation'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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