Willard E Smucker Foundation
The Willard E Smucker Foundation is a private, corporate foundation based in Orrville, Ohio. Established in December 1968, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to grantmaking and philanthropic activities. The foundation maintains a lean operational structure with no employees and focuses its resources on distributing grants to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$580K
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
60
-4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+5.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Willard E Smucker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Food banks and food security
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health and wellness
- Alzheimer's disease
- Human services
- Christianity
- Youth development
- Community services
The foundation prioritizes general operations support for established nonprofits rather than funding novel or experimental initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain an open online application process. Applicants are expected to have existing relationships, intermediary connections, or introductions through community foundations and shared trustees. The foundation favors requests for general operations and core support from established organizations with demonstrated track records.
Grant Range
$2,043 to $320,000
Average Grant
varies by recipient
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation primarily serves organizations in Ohio, it extends support to initiatives in multiple states including Minnesota and Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $579,801
- Total Revenue: $1,414,908
- Total Expenses: $1,410,503
- Total Grants/Contributions: $550,000
- Total Liabilities: $10,000
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained relatively stable financial performance over recent years, with consistent annual revenues around $1.3–$1.4 million and assets in the $580,000–$593,000 range.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $579,801 | $585,437 | $593,179 |
| Revenue | $1,414,908 | $1,390,660 | $1,276,331 |
| Expenses | $1,410,503 | $1,408,443 | $1,268,947 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,395,071 | $1,394,082 | $1,256,052 |
| Net Investment Income | $862,322 | $838,239 | $810,076 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,196,712 | $1,394,741 | $1,393,956 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($300,000), Akron Community Foundation ($75,000), Akron Canton Regional Foodbank ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Canton Regional Foodbank Akron, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $60,000 |
| Akron Community Foundation Akron, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $75,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association - MN - N Dakota Chapter Minnetonka, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| Arden Wood Benevolent Association San Francisco, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| Artis Naples Naples, FL | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $31,491 |
| Bay Lake Improvement Association Brainerd, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,043 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Licking & Perry County Newark, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of America Atlanta, GA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $300,000 |
| Carmel Bach Festival Carmel, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| Chautauqua Institutuion Chautauqua, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Key Personnel:
- Timothy P Smucker — President/Trustee
- Richard K Smucker — Vice President & Treasurer/Trustee
- Sonal P Robinson — Assistant Treasurer
- Jeannette L Knudsen — Secretary
- James W Clark — Trustee
- Thomas E Clark — Trustee
- Carol Lee Randall — Trustee
- Susan Wagstaff — Trustee
All board members serve on a voluntary basis with no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Willard E Smucker Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Food banks and food security • Arts and culture • Education • Health and wellness • Alzheimer's disease • Human services • Christianity • Youth development • Community services The foundation prioritizes general operations support for established nonprofits rather than funding novel or experimental initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Willard E Smucker Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 63 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $1,392,121 (2024) • Median grant amount: $18,000 • Grant range: $2,043 to $320,000 • Average grant size varies by recipient **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • Akron Community Foundation: $75,000 • Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank: $60,000 • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Licking and Perry Counties: $50,000 • Boys and Girls Club of America **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain an open online application process. Appli…
Where does Willard E Smucker Foundation make grants?
While the foundation primarily serves organizations in Ohio, it extends support to initiatives in multiple states including Minnesota and Oregon.
What size grants does Willard E Smucker Foundation award?
In 2024, Willard E Smucker Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Willard E Smucker Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Willard E Smucker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Willard E Smucker Foundation's EIN?
Willard E Smucker Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6610889. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Willard E Smucker Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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