Pete and Sally Smith Foundation Grant

The Pete and Sally Smith Foundation Grant supports charitable initiatives in education, environment, and medical research within Rhea County, Tennessee, and Oconee County, South Carolina. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and submit applications online. The foundation prioritizes funding for scholarship programs, educational initiatives, land conservation, and research on kidney disease and Alzheimer's. Applications are accepted year-round, with a review meeting held annually in September.

NOTE: Applications are accepted year-round. Applications must be submitted by June 30 to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting that occurs in September.
Pete Smith was born in 1908, and Sally Smith was born in 1906. They both were originally from Michigan. Each completed undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, Pete with a degree in liberal arts and Sally with a degree in math. Pete went on to earn an MBA from Harvard University.The majority of the couple’s working lives were spent in Tennessee in the area of Rhea County, where they operated the Watts Bar Resort for many years. The resort was located on property leased from the TVA. There were cabins on the property which had been renovated by the Smiths, and the resort operated from spring through fall. The Smiths also traveled extensively, and there was a game room at the resort featuring Pete’s safari trophies. The resort offered horseback riding, boating on the lake, fishing, and swimming, as well as an on-site restaurant. Landscaping was maintained at a high level, and bird feeders were provided. The Smiths were also car aficionados.The Smiths spent their later years in Seneca, SC (Oconee County) where they were closer to some of Sally’s family, one of whom suffered from Alzheimer’s. Pete Smith died in 1979 of kidney disease, and Sally Smith died in 1992.

Eligibility

To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.Applications must be submitted through our online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users.The foundation primarily supports charitable causes in the areas of education, the environment, and medical research/disease management in Rhea County, Tennessee and Oconee County, South Carolina.

Ineligibility

The foundation typically does not fund requests for:Operational supportMulti-year grantsThe foundation does not fund requests for foreign grants.