The James R Smith Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Roanoke, Virginia. Established in 2001, it operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization focused on philanthropic activities across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.4M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$422K
+240.8% YoY
Grant Count
24
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+127.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James R Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $626K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds unrestricted general support to various organizations. Its grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Religious organizations
- Historical preservation
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants in 2023. Recent documented grants include:
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $9,492,082
- Total Revenues: $242,410
- Total Expenses: $239,861
- Investment Income and Dividends: $255,482
- Total Liabilities: $0
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,437,482 | $9,492,082 | $9,689,881 |
| Revenue | $486,916 | $242,410 | $680,109 |
| Expenses | $547,134 | $239,861 | $230,212 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $422,200 | $129,335 | $128,860 |
| Net Investment Income | $360,982 | $135,171 | $590,197 |
| Distributable Amount | $626,244 | $594,314 | $556,027 |
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
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Clear Water Foundation ($210,000), Baptists on Mission ($25,000), Presbyterian Church USA ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley Hall Charleston, SC | General Unrestricted Support | $15,500 |
| Riverdale Baptist Church Roanoke, VA | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $1,200 |
| The Preservation Society of Charles Charleston, SC | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| VTC School of Medicine Roanoke, VA | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, VA | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association MCCLEAN, VA | General Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| ASCPA New York, NY | General Unrestricted Support | $500 |
| Baptists on Mission Cary, NC | General Unrestricted Support | $25,000 |
| CFWNC Ashville, NC | General Unrestricted Support | $15,000 |
| Carillon Clinic Foundation Roanoke, VA | General Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUNTER D SMITH | Trustee | 1 | — |
| ROSS P SMITH | Trustee | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James R Smith Family Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds unrestricted general support to various organizations. Its grant-making focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Religious organizations • Historical preservation
How do I apply for a grant from James R Smith Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 16 grants in 2023. Recent documented grants include: • First Scots Independent Presbyterian Church: $12,000 (Religious) • The Preservation Society of Charleston: $11,000 (Historical Preservation) • Woodberry Forest School: $8,000 (Educational) **Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $250 to $210,000, with total giving of $422,200 documented in recent filings.
Where does James R Smith Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
What size grants does James R Smith Family Foundation award?
In 2024, James R Smith Family Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $422K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James R Smith Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James R Smith Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $626K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James R Smith Family Foundation's EIN?
James R Smith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6577908. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James R Smith Family 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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