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Fred R Smith Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Fred R Smith Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$70k
Granted FY2024still arriving
5
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2024.

Philanthropy$1.5MHealth$1.5MInternational$238kRecreation & Sports$150kEnvironment$135kArts & Culture$117kHuman Services$40kEducation$36kOther$0
02FY2024 · 5 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$15,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$18M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
KUOW$20,000
Evergreen mountain bike alliance$15,000
Friends of the Waterfront Seattle$15,000
WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION$10,000
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND GREENWAY TRUST$10,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY19–22, $33k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%BUSINESSES ENDING SLAVERY & TRAFFICKING: $1k → 9%BEST: $1k → 9%YOUTH CARE: $20k → 9%YouthCare: $10k → 9%ELIZABETH GREGORY HOME: $1k → 9%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

19%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$710k · 21 repeat orgs$3.1M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +49% since the first grant, against +20% for those funded once.

21 repeat relationships: 5 still active in FY2024, 16 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
23

Total granted

$710k
$3.1M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+49%
+20%

Still filing today

71%
61%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24
InternationalHuman ServicesEnvironmentHealthFood & NutritionYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • GP
    GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS
    4× · 2019–2023 · $125k · revenue +23%
  • KP
    KUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO
    6× · 2019–2024 · $115k · revenue +35%
  • EM
    Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
    6× · 2019–2024 · $90k · revenue +56%

Funded once

  • OF
    OHSU FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2020 · $1.0M
  • KH
    Kapi'olani Health Foundationgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $1.0M · revenue +71%
  • SC
    Seattle Children's Foundationgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $500k · revenue +60%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Fsc I&P

Fsc i&p promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. this mission aligns with the forest stewardship council (fsc), its network of offices, and other organizations.…

Philanthropy
2
The Humane Society for Seattleking County

Seattle humane promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need, regardless of age, ability, circumstance or geography.

Animals
3
Sustainable Path Foundation

Sustainable Path Foundation promotes sustainability and health in the Puget Sound region through collaborative approaches informed by scientific understanding and systems thinking.

Social Science
4
Earthcorps

To cultivate leaders and community partnerships to advance environmental justice.

International
5
Pathwaves Washington

Pathwaves Washington builds the collective power of leaders of color to transform early childhood systems so that every child and their community thrives.

Education
6
Stewardship Partners

Stewardship Partners helps private landowners restore and preserve the natural landscapes of WA State. We collaborate with diverse interest groups to build bridges and find solutions that achieve mutual goals of environmental protection,…

Environment
7
Perigee Fund

Our mission is to shift policies and systems to increasingly value and embed supports for caregiver and infant mental health in the places where families are during pregnancy and early childhood. perigee is organized & operated as a…

Health
8
Seattle Economic Development Fund Business Impact Nw

To provide economic development financing to serve the needs of small businesses in the state of washington that would not qualify for private financing under conventional financing criteria.

Community Improvement
9
Seattle Architectural Foundation

The Seattle Architecture Foundation connects people to the architecture, design, and history of Seattle. We believe the more you engage with design, the more you feel connected to your changing city. As a volunteer driven organization, we…

Arts & Culture
10
Seattle Good Business Network Dba Good Business Network of Washington

Seattle Good Business Network connects and inspires people to buy, produce, and invest locally, so that everyone has a meaningful stake in the local economy.

Community Improvement
11
Siff

Siff is a seattle-based 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit dedicated to the creation of vibrant experiences and spaces that champion film discovery and arts education.

Youth Development
12
Washington Bikes

Washington Bikes works to ensure that all who ride a bicycle in Washington have safe comfortable and convenient places to ride. Organization advocates for bicyclists rights and shapes policies.

Recreation & Sports
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Seattle Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Construction for Change. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 47 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
24/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

OHSU FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · OtherOHSU FOUNDATIONSeattle Children's Foundation: $500,000 · OtherSeattle Children's FoundationDOERNBECHER FOUNDATION: $450,000 · OtherDOERNBECHER FOUNDATION+23 more: $266,558 · Other+23 moreKapi'olani Health Foundation: $1,000,000 · HealthKapi'olani Health FoundationGLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS: $125,000 · HealthGLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS+1 more: $4,036 · HealthEvergreen Mountain Bike Alliance: $90,000 · EnvironmentThe Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust: $60,000 · EnvironmentISLANDWOOD: $7,000 · Environment+1 more: $4,000 · EnvironmentDIRECT RELIEF: $70,000 · InternationalNa'ah Illahee Fund: $40,000 · InternationalCONSTRUCTION FOR CHANGE: $5,000 · International+2 more: $2,800 · InternationalKUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO: $115,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $2,000 · Arts & CultureSEATTLE FOUNDATION: $51,000 · PhilanthropyHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 · PhilanthropySOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS: $6,000 · PhilanthropyYOUTHCARE: $30,000 · Human ServicesEverstrong Prevention: $25,000 · Human ServicesBusinesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking: $2,000 · Human Services+1 more: $1,000 · Human Services
Other$2,216,558Health$1,129,036Environment$161,000International$117,800Arts & Culture$117,000Philanthropy$77,000Human Services$58,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetKapi'olani Health Foundation: $1,000,000 over 1y, 8.3% of budgetSeattle Children's Foundation: $500,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetGLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS: $125,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetKUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO: $115,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetEvergreen Mountain Bike Alliance: $90,000 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetDIRECT RELIEF: $70,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust: $60,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetWASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION: $60,000 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetSEATTLE FOUNDATION: $51,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNa'ah Illahee Fund: $40,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetYOUTHCARE: $30,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEverstrong Prevention: $25,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetRAINIER SCHOLARS: $23,500 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFARESTART: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFOOD LIFELINE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetISLANDWOOD: $7,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS: $6,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTHE SEATTLE AQUARIUM SOCIETY: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCONSTRUCTION FOR CHANGE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPIKE PLACE MARKET FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCANCER LIFELINE: $4,036 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetCOLTURA: $4,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetBusinesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGROW SOME GOOD: $2,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetPATH WITH ART: $2,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetGLOBAL WASHINGTON: $1,800 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPATH: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetYOUNG WOMEN EMPOWERED: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetElizabeth Home: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetZ GIRLS FOUNDATION: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Seattle FoundationThe Norcliffe Foundat…Moccasin Lake Foundat…The Bullitt FoundationCredit Unions in the …United Way of King Co…Puget Sound Energy Fo…Gates FoundationGs Donor Advised Phil…Ellison FoundationGarneau Nicon Family …Laird Norton Family F…
Seattle FoundationWA30.7× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Seattle Foundation · The Norcliffe Foundation · Moccasin Lake Foundation · The Bullitt Foundation · Credit Unions in the State of Washington · United Way of King County · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · Gates Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Ellison Foundation · Garneau Nicon Family Foundation · Laird Norton Family Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Fred R Smith Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Fred R Smith Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 47 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Fred R Smith’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home