Skip to content
Louise K Smith Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Louise K Smith Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$82k
Granted FY2025still arriving
49
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$18k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0185% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Arts & Culture$499kEducation$66kHealth$24kPhilanthropy$8kCivil Rights$5kEnvironment$4kYouth Development$3kHuman Services$3kOther$0
02FY2025 · 49 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k46 grants · $39k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $43k
$250
Median grant
7
States reached
$638k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COLUMBIA UNIV IRVING MEDICAL$18,000
NY PUBLIC RADIO WNYC$15,000
CONCERT ARTISTS GUILD$10,000
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO$5,000
NY PUBLIC RADIO WQXR$5,000
THIRD COAST PERCUSSION$5,000
METROPOLITAN OPERA$3,750
ACMP$3,000
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY$2,500
Individual grant recipient$2,500
COLUMBIA UNIV IRVING MEDICAL NAOMI BERNIE DIABETES CENTER$2,000
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION$1,480
CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA$1,000
AMERICAN BALLET THEATER$600
PLANNED PARENTHOOD$500
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 (FY17–23, $2k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%CASA CENTRAL: $500 → 14%CASA CENTRAL: $500 → 14%CASA CENTRAL: $500 → 14%CASA CENTRAL: $500 → 14%HONOR FLIGHT CHICAGO: $50 → 14%FAMILY RESCUE: $100 → 14%CHICAGO CHILD CARE SOCIETY: $50 → 14%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.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
IN
NJ
CA
VA
MD
AZ
NM
NC
DC
AL
TX
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.

95%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$609k · 91 repeat orgs$30k to everyone else

91 repeat relationships: 41 still active in FY2025, 50 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

91
49

Total granted

$609k
$8k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+21%
+31%

Still filing today

55%
39%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 72% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $22k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationHuman ServicesInternationalAnimalsEnvironmentOther
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

  • CA
    Concert Artists Guild Inc
    8× · 2017–2025 · $213k · revenue +21%
  • TC
    THIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFP
    8× · 2017–2025 · $142k · revenue +189%
  • University of Chicago
    8× · 2017–2025 · $48k · revenue +56%

Funded once

  • NP
    NY PRESBYTERIAN FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2024 · $1k
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO WOMEN'S BOARD
    one grant, 2021 · $1k
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2023 · $1k
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
Chamber Opera of Chicago
—
2
American Chamber Ensemble Inc

The American Chamber Ensemble is a consortium of distinguished musicians whose concerts explore the music for piano with strings, woodwinds and/or voice, presenting both great standard repertoire and living American composers.

—
3
Chicago a Cappella

Chicago a cappella advances the art and appreciation of ensemble singing. the organization produces an annual series of concerts in the greater chicago area, produces educational outreach programs, creates studio recordings as well as live…

Arts & Culture
4
Chicago Harp Quartet
—
5
Constellation Performing Arts

Constellation is a performing arts presenter with an emphasis on forward- thinking practices, particularly in the areas of jazz, improvised, experimental, and contemporary classical music.

Arts & Culture
6
Music Institute of Chicago

The music institute of chicago ("music institute") leads people toward a lifelong engagement with music, by providing widely accessible resources for high quality music teaching, performing, and service activities.

Arts & Culture
7
Foundation for Modern Opera
—
8
Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia

To be a sustainable musical institution that brings the intimate experience of a world-class chamber orchestra performance to the greater philadelphia area,enriching the musical life of the city and region by the integrity and excellence…

Arts & Culture
9
Cleveland Institute of Music

The cleveland institute of music's mission is to empower the world's most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential.

Education
10
Dal Niente New Music Nfp

Ensemble Dal Niente performs, develops, and sustains new and experimental music for small to large chamber ensemble. We are dedicated to growing relationships with artists, composers, and listeners; advancing distinct and challenging…

Arts & Culture
11
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (CCO) creates intimate, transformative experiences that connect the musically curious.

Arts & Culture
12
San Francisco Opera Association

We believe opera is a uniquely compelling, entertaining and emotionally thrilling art form. our mission is to bring together growing audiences to experience opera's transformative power.

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Grant Park Orchestral Association; the most unlike its peers is Noon Inc. 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

78 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 78 of the 149 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)
18
Early backer (in before they grew)
75/78
Grantees still filing
50/78
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Concert Artists Guild Inc: $212,610 · Arts & CultureConcert Artists Guild IncTHIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFP: $141,870 · Arts & CultureTHIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFPChicago Symphony Orchestra: $30,100 · Arts & CultureChicago Symphony Orchestra+33 more: $37,428 · Arts & Culture+33 moreCOLUMBIA UNIV IRVING MEDICAL: $19,000 · OtherCOLUMBIA UNIV IRVING MEDICA…NY PUBLIC RADIO WNYC: $15,000 · OtherNY PUBLIC RADIO WNYCWAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY: $14,500 · OtherWAYNE STATE UNIVERSITYMETROPOLITAN OPERA: $14,185 · OtherMETROPOLITAN OPERATIMELINE THEATRE: $10,600 · OtherTIMELINE THEATREASSN CHAMBER MUSIC PLAYERS: $9,000 · OtherASSN CHAMBER MUSIC PLAYERSIndividual grant recipient: $8,700 · OtherIndividual grant recipient+87 more: $67,689 · Other+87 moreUniversity of Chicago: $47,910 · EducationUniversit…+8 more: $4,500 · Education+8 moreThe Chicago Community Trust: $7,550 · PhilanthropyNATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS INC: $2,000 · EnvironmentEARTHJUSTICE: $1,600 · EnvironmentCASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION: $2,000 · Human ServicesFAMILY RESCUE INC: $100 · Human Services+2 more: $100 · Human ServicesBRIGHT PROMISES FOUNDATION: $1,400 · AnimalsPAWS CHICAGO: $150 · Animals+1 more: $50 · Animals
Arts & Culture$422,008Other$158,674Education$52,410Philanthropy$7,550Environment$3,600Human Services$2,200Animals$1,600

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetConcert Artists Guild Inc: $212,610 over 8y, 2.6% of budgetTHIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFP: $141,870 over 8y, 2.8% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $47,910 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Symphony Orchestra: $30,100 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA INC: $8,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetThe Chicago Community Trust: $7,550 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO OPERA THEATER: $4,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetCEDILLE CHICAGO NFP: $4,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetLyric Opera of Chicago: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetClassical Music Chicago: $2,250 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA INC: $2,200 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION: $2,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: $1,980 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetCollaborative Arts Institute of Chicago: $1,650 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetEARTHJUSTICE: $1,600 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetBALLET THEATRE FOUNDATION INC: $1,560 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO ARTS PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION: $1,550 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetBRIGHT PROMISES FOUNDATION: $1,400 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NEWBERRY LIBRARY: $1,350 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetACCESSIBLE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC: $1,250 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNorthwestern University: $1,100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Inc: $1,050 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetNEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY: $975 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetMusical Mentors Collaborative Inc: $800 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $800 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetMuseum of Modern Art: $778 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $710 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OF THE USA INC: $600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe Frick Collection: $535 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetThe Chicago Chamber Music Society: $525 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetCHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN: $500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC: $500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSPEKTRAL QUARTET NFP: $500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CENTURY ASSOCIATION: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCENTURY ASSOCIATION ARCHIVES FOUNDATION: $500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDEMPSTER ST PRO MUSICA NFP: $450 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetURBAN GATEWAYS: $400 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCIVITAS ENSEMBLE: $400 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetIMANI WINDS FOUNDATION INC: $400 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART: $330 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $325 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetNOON INC: $300 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetINTERFAITH ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: $250 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHAMBER MUSIC INTERNATIONAL INC: $250 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMUSIC OF THE BAROQUE: $200 over 2y, 0.0% 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.

  • Who funds Concert Artists Guild Inc ↗
  • Who funds THIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFP ↗
  • Who funds University of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds Chicago Symphony Orchestra ↗
  • Who funds CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA INC ↗
  • Who funds The Chicago Community Trust ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO OPERA THEATER ↗
  • Who funds CEDILLE CHICAGO NFP ↗
  • Who funds Lyric Opera of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds Classical Music Chicago ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA INC ↗
  • Who funds CASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS INC ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ↗
  • Who funds Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds EARTHJUSTICE ↗
  • Who funds BALLET THEATRE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO ARTS PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION ↗

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.

The Aaron Copland Fun…The Chicago Community…The Amphion Foundatio…John D and Catherine …The Irving Harris Fou…Lloyd a Fry FoundationPolk Bros Foundation …Elizabeth F Cheney Fo…Ann & Gordon Getty Fo…Ncrc Community Develo…Prince FoundationJohn R Halligan Chari…
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc Co Alter Kendrick & Baron LLPNY29.9× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Inc Co Alter Kendrick & Baron LLP · The Chicago Community Trust · The Amphion Foundation Inc Co Alter Kendrick & Baron LLP · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · The Irving Harris Foundation · Lloyd a Fry Foundation · Polk Bros Foundation Inc · Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation · Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation · Ncrc Community Development Fund Inc · Prince Foundation · John R Halligan Charitable Fund

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 Louise K Smith Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Louise K Smith Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    14report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    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 149 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Louise K 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