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The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Lester and Bernice 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.

$244k
Granted FY2025still arriving
16
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$50k
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, FY2021 to 2023.

Health$399kEducation$109kSocial Science$75kArts & Culture$40kHuman Services$38kRecreation & Sports$36kInternational$30kCrime & Legal$25kOther$0
02FY2025 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k3 grants · $18k
  • $10k–50k12 grants · $176k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$10,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$3.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH ALLIANCE$50,000
HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION$27,000
SAN JUAN ISLAND MUSEUM OF ART$25,000
THE CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE$25,000
HOLY NAMES ACADEMY FOUNDATION$15,000
VILLAGE THEATRE$13,000
BELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION$11,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BELLEVUE$10,000
OVERLAKE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION$10,000
PORCHLIGHT$10,000
THE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR CHILDREN$10,000
SHIRTS ACROSS AMERICA$10,000
RENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION$10,000
HEART & HOOK FOUNDATION$7,500
BOYER CHILDREN'S CLINIC$5,000
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 (FY21–24, $9k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%TOYS FOR KIDS: $4k → 9%TUKWILA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: $5k → 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.

75%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$986k · 21 repeat orgs$327k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +36% since the first grant, against +4% for those funded once.

21 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
41

Total granted

$986k
$220k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+36%
+4%

Still filing today

81%
61%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 56% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $108k went to new ones.

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

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

’21’22’23’24’25
HealthEducationArts & CultureYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsOther
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

  • CI
    CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE
    5× · 2021–2025 · $125k · revenue +7% · 60% of their budget
  • HS
    HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION IN
    5× · 2021–2025 · $90k · revenue +202%
  • TO
    THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL
    4× · 2021–2024 · $63k · revenue +109%

Funded once

  • OF
    OHSU FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $20k
  • GC
    GLOBAL CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2024 · $17k
  • PA
    PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EASTSIDE
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue -48%
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
Seattle Children's Hospital

Seattle children's hospital (seattle children's) will be an innovative leader in pediatric health and wellness through our unsurpassed quality, clinical care, relentless spirit of inquiry, and compassion for all children and their…

Health
2
Our Children Oregon

Our children oregon's mission is to be a voice and force for the common good for all oregon children, ensuring all children have the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential. we elevate data and the voices of…

Philanthropy
3
The Campbell Institute

Children's institute's mission is to leverage research, practice, policy, and advocacy to shift systems toward justice for families so that all of oregon's children, prenatal to grade 5, have access to opportunity.

Unclassified
4
Seattle University

Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.

—
5
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Seattle Chapter

Arcs foundation advances science and technology in the united states by providing financial awards to academically outstanding u.s. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research.

Education
6
School's Out Washington

School's out washington (sowa) drives positive systemic change so that all washington's children and youth, particularly those furthest from justice, have access to a robust ecosystem of high-quality expanded learning programs.

Youth Development
7
Foundations for a Better Oregon

Foundations for a better oregon advances oregon's commitment to supporting every child to learn, grow, and thrive. we build bridges between community, policymakers, and philanthropy, setting a foundation for shared vision and collective…

Education
8
Seattle Children's Guild Association

Seattle children's guild association advocates for seattle children's hospital through volunteer, philanthropic and community endeavors to ensure hope, excellent care and advanced cures for children.

—
9
University Cooperative School

We take a joyful, community-oriented approach to raising engaged citizens, deep learners, and brave adventurers with the skills, creativity, and heart needed to better the world.

—
10
Rainier Scholars

Cultivates the academic potential and leadership skills of underrepresented students. by creating access to opportunities and holistic support, we increase college graduation rates and empower new generations of leaders.

Education
11
Seattle Biomedical Research Institute

We conduct fundamental infectious disease research to generate critical new knowledge about pathogens and their interactions with see schedule o for continuationhumans to enable the discovery and development of novel interventions,…

—
12
Alaska Airlines Foundation
Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Overlake Hospital Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Hawaii State Junior Golf Association in. 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

50 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. 50 of the 70 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
13
Early backer (in before they grew)
49/50
Grantees still filing
30/50
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE: $125,000 · OtherCUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTEHOLY NAMES ACADEMY FOUNDATION: $32,050 · OtherHOLY NAMES ACADEMY FOUNDATIONCHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK: $30,000 · OtherCHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORKBELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION: $27,250 · OtherSan Juan Islands Museum of Art: $25,000 · OtherOHSU FOUNDATION: $20,000 · OtherKing County Sexual Assault Resource Center: $20,000 · OtherCHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK: $18,000 · OtherCONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS: $20,000 · Other+37 more: $209,000 · Other+37 moreRIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER: $380,000 · HealthRIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCEROVERLAKE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $30,000 · HealthOVERLAKE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION+6 more: $36,000 · Health+6 moreTHE OVERLAKE SCHOOL: $63,000 · EducationTHE OVERLA…RENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: $50,000 · EducationRENTON SCH…JUSTICE AND SOUL FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Education+2 more: $4,000 · EducationHAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION IN: $89,500 · Recreation & Sports+1 more: $2,000 · Recreation & SportsVILLAGE THEATRE: $41,500 · Arts & CulturePERFORMING ARTS CENTER EASTSIDE: $10,000 · Arts & CultureA CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureNORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH FUND INC: $50,000 · PhilanthropyRENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FNDN: $3,000 · Philanthropy+1 more: $1,000 · PhilanthropyWORLD VISION INC: $25,000 · InternationalTHE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR CHILDREN: $15,000 · International
Other$526,300Health$446,000Education$122,000Recreation & Sports$91,500Arts & Culture$61,500Philanthropy$54,000International$40,000

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 budgetRIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER: $380,000 over 4y, 10% of budgetCUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE: $125,000 over 5y, 60% of budgetHAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION IN: $89,500 over 5y, 1.3% of budgetTHE OVERLAKE SCHOOL: $63,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH FUND INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetRENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 4y, 4.4% of budgetVILLAGE THEATRE: $41,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetOVERLAKE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK: $30,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION: $27,250 over 4y, 4.9% of budgetSan Juan Islands Museum of Art: $25,000 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetWORLD VISION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKing County Sexual Assault Resource Center: $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetCONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR CHILDREN: $15,000 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetPERFORMING ARTS CENTER EASTSIDE: $10,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetThe Breakfast Group: $10,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetBELLEVUE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNORTHWEST HARVEST EMM: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOREGON FOOD BANK: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHYDROCEPHALUS ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPROVIDENCE PORTLAND MEDICAL FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetST JUDE HOSPITAL: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN AND YOUTH JUSTICE CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN TACOMA: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetJUSTICE AND SOUL FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetJumpstart Labs Inc DBA Jewish JUMPSTART JSLABS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTukwila Childrens Foundation: $5,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetA CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHO'OLA NA PUA: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCIS OF GREATER KING COUNTY DBA COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTOYS FOR KIDS: $3,500 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetRENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FNDN: $3,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALS ONE INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOCEAN BEACH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetGeneration Alive: $2,250 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetCAMP RAINBOW GOLD INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWomen Helping Women Fund: $2,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetISLAND HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $1,750 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE BELLEVUE POLICE FOUNDATION: $1,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetIdaho FFA Foundation Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWOODINVILLE ROTARY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetACU FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetFINANCIAL BEGINNINGS WASHINGTON: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% 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 FoundationPuget Sound Energy Fo…United Way of King Co…The Norcliffe Foundat…M J Murdock Charitabl…Bernier McCaw Foundat…Renton Regional Commu…Apex FoundationMedina FoundationCredit Unions in the …Gs Donor Advised Phil…Baird Foundation Inc
Seattle FoundationWA33.3× affinity17 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Seattle Foundation · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · United Way of King County · The Norcliffe Foundation · M J Murdock Charitable Trust · Bernier McCaw Foundation · Renton Regional Community Fndn · Apex Foundation · Medina Foundation · Credit Unions in the State of Washington · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Baird Foundation Inc

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 The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%4%15%34%60%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 21%
  • Oregon Food Bank: 21% of income from government
  • University of Portland: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
11report 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 70 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 Lester and Bernice 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