← Back to US Funders Directory

Smith Richardson Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$22.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.4M
Decision Time
4mo

Smith Richardson Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22,769,293 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive)
  • Decision Time: Varies; board meets 3 times/year for grants >$50,000; rolling for grants ≤$50,000
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $400,000+
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States focus)
  • Total Assets: $545,245,316 (2024)

Contact Details

Main Office:
60 Jesup Road
Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 222-6222
Email: info@srf.org
Website: www.srf.org

Program-Specific Contacts:

The Foundation welcomes inquiries about its grant-making priorities and application procedures.

Overview

Established in 1935 by H. Smith Richardson and his wife Grace Jones Richardson from the success of the Vick Chemical Company, the Smith Richardson Foundation is a private foundation with over $545 million in assets. The Foundation awarded 273 grants totaling $22.8 million in 2023. Its mission is to "contribute to important public debates and to address serious public policy challenges facing the United States" through two principal programs: International Security & Foreign Policy, and Domestic Public Policy. The Foundation seeks to ensure the vitality of social, economic, and governmental institutions while advancing U.S. interests and values. Under President Dr. Marin Strmecki's leadership, the Foundation has maintained its commitment to generating "intellectual capital to enable the United States to make the right decision[s]" in an increasingly complex world.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. International Security & Foreign Policy Program

The objective of this program is to assist the U.S. policy community in developing effective national security strategies and foreign policies. Grant amounts vary widely, from $10,000 fellowships to $400,000+ institutional grants.

  • Strategy & Policy Fellows Program: At least three research grants of $60,000 each for single-author book projects on American foreign policy, international relations, international security, military policy, and diplomatic/military history. Eligibility limited to junior/adjunct faculty, research associates, post-docs, and emerging policy thinkers affiliated with academic institutions or think tanks. Deadline: June 9, 2025; Notifications: November 3, 2025.

  • World Politics & Statecraft Fellowship: Up to 20 grants of $10,000 each supporting Ph.D. dissertation research on American foreign policy, international relations, international security, strategic studies, area studies, and diplomatic/military history. Deadline: October 6, 2025; Notifications: March 2, 2026.

  • General Grants: Variable amounts for policy research projects addressing great power competition, disruptive technologies, security issues in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East, and challenges posed by the emerging alignment of adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea).

2. Domestic Public Policy Program

Supports projects that help the public and policymakers understand and address critical challenges facing the United States through research and evaluation of existing public policies. Average grant size approximately $50,000-$80,000.

Grant-making portfolios include:

  • Fiscal Practices: Revenue generation, long-term fiscal balances, and maintaining essential public services at national, state, and municipal levels
  • Human Capital Development: Improving teacher workforce quality, adopting more effective curricula, and post-secondary education initiatives
  • Economic Growth: Strategies to improve long-term economic growth and support entrepreneurship
  • Criminal Justice: Examining ways to lower system costs while protecting public safety

Priority Areas

International Security & Foreign Policy:

  • Great power competition and emerging adversarial alignments
  • Traditional and disruptive technology security challenges
  • Regional security issues in Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East
  • Projects that could directly inform U.S. policy debates
  • Supporting next-generation scholars and analysts

Domestic Public Policy:

  • Evidence-based policy analysis and program evaluation
  • Projects that break new ground (not incremental advances)
  • Research that can inform policymakers and practitioners
  • Innovative approaches to critical national challenges

What They Don't Fund

While the Foundation does not publish a comprehensive exclusion list, they do not fund:

  • Direct service programs
  • Projects outside U.S. public policy issues
  • Projects unrelated to their specific program priorities
  • For Strategy & Policy Fellows: edited volumes, co-authored books, conference volumes, reports, or collections of previously published work
  • Projects focused primarily on abstract theory without policy relevance

Governance and Leadership

Officers:

  • Peter L. Richardson - Chairman of the Board, Co-Chief Investment Officer
  • W. Winburne King III - Vice Chairman, General Counsel, Co-Chief Investment Officer
  • Dr. Marin Strmecki - President
  • Ross F. Hemphill - Vice President, CFO
  • Dr. Arvid R. Nelson - Secretary

Board of Trustees: Peter L. Richardson, Michael Blair, W. Winburne King III, Arvid R. Nelson, John Richardson, Nico Richardson, Tyler B. Richardson, E. William Stetson III

Board of Governors: Dr. Karen Dynan, Dr. Edward Glaeser, General Jack Keane (Ret.), Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster (ret.), Ian Rowe, Dr. Michael Strain, Dr. Melissa Kearney

Program Staff:

  • International Security & Foreign Policy: Christopher Griffin (Senior Program Officer), Allan Song, Esq. (Senior Program Officer), Paula Landesberg (Administrative Associate)
  • Domestic Public Policy: Mark Steinmeyer (Senior Program Officer), Jennifer Momplaisir (Administrative Associate)

Key Quote from Leadership:

Dr. Marin Strmecki, President: "There's a very deep relationship between actions of philanthropists and effective U.S. foreign policy...There are no more important issues than the issues of war and peace."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Concept Paper Submission

The first step is submitting a concept paper (maximum 6 pages, excluding the one-page data sheet). Initial inquiries should be mailed to the Foundation's office at 60 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880.

Concept Paper Requirements:

  • One-page data sheet with principal investigator information, contact details, and project information
  • Description of the policy issue the project will address and its relevance
  • Explanation of how the project advances knowledge beyond existing research
  • Brief biography of principal investigator(s)
  • Research strategy or work plan with details on data collection and analysis
  • Description of products to be produced during the grant term

Templates available at www.srf.org.

Step 2: Full Proposal (If Invited)

After reviewing the concept paper, Foundation staff will contact the applicant to indicate whether they wish to request a full proposal following the Foundation's template. Full proposals are reviewed by three outside experts.

Step 3: Board Review

For grants >$50,000 and multi-year support, proposals go to one of the Foundation's regular board meetings (held three times per year). The board reads the proposal, reviewer comments, and the applicant's response to reviewer comments before making the final funding determination.

Fellowship Program Applications:

Follow specific program guidelines and deadlines. Applications must be emailed to designated program addresses. Complete proposal templates required. No exceptions to deadlines.

Decision Timeline

  • Grants ≤$50,000: Reviewed on an ongoing basis and handled as promptly as possible
  • Grants >$50,000: Reviewed at one of three annual board meetings
  • Response Time: The Foundation responds to all grant requests in a timely manner but cannot guarantee a response within a specific timeframe due to high application volume
  • Fellowship Programs: Specific timelines (e.g., Strategy Fellows: June 9 deadline, November 3 notifications)

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation receives a large number of grant proposals and is highly competitive. In 2023, the Foundation made 273 awards, suggesting selectivity given the national scope and specialized focus areas.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. The Foundation does offer feedback to declined applicants when possible, and occasionally the board will ask staff to work with applicants to see if changes can be made to enable funding. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Be Bold and Break New Ground

Mark Steinmeyer, Senior Program Officer for Domestic Public Policy, emphasizes: "Be bold." He notes the Foundation reviews many applications for incremental advances on existing knowledge, but "they tend to look for opportunities to support policy analysis/program evaluation that would break new ground."

Demonstrate Direct Policy Relevance

For the International Security and Foreign Policy Program, the Foundation gives preference to "projects that could directly inform U.S. policy debates and thinking" with less emphasis on abstract theory or purely disciplinary scholarly debates.

Explain Methods Clearly but Thoroughly

Steinmeyer advises that "applicants should explain their methods in discussions that should be detailed but also not overly technical. A proposal reader should be able to understand the basic analytical approach and also understand that the work is time-consuming enough to merit a grant."

Show How You Advance Knowledge

Concept papers should explicitly discuss "how the project would advance knowledge beyond what is known from the existing research base."

Leverage the Review Process

The Foundation's review process includes three outside expert reviewers, and applicants have the opportunity to respond to reviewer comments before the board makes a final decision. Take reviewer feedback seriously and provide thoughtful responses.

Understand Recent Funding Patterns

Recent grants (2022-2023) have gone to major institutions including Stanford University ($404,000), American Foreign Policy Council ($400,000), Foundation for the Defense of Democracies ($400,000), RAND Corporation ($388,000), Brown University ($350,000), and American Enterprise Institute ($278,000). This suggests the Foundation supports both individual researchers and institutional research programs.

Focus on Innovation and Evidence

The Foundation prioritizes funding for research that is innovative, evidence-based, and capable of informing policymakers and practitioners. Projects should offer new approaches to addressing critical policy challenges.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Think Big: The Foundation explicitly seeks bold projects that break new ground rather than incremental advances
  • Policy Impact is Essential: Demonstrate clear pathways for how your research will inform U.S. policy debates and decision-making
  • Start with a Strong Concept Paper: The 6-page concept paper is your gateway; invest time in crafting a compelling case that shows both policy relevance and methodological rigor
  • Know the Two-Tier Process: Grants under $50,000 move faster on a rolling basis; larger grants require board approval at one of three annual meetings
  • Alignment Matters: Ensure your project clearly fits within either International Security & Foreign Policy or Domestic Public Policy program priorities
  • Expert Review is Rigorous: Your proposal will be evaluated by three outside experts and the board; quality and clarity are paramount
  • Relationship Building Helps: The Foundation welcomes inquiries about grant-making priorities and application procedures; don't hesitate to reach out before applying
  • Fellowship Deadlines are Firm: No exceptions are made for the Strategy & Policy Fellows or World Politics & Statecraft Fellowship deadlines

References

← Back to US Funders Directory