James C & Norma I Smith Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal; the realistic route in is a relationship that leads to an invitation.
- Its work fits best if you rescue, rehabilitate or rehome animals, provide medical care, run education or career advancement programmes, or improve access to nutritious food and reduce food waste, and it funds only organisations with a strong operational presence in the United States.
- Its typical grants fall between $25,000 and $150,000 (about 8 in 10 grants), with a median of $75,000 and a largest grant of $700,000, so a request should be pitched at that scale rather than a small sum.
- Repeat funding is strong, since 97% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, so a prospect with no existing link to the foundation should expect a difficult first approach.
Overview
James C & Norma I Smith Foundation is a US private foundation based in Dallas, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The James C & Norma I Smith Foundation partners with high-impact nonprofits across the United States to enhance the quality of life for underserved communities. Its mission is to provide educational, nutritional, medical and environmental assistance, with particular focus on children, senior citizens, unemployed and underemployed adults, and animals. Its four stated priority areas are animal welfare, medical support, education and food security. Its work includes rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals; compassionate medical care; education, professional development and career advancement; and improving access to nutritious food while reducing food waste. It partners with nonprofits making a measurable difference for vulnerable populations. The foundation says every organisation it funds has a strong operational presence in the United States and aligns with its vision of compassion, opportunity and care being universally accessible.
Themes
- Animal welfare
- Medical support
- Education
- Food security
Geographic Focus
The United States.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 118 grants to organisations were $75,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation partners with nonprofits making a measurable difference in the lives of vulnerable populations.
- Funded organisations must have a strong operational presence in the United States and align with the foundation's vision.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 17%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations James C & Norma I Smith Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 37 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Mayo Clinic · General support.$700,0002024 tax year
- Arizona Animal Welfare League · General support.$250,0002024 tax year
- Saint Mary's Food Bank Alliance · General support.$200,0002024 tax year
- Médecins Sans Frontières USA · General support.$200,0002024 tax year
- Dion's Chicago Dream · General support$175,0002024 tax year
- PAWS Chicago · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- World Central Kitchen · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- Carole Robertson Center for Learning · General support$125,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Hill A Feinberg — Director
- Joseph Whitters — Director
- Norma I Smith — Director
- Christina A Nisell — Secretary / Treasurer
- August J Nisell — Executive Director / Director
- James C Smith — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,042,401 | $2,982,000 | $86,872,783 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,708,441 | $3,470,000 | $101,891,224 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,532,583 | $4,275,000 | $76,433,079 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to James C & Norma I Smith Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required