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Smart Family Foundation Of New York

Annual Giving
$2.9M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.1M
Success Rate
12%

Smart Family Foundation Of New York

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,935,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: 12% (for new applicants)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $150,000
  • Total Assets: $49.8 million
  • Number of Grants: 78 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States)

Contact Details

Address: 100 Connell Dr Ste 2200, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-2741

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or publicly listed contact information. Organizations seeking to apply should research application procedures through foundation databases or direct inquiry to the registered address.

Overview

Founded in 2016, the Smart Family Foundation of New York is a private family foundation with total assets of approximately $49.8 million and annual giving of $2.9 million. The foundation is guided by three brothers—led by trustees Mary Smart, David Stone, and Jim Danatos—united in their commitment to fostering social entrepreneurship. Their mission is to discover, support, and mentor emerging nonprofit organizations and their leaders. The foundation provides both financial backing and mentorship to early-stage nonprofit ventures that have potential to make significant impact but have yet to demonstrate the efficacy needed to acquire large-scale funding. The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major urban centers like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities in states such as California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program focused on emerging nonprofits:

  • Emerging Nonprofit Support: $25,000 - $100,000 (for first-time grants to early-stage organizations)
  • The foundation made 78 grants in 2023, averaging approximately $37,635 per award
  • The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding

Priority Areas

While the foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public records, grant recipients have included:

  • Educational institutions and universities (including New York University)
  • Jewish and cultural organizations (including American Jewish Committee and PEF Israel Endowment Funds)
  • Arts and performing arts organizations (including New Jersey Performing Arts Center Corporation)
  • Science and educational media (including Science Friday Initiative)
  • Social service nonprofits and community organizations

The common thread is support for emerging organizations with strong leadership and potential for significant impact.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but based on their mission statement, the foundation likely does not fund:

  • Well-established organizations with proven track records and large-scale funding
  • Individual scholarships or direct assistance to individuals
  • Organizations that are not 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Mary Smart - Chair, Secretary, and Director

  • Compensation: $112,500 (15 hours per week)

David Stone - President, Treasurer, and Director

  • Compensation: $112,500 (15 hours per week)

Jim Danatos - Director

  • Compensation: $27,500 (5 hours per week)

The foundation employs 2 staff members and is governed by the three-member board of trustees who are actively involved in the foundation's grantmaking decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not maintain a public website or publicly advertised application process. As a private family foundation, grantmaking decisions appear to be made by the trustees based on their own research and networks rather than through an open application portal.

However, the foundation is documented as being "open to new applicants" with 12% of new applicants receiving funding, suggesting that unsolicited proposals may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Organizations interested in seeking funding should:

  • Submit a letter of inquiry to the foundation's registered address
  • Clearly articulate how the organization fits the foundation's focus on emerging nonprofits
  • Demonstrate strong leadership and potential for significant impact
  • Be prepared to show that the organization is at an early stage but has a compelling vision

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. As a private foundation with trustee-driven grantmaking, decision timeframes likely vary based on the trustees' meeting schedule and evaluation process.

Success Rates

  • Approximately 12% of new applicants are funded
  • The foundation made 78 grants in 2023, consistent with prior years (74 awards in 2022, 73 in 2021, 74 in 2020, 77 in 2019)
  • Average grant size is approximately $37,635

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Given the foundation's focus on "first-time grants" to emerging organizations, it appears that the foundation prioritizes supporting new organizations rather than providing ongoing, multi-year support to the same grantees.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's mission and grantmaking patterns, organizations are most likely to succeed if they:

  • Are emerging organizations: The foundation explicitly focuses on early-stage nonprofits that have not yet attracted large-scale funding
  • Demonstrate strong leadership: The foundation's mission emphasizes supporting "emerging nonprofit organizations and their leaders," suggesting leadership quality is a key criterion
  • Show potential for significant impact: Organizations should articulate how they plan to create meaningful change, even if they haven't yet fully proven their model
  • Need mentorship as well as funding: The foundation's mission includes mentoring leaders, not just providing financial support
  • Have a clear need for seed funding: Organizations should demonstrate that they are at a stage where $25,000-$100,000 can make a meaningful difference in building capacity and proving their model
  • Operate as social entrepreneurs: The foundation is "committed to fostering social entrepreneurship," suggesting they favor innovative, entrepreneurial approaches to social problems

The foundation supports a diverse range of causes—from education to arts to Jewish organizations—suggesting they do not restrict by subject area but rather focus on organizational characteristics (emerging, strong leadership, high potential).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on organizational stage: Emphasize that you are an emerging organization with potential but without access to large-scale funding yet
  • Highlight leadership: Showcase the strength, vision, and capabilities of your leadership team
  • Demonstrate innovation: Frame your work in terms of social entrepreneurship and innovative approaches to problems
  • Show readiness for mentorship: Express openness to guidance and relationship-building beyond just financial support
  • Be strategic about timing: Target the foundation when your organization is past the initial startup phase but not yet fully established
  • Research trustee interests: With only three trustees making decisions, understanding their backgrounds and interests may provide insight into what resonates
  • Be prepared for a competitive process: With only a 12% success rate for new applicants, applications must be exceptionally strong

References

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