Ryan And Ashley Smith Foundation
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $5.5 million
- Success Rate: N/A (No public application process)
- Decision Time: N/A (Trustee discretion)
- Grant Range: $100,000 - $5,000,000
- Geographic Focus: National with emphasis on Utah
Contact Details
- Phone: (646) 213-5100
- Address: 50 W Broadway PMB 42981 Ste 333, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
- Website: Not available
- Email: Not available
Overview
The Ryan And Ashley Smith Foundation is a private foundation established in 2019 by Ryan and Ashley Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah. With total assets of approximately $71.5 million, the foundation distributes over $5.5 million annually in charitable grants. The foundation operates as a private family foundation focused on strategic philanthropy through trustee-directed giving. As a relatively young foundation, it has quickly established itself as a significant philanthropic force, particularly in health research and education sectors.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation does not operate specific grant programs but makes substantial discretionary grants:
- Major Health Research Support: Up to $5,000,000 (cancer research initiatives)
- Education Support: $100,000 - $150,000 (higher education institutions)
- Foundation-to-Foundation Grants: $150,000+ (supporting other charitable foundations)
Priority Areas
Based on recent grant patterns:
- Cancer research and health initiatives
- Higher education
- Strategic philanthropic partnerships
What They Don't Fund
Information not publicly available
Governance and Leadership
- Trustees: Ryan Smith and Ashley Smith
- The foundation operates with no paid staff, with trustees directly managing all grant decisions and foundation operations
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their strategic philanthropic interests and existing relationships.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - grants are made through trustee discretion without a formal application timeline
Success Rates
Not applicable - no public application process
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no public application process
Application Success Factors
As this foundation operates without a public application process, traditional application strategies do not apply. Organizations seeking support would need to:
- Align with the foundation's demonstrated interest areas (health research, education)
- Build relationships with the trustees or their network
- Demonstrate significant impact potential commensurate with the foundation's giving capacity
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- The Ryan And Ashley Smith Foundation is a major private foundation with no public application process
- Annual giving exceeds $5.5 million, with individual grants ranging from $100,000 to $5 million
- Focus areas include cancer research, higher education, and strategic philanthropic partnerships
- All grants are made through trustee discretion
- The foundation makes a small number of very large grants rather than many small ones
- Organizations cannot apply directly but must be identified and selected by the trustees
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Ryan And Ashley Smith Foundation (EIN: 841918005), accessed December 2025
- CauseIQ Foundation Profile - Ryan And Ashley Smith Foundation, accessed December 2025
- IRS Form 990 filings 2023, available through ProPublica