The John and Gwen Smart Foundation concentrates major gifts on biomedical and scientific research—particularly vision and sensory-loss research—while also supporting social impact organizations in women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, and innovative mental-health research. Grants are nationally focused (not limited to Illinois) and skew toward funding established institutions and initiatives with specialized research or advocacy missions.
John and Gwen Smart Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated support for Usher III Initiative Inc, including a $500,000 general-operating grant in 2025 and several earlier grants at $400,000, $365,000, and $300,000. That pattern sits alongside major biomedical research funding, especially for vision, sensory-loss, and neurological conditions. Stanford University appears across multiple years and purposes, including metastatic breast cancer research, Parkinson’s research, Byers Eye Institute research, and the Standish Library Fund. The foundation also backs women’s advocacy, conservation work tied to California ecological corridors and watersheds, and selected mental-health or wellness initiatives. Grants in the recent file are large enough to support operating budgets and research programs, not only short project awards. The foundation’s giving is national in scope, with recipients located entirely in the United States in the recent grants list. Its portfolio shows a preference for specialized institutions and initiatives that can absorb substantial, multi-year support rather than one-off small grants.
Vision and sensory-loss research is a clear thread in the foundation’s portfolio. Stanford University received $300,000 in 2025 for Byers Eye Institute research, and another $200,000 in 2024 for Dr. Singh’s Byers Eye Institute research. The foundation also supports deaf-blind and genetic hearing-loss initiatives through Usher III Initiative Inc, which received $500,000 in 2025 for general operations. In women’s advocacy, the New York Women’s Foundation received $450,000 in 2025 for general operations, following similar support in prior years. Environmental grantmaking includes $350,000 to The Nature Conservancy in 2025 for the San Andreas Corridor and $250,000 in 2023 for Jalama Creek watershed work. The portfolio also reaches into mental-health research and wellness through grants such as $275,000 to Maps in 2023 for general operations.
Typical awards are sizable: the p25 is $63,079, the median is $114,000, and the p75 is $242,500. The recent record shows repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, including Stanford University, Usher III Initiative, New York Women’s Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, California Rangeland Trust, and Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens. That points to multi-year relationship funding rather than isolated one-time gifts. The foundation is a private foundation with annual grants of $13,280,000 and no program-related investments. It also funds individuals.
$4.1M
$39.1M
$7M
$4.6M
Most grants fall between $63K and $243K, with a median of $114K.
25th Percentile
$63K
Median
$114K
75th Percentile
$243K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of institutions with repeat funding for select research partners; mix of multi-year or multi-grant support for flagship scientific initiatives and single large gifts to mission-driven nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Stanford University (Byers Eye Institute), Usher III Initiative / Usher III Initiative Inc., New York Women's Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)
The foundation gives nationally, and every recent-grant recipient in the file is in the United States. By count, New York is the top state for recipient organizations, while Illinois accounts for 5% of grants. Recent gifts cluster in California and New York, with recipients in Redwood City, Stanford, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, San Jose, Santa Cruz, New York, and Chicago. The recent list also shows multiple grants to organizations in Chicago and the Bay Area.
Its recent grants center on biomedical and scientific research, especially vision and sensory-loss work, plus women’s advocacy and environmental conservation. The file also includes Parkinson’s research, metastatic breast cancer research, watershed protection, land-trust support, and some community wellness or library funding.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Stanford University, Usher III Initiative, New York Women’s Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, California Rangeland Trust, and Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens. The repeated awards suggest ongoing relationships rather than single grants.
The grant-size distribution is substantial: p25 is $63,079, median grant size is $114,000, and p75 is $242,500. The recent list also includes several awards in the $300,000 to $500,000 range.
No. The foundation’s recent grants are national, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Illinois accounts for 5% of grants, while New York is the top state by grant count.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, alongside institutions and organizations. The recent grants list is institution-heavy, but the foundation’s profile explicitly indicates individual support is part of its giving.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USHER III INITIATIVE INC | CHICAGO, IL | $800,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NEW YORK WOMEN'S FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $400,000 | 2026 | BYERS EYE INSTITUTE |
| AMERICAN NURSES FOUNDATION | SILVER SPRING, MD | $340,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ROGOSIN INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $260,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | PARKINSON'S RESEARCH |
| CREATIVITY EXPLORED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $125,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| KQED INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $110,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PACIFIC CURRENTS INC | BANDON, OR | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CG JUNG INSTITUTE OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WOMEN IN NEED INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SANTA BARBARA BIRD SANCTUARY | SUMMERLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EGOSCUE FOUNDATION | SAN DIEGO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2026 | WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE COVID 19 |
| CULTURAL ACTIVISM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT INC | DELHI, NY | $75,000 | 2026 | REG EARTHE PROJECT |
| THREE JEWELS OUTREACH CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | NANDI YOGA PROJECT |
| DAY ONE NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MIDDLE WAY SCHOOL | SAUGERTIES, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| USHER III INITIATIVE INC | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NEW YORK WOMEN'S FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $450,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $420,000 | 2025 | METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | SAN ANDREAS CORRIDO |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | ALLEN MORGAN STANDISH LIBRARY FUND |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | BYERS EYE INSTITUTE |
| ROGOSIN INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $210,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | PARKINSON'S RESEARCH |
| AMERICAN NURSES FOUNDATION | SILVER SPRING, MD | $120,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CREATIVITY EXPLORED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $105,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SANTA BARBARA BIRD SANCTUARY | SUMMERLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $85,000 | 2025 | WEILL CORNELL MEDICINE COVID 19 |
| WOMEN IN NEED INC | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THREE JEWELS OUTREACH CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | NANDI YOGA PROJECT |
| KQED INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CULTURAL ACTIVISM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT INC | DELHI, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | REG EARTHE PROJECT |
| HIGH PLATEAU HUMANE SOCIETY | ALTURAS, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DAY ONE NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $435,000 | 2024 | METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH |
| USHER III INITIATIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NY WOMENS' FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $370,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $365,000 | 2024 | METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH |
| USHER III INITIATIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $265,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PARKINSON'S RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $260,000 | 2024 | PARKINSON'S RESEARCH |
| SANTA BARBARA BOTANICAL GARDENS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NY WOMENS' FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CALIFORNIA RANGELAND TRUST | SACRAMENTO, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CALIFORNIA RANGELAND TRUST | SACRAMENTO, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | DR. SINGH'S BYERS EYE INSTITUTE RESEARCH |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $200,000 | 2024 | STANDISH LIBRARY FUND |
USHER III INITIATIVE INC
$800,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$500,000METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$400,000BYERS EYE INSTITUTE
GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$150,000PARKINSON'S RESEARCH
PACIFIC CURRENTS INC
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CG JUNG INSTITUTE OF SAN FRANCISCO
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
EGOSCUE FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CULTURAL ACTIVISM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT INC
$75,000REG EARTHE PROJECT
THREE JEWELS OUTREACH CENTER INC
$60,000NANDI YOGA PROJECT
MIDDLE WAY SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
USHER III INITIATIVE INC
$500,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$420,000METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$350,000SAN ANDREAS CORRIDO
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$300,000ALLEN MORGAN STANDISH LIBRARY FUND
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$300,000BYERS EYE INSTITUTE
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$150,000PARKINSON'S RESEARCH
THREE JEWELS OUTREACH CENTER INC
$50,000NANDI YOGA PROJECT
CULTURAL ACTIVISM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT INC
$50,000REG EARTHE PROJECT
HIGH PLATEAU HUMANE SOCIETY
$30,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$435,000METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
USHER III INITIATIVE
$400,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NY WOMENS' FOUNDATION
$370,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$365,000METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
USHER III INITIATIVE
$300,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$265,000GENERAL PARKINSON'S RESEARCH
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$260,000PARKINSON'S RESEARCH
SANTA BARBARA BOTANICAL GARDENS
$250,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NY WOMENS' FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$200,000DR. SINGH'S BYERS EYE INSTITUTE RESEARCH
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$200,000STANDISH LIBRARY FUND