The John F Smiekel Foundation concentrates philanthropic support on humanitarian medical relief, local housing/homelessness services, and advancement of women in technology. Its portfolio is small and focused — a handful of mid-to-large grants that fund both global relief (via Direct Relief) and local community needs (Housing Forward), while also backing STEM gender-equity through the Anita Borg Institute.
Concentrated giving: few, relatively large grants with at least one repeat recipient (Direct Relief). Mix of international/health-focused and local community investments rather than broad, small-dollar grantmaking.
A compact set of mid-sized grants defines the John F Smiekel Foundation’s giving: the largest recent award was $49,200 to Direct Relief in 2023, followed by another grant to the same organization in 2024. That pattern sits alongside support for the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Tech and Housing Forward, showing a mix of humanitarian medical aid, homelessness services, and women’s advancement in technology. The foundation’s recent portfolio is small rather than broad, with repeated awards to a limited set of recipients and grant sizes clustering in the mid-teens to low twenties of thousands. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs both national organizations and local service providers. Direct Relief appears as a major recipient, reflecting a strong medical-relief thread. Housing Forward, based in Maywood, Illinois, marks the foundation’s connection to housing and supportive services in the Chicago area. The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Tech shows a separate commitment to women in STEM, while other awards extend to community organizations and health-related institutions in several states. The result is a grantmaking profile that is focused, recurring, and oriented toward practical service delivery.
In humanitarian medical relief, the foundation gave $36,000 in 2024 to Direct Relief for further exempt purpose, following a $49,200 grant in 2023. That repeated support points to an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time award. Women in technology is another clear thread. The foundation awarded $29,200 in 2023 to Anita Borg Inst for Women and Tech in San Mateo, California, signaling support for women’s participation and leadership in the tech sector. Housing and homelessness services also appear in the grant list. Housing Forward in Maywood, Illinois received $29,200 in 2023, placing local supportive housing work among the foundation’s named priorities. Smaller awards to Revolution Workshop in Chicago and Reclaim13 in Lombard add related community-service activity in Illinois.
Typical grant size falls in a fairly tight band: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $17,750, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. That points to steady mid-sized grants rather than very large outliers. The recent list also shows repeat funding to several organizations across 2023 and 2024, including Direct Relief, Revolution Workshop, Avery County Humane Society, Appalachian Regional Healthcare Sys, Grandfather Community Foundation, Jeremy Elliot Scholarship Fdn, and Women’s Aux of Piedmont Hospital. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The available data does not describe an application process or unsolicited submission path.
$220K
$4.5M
$718K
$312K
Most grants fall between $15K and $20K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 23% of grants go to recipients in NC.
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Notable grantees: Direct Relief, Housing Forward, Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology
Grantmaking is national, with all recent awards going to U.S. recipients. California appears most often among recipient locations, with grants to Santa Barbara and San Mateo as well as other California-based organizations. Illinois is also prominent through awards in Maywood, Chicago, and Lombard, and North Carolina appears repeatedly across Newland, Boone, Spruce Pine, Linville, and Jefferson. Additional recent recipients are in Indiana, Georgia, and Florida, showing a spread beyond the foundation’s Midwest base.
The recent grants list shows support for humanitarian medical relief, housing and homelessness services, women in technology, and related community services. Named recipients include Direct Relief, Housing Forward, and the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Tech.
Its grant sizes cluster in the mid-sized range: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $17,750, and the 75th percentile is $20,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Direct Relief, Revolution Workshop, Avery County Humane Society, Appalachian Regional Healthcare Sys, Grandfather Community Foundation, Jeremy Elliot Scholarship Fdn, and Women’s Aux of Piedmont Hospital.
The foundation gives nationally, but California has the highest recipient count in the recent grants list. Illinois is also a major state of giving, and North Carolina appears frequently as well.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $32,500 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITIZENS CONCERNED FOR THE HOMELESS | MICHIGAN CITY, IN | $32,500 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK | GENEVA, IL | $32,500 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINVILLE, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CODEART | MIAMI, FL | $16,250 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NOURISHING HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $16,250 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST | MIAMI, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AVERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | NEWLAND, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN | JEFFERSON, NC | $12,500 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| YELLOWSTONE FOREVER | BOZEMAN, MT | $12,500 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WOMENS' AUXILIARY OF PIEDMONT HOSP | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2026 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITIZENS CONCERNED FOR THE HOMELESS | MICHIGAN CITY, IN | $20,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CODEART | MIAMI, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| REVOLUTION WORKSHOP | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AVERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | NEWLAND, NC | $17,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYS | BOONE, NC | $16,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINVILLE, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| NOURISHING HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HEPHZIBAH CHILDRENS ASSOCIATION | OAK PARK, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOSUE | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN | JEFFERSON, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AGAPE COMMUNITY CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $36,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CITIZENS CONCERNED FOR THE HOMELESS | MICHIGAN CITY, IN | $20,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| REVOLUTION WORKSHOP | CHICAGO, IL | $18,500 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AVERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | NEWLAND, NC | $18,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CHICAGO JESUIT ACADEMY | CHICAGO, IL | $17,500 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| RECLAIM13 | LOMBARD, IL | $16,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CODEART | MIAMI, FL | $16,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WOMEN'S AUX OF PIEDMONT HOSPITAL | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYS | BOONE, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINVILLE, NC | $12,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN | JEFFERSON, NC | $12,000 | 2024 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $49,200 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| ANITA BORG INST FOR WOMEN AND TECH | SAN MATEO, CA | $29,200 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HOUSING FORWARD | MAYWOOD, IL | $29,200 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| AVERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | NEWLAND, NC | $20,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE CARING PLACE | VALPARAISO, IN | $20,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| REVOLUTION WORKSHOP | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYS | BOONE, NC | $18,400 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MITCHELL COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE | SPRUCE PINE, NC | $15,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPSE |
| JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN | JEFFERSON, NC | $15,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LINVILLE, NC | $15,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| WOMEN'S AUX OF PIEDMONT HOSPITAL | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2023 | FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE |
GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$25,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
AVERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN
$12,500FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
WOMENS' AUXILIARY OF PIEDMONT HOSP
$10,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
AVERY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$17,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYS
$16,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOSUE
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN
$12,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
CHICAGO JESUIT ACADEMY
$17,500FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
RECLAIM13
$16,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
WOMEN'S AUX OF PIEDMONT HOSPITAL
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYS
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$12,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN
$12,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYS
$18,400FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
MITCHELL COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPSE
JEREMY ELLIOT SCHOLARSHIP FDN
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE
WOMEN'S AUX OF PIEDMONT HOSPITAL
$15,000FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE