The Thomas W Smith Foundation directs essentially all of its funding to public policy and education research, channeling multi-year support to a single think tank. Its giving signals a focused interest in policy analysis, education reform, and public affairs work rather than broad philanthropic diversification. The foundation appears to back research, publications, and advocacy that influence public debate and policymaking.
Highly concentrated: few large grants exclusively to a single recurring grantee (repeat multi-grant support), indicating targeted, strategic funding rather than distributed small grants.
Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc directs essentially all of its recent grantmaking to policy research and education, with one recipient standing out for especially large, repeated support: Manhattan Institute received $982,988 in 2023, $1,345,904 in 2024, and $1,097,178 in 2025. That pattern shows a funder that backs a small set of institutions over multiple years rather than spreading gifts widely. The foundation’s recent grants also point to a strong interest in public policy analysis, education reform, and communications that shape debate. Alongside its support for think tanks, it has funded universities and policy groups that work on research, publications, and legal or advocacy efforts. Recent awards include repeated support for Real Clear Foundation, Institute for Humane Studies, and New Civil Liberties Alliance, each appearing across more than one grant year. The overall picture is of a national funder with a tightly focused portfolio centered on ideas, policy influence, and education-related research.
In public policy and education research, Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc has supported organizations that publish analysis and influence debate. Real Clear Foundation received $500,000 in 2024 and $350,000 in 2025 for education, while New Civil Liberties Alliance received $333,000 in 2023 and $250,000 in 2025 for public policy. The foundation also funded American Legislative Exchange Council with $300,000 in 2024 for public policy, and Pacific Research Institute with $270,000 in 2025 for research. Education-oriented grants extend to universities and academic programs: Princeton University received $320,000 in 2023 and $350,000 in 2025, and University of Notre Dame received $350,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. These grants suggest support for both policy production and the academic institutions that produce research.
Typical grants fall between $30,000 at the 25th percentile and $193,750 at the 75th percentile, with a median gift of $100,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially through 2023 to 2025, which points to sustained support rather than one-time funding. Thomas W Smith Foundation Inc is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF or PRI-making foundation, and it does not fund individuals. Its recent awards are mostly programmatic support to organizations working in policy, research, and education.
$9.5M
$24.1M
$15.5M
$10.3M
Most grants fall between $30K and $194K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$30K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$194K
About 11% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Manhattan Institute
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based, and the foundation gives nationally. New York, NY appears repeatedly, including several large grants to Manhattan Institute and other recipients in the city. Washington, DC and Arlington, VA also appear often in the recent grant list, along with South Bend, IN, Princeton, NJ, and Brooklyn, NY. Florida accounts for 11% of grants, but the recipient map extends well beyond the headquarters state.
The foundation funds policy organizations, research institutions, education-focused nonprofits, and advocacy groups. Recent grants include support for think tanks, universities, public policy groups, and organizations tied to education policy, legal advocacy, and public affairs communications.
The grant-size distribution centers on $100,000 at the median, with $30,000 at the 25th percentile and $193,750 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several six-figure and seven-figure grants, showing that the foundation often uses substantial, program-level support.
Yes. Education is a major theme in the recent grant record, including support for Real Clear Foundation, Princeton University, University of Notre Dame, Heterodox Academy, and Graduate School Foundation-cuny. The purposes attached to those gifts are labeled education or education/public policy.
The foundation gives nationally, and all recent recipient organizations are in the United States. New York, NY appears frequently, and Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, South Bend, IN, Princeton, NJ, and Brooklyn, NY also show up in the recent grants list.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,101,936 | 2026 | EDUCATION/PUBLIC POLICY |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $575,000 | 2026 | ENERGY POLICY |
| REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | SOUTH BEND, IN | $350,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| VMTS EDUCATION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $300,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| NEW CIVIL LIBERTIES ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FDTN - THE MERCATUS CENTER | ARLINGTON, VA | $300,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE | PASADENA, CA | $270,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE GRADUATE CENTER FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HETERODOX ACADEMY | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FDRLST MEDIA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| UNLEASH PROSPERITY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $230,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $210,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL REVIEW | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $200,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $200,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| CLEMSON UNIVERSITY | CLEMSON, SC | $200,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE CONSTITUTION | SIESTA KEY, FL | $175,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $165,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DEFENSE OF FREEDOM INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| ATLAS ECONOMIC RESEARCH FDTN | ARLINGTON, VA | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| CENTER FOR AMERICAN GREATNESS | PHOENIX, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FREEDOM FOUNDATION | PEACHTREE CITY, GA | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE | WILMINGTON, DE | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| STATE POLICY NETWORK | ARLINGTON, VA | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| AMERICAN WATCHDOGS INC | PARIS, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE | CLAREMONT, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL | ARLINGTON, VA | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| CALVIN COOLIDGE PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION | PLYMOUTH, VT | $120,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| KENYON COLLEGE | GAMBIER, OH | $103,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PRAGER U FOUNDATION | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER | BOZEMAN, MT | $100,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| CO2 COALITION | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2026 | ECOLOGY |
| TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION | LUBBOCK, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FAIR ELECTIONS FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY | OXFORD, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| STUDENT FREE PRESS ASSOCIATION | HILLSDALE, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| COMMON GOOD INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| THE BEACON CENTER OF TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC POLICY |
| PARENTS DEFENDING EDUCATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S FORUM | CROSS JUNCTION, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| ABIGAIL ADAMS INSTITUTE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$350,000EDUCATION
PUBLIC POLICY
PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$270,000RESEARCH
THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY
$210,000PUBLIC POLICY
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
$200,000EDUCATION
FOUNDATION FOR THE CONSTITUTION
$175,000EDUCATION
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
$150,000EDUCATION
DEFENSE OF FREEDOM INSTITUTE
$150,000PUBLIC POLICY
CENTER FOR AMERICAN GREATNESS
$150,000EDUCATION
FREEDOM FOUNDATION
$150,000PUBLIC POLICY
AMERICAN WATCHDOGS INC
$150,000PUBLIC POLICY
THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE
$150,000EDUCATION
PRAGER U FOUNDATION
$100,000EDUCATION
CO2 COALITION
$100,000ECOLOGY
FAIR ELECTIONS FUND
$100,000PUBLIC POLICY
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
$100,000EDUCATION
THE BEACON CENTER OF TENNESSEE
$50,000PUBLIC POLICY
PARENTS DEFENDING EDUCATION
$50,000EDUCATION