The Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation concentrates its giving on faith-related education and international poverty-alleviation, funding a small set of repeat grantees with multi-year or multiple awards. Major grants support microfinance/international development and Christian higher-education and seminary institutions, with some local church funding. The foundation favors organizations that combine religious mission and education or that deliver direct economic uplift overseas.
Concentrated portfolio: relatively few, sizable grants with multiple awards to the same organizations (repeat grantees), mixing large international development gifts with sustained support for faith-based education and local churches.
The Gordon V and Helen C Smith Foundation’s recent giving shows a clear split between faith-linked education and international poverty alleviation. One of its largest recurring commitments is to Opportunity International, which received $97,000 in 2023, $45,000 in 2024, and $60,000 in 2025 for general support. Another major thread is support for American Friends Sch of St Jude in Rapid City, SD, which received multiple general-support grants across 2023 and 2025. The foundation also backs Methodist and Wesleyan institutions, including Wesley Theological Seminary and Ohio Wesleyan University, alongside selected church and school ministries. That mix suggests a funder that favors organizations with a religious identity and a practical service mission, especially where education, formation, or economic uplift are central. Its portfolio includes both large awards and smaller operating grants, with repeated gifts to the same organizations over multiple years rather than a broad, high-volume grantmaking style.
In international poverty alleviation, the foundation gave $97,000 in 2023, $45,000 in 2024, and $60,000 in 2025 to Opportunity International for general support. In education, American Friends Sch of St Jude received $54,635 in 2025 and additional grants of $39,602 and $33,148 in earlier years, all for general support. The foundation also backs theological education: Wesley Theological Seminary received $22,700 in 2025, following a $20,400 grant in 2023 and a $6,500 grant in 2024. Its school and university support extends to Ohio Wesleyan University, which received $40,100 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024, plus $10,200 in 2025. Across these areas, the grants are framed as unrestricted support rather than project-specific awards.
Typical grant size centers on a $750 p25, $4,000 median, and $18,262 p75, which points to a mix of smaller operating gifts and a narrower set of larger commitments. The foundation’s pattern is recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Opportunity International, American Friends Sch of St Jude, Bethesda United Methodist Church, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Ohio Wesleyan University. The structure is consistent with general-support grantmaking. All of the recent grants shown are made in the United States, and the available data do not indicate an application process.
$642K
$3.5M
$52K
$683K
Most grants fall between $750 and $18K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$750
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$18K
About 20% of grants go to recipients in VA.
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Notable grantees: Opportunity International, American Friends School of St. Jude, Wesley Theological Seminary, Ohio Wesleyan University, Bethesda United Methodist Church
Most grants land in the United States, and the recipient map is concentrated in a few places rather than widely dispersed. Washington, DC appears repeatedly through grants to Cornerstone Schools of Washington and Boys and Girls Club of DC, while Bethesda, MD is represented by Bethesda United Methodist Church. Rapid City, SD is notable for American Friends Sch of St Jude, and Chicago, IL appears through Opportunity International. Virginia recipients also recur, including Falls Church, Arlington, Chesterfield, and Midlothian.
Its recent grants favor faith-related education, Christian congregational support, theological seminaries, and international poverty alleviation. The list also includes select schools, universities, and local service organizations, with most awards described as general support.
Yes. Several organizations receive grants in multiple years, including Opportunity International, American Friends Sch of St Jude, Bethesda United Methodist Church, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Ohio Wesleyan University. The pattern is more repeat-oriented than one-time.
The distribution centers on a p25 of $750, a median of $4,000, and a p75 of $18,262. That indicates many smaller operating gifts, alongside a smaller number of larger awards.
Its grants are concentrated in the United States, with the highest recipient concentration in South Dakota by grant count. Washington, DC, Maryland, Illinois, and Virginia also appear repeatedly in the recent grant list.
Recent grantees include Opportunity International, American Friends Sch of St Jude, Bethesda United Methodist Church, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Ohio Wesleyan University. The grants are described as general support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | Dublin, OH | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE | Rapid City, SD | $67,530 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Bethesda, MD | $6,450 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUNG LIFE | Colorado Springs, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TUKUTANA | Studio City, CA | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PITTSBURGH KIDS FOUNDATION | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AETAS MIRABILIS FOUNDATION | Clifton, VA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN | Falls Church, VA | $600 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRAWS | Vienna, VA | $400 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| RIDE ALLEGHENY | Gaithersburg, MD | $400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WETA | Arlington, VA | $200 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCK CREEK CONSERVANCY | Bethesda, MD | $150 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MULBERRY SCHOOL | Normal, IL | $91 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL | Chicago, IL | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE | Rapid City, SD | $54,635 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Bethesda, MD | $24,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | Washington, DC | $22,700 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN | Falls Church, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | Dublin, OH | $10,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF BARNABAS | Chesterfield, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PITTSBURGH KIDS FOUNDATION | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUNG LIFE | Colorado Springs, CO | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| A PURPOSEFUL DAY | Falls Church, VA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TUKUTANA | Studio City, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIDE ALLEGHENY | Gaithersburg, MD | $200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CABIN JOHN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMEN | Bethesda, MD | $150 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE YELLOW RIBBON | Pittsburgh, PA | $100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE | Rapid City, SD | $39,602 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | Dublin, OH | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Bethesda, MD | $16,125 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | Washington, DC | $6,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON | Washington, DC | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIVENDELL SCHOOL | Arlington, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF DC | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN | Falls Church, VA | $4,400 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPE IN NORTHERN VA | Falls Church, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| A PURPOSEFUL DAY | Falls Church, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIDE ALLEGHENY | Gaithersburg, MD | $200 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHESDA CHEVY CHASE RESCUE SQUAD | Bethesda, MD | $100 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL | Chicago, IL | $97,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Bethesda, MD | $48,023 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | Dublin, OH | $40,100 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE | Rapid City, SD | $33,148 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | Washington, DC | $20,400 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIVENDELL SCHOOL | Arlington, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON | Washington, DC | $4,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE
$67,530GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$6,450GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
TUKUTANA
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
AETAS MIRABILIS FOUNDATION
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN
$600GENERAL SUPPORT
BRAWS
$400GENERAL
RIDE ALLEGHENY
$400GENERAL SUPPORT
MULBERRY SCHOOL
$91GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE
$54,635GENERAL SUPPORT
BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$24,800GENERAL SUPPORT
WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$22,700GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORNERSTONE SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF BARNABAS
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
A PURPOSEFUL DAY
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TUKUTANA
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RIDE ALLEGHENY
$200GENERAL SUPPORT
CABIN JOHN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMEN
$150GENERAL SUPPORT
THE YELLOW RIBBON
$100GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE
$39,602GENERAL SUPPORT
BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$16,125GENERAL SUPPORT
WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$6,500GENERAL SUPPORT
RIVENDELL SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF DC
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FALLS CHURCH ANGLICAN
$4,400GENERAL SUPPORT
HOPE IN NORTHERN VA
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
A PURPOSEFUL DAY
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RIDE ALLEGHENY
$200GENERAL SUPPORT
BETHESDA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$48,023GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS SCH OF ST JUDE
$33,148GENERAL SUPPORT
WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$20,400GENERAL SUPPORT
RIVENDELL SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT