The Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation concentrates its giving on large, place-based investments in Greater Boston civic and cultural life, with a strong emphasis on Jewish communal institutions and public cultural amenities. The foundation makes a small number of high-value grants, including repeat support to major community partners, signaling preference for sustaining institutional capacity and public cultural vitality over broad, diffuse giving.
A $2,000,000 grant to the Esplanade Association stands out in the Richard & Susan Smith Family Foundation’s recent giving and captures a broader pattern: large, place-based support for institutions that shape Greater Boston civic, cultural, and communal life. The foundation’s awards also show sustained commitment to Jewish communal infrastructure, including repeated seven-figure support for Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston. Alongside that, the foundation backs hospitals, community health centers, youth-serving nonprofits, and human service organizations, often at sizes large enough to support program delivery or capital needs rather than small project grants. Its portfolio includes both long-standing cultural assets and direct-service providers, with grantees ranging from Boston’s Esplanade to neighborhood-based organizations in Dorchester, Roxbury, South Boston, Brockton, and Lowell. Medical and biomedical research appears as another recurring thread, with grants to hospitals, research intermediaries, and research-related campaigns. The overall picture is of a local funder making concentrated investments in organizations with broad public reach, especially in Greater Boston.
Jewish communal institutions are a clear priority. The foundation gave $1,500,000 in 2024 to Combined Jewish Philanthropies for Jewish causes, following a $1,500,000 grant in 2023 for the same purpose. Health is another major lane: it awarded $1,000,000 to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2024 and $670,000 to Boston Medical Center in 2024, with additional health funding to Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, and The Dimock Center. It also supports youth development, including $500,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell. Human services appear in grants such as $500,000 to Father Bill's & Mainspring and $325,000 to Daily Table, reflecting direct support for people facing basic-needs challenges.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure to low-six-figure range, with p25 at $12,500, a median of $32,874, and p75 at $112,429. The recent record also includes a smaller set of very large awards, which indicates a blended approach: many grants are modest, while selected institutional partners receive substantially larger support. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Health Resources in Action, Milton Academy, and others. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and the giving pattern is highly concentrated in Massachusetts.
$15.6M
$302.9M
$28.3M
$23.9M
Most grants fall between $13K and $112K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$112K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small set of organizations — including repeat funding for a flagship Jewish organization — focused on regional civic and cultural impact rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Esplanade Association
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and centered in Massachusetts, with 92% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Boston is the main hub, appearing repeatedly through grantees such as the Esplanade Association, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston Medical Center, and Father Bill's & Mainspring. Other Massachusetts cities and towns show a secondary spread across the region, including Brockton, Lowell, New Bedford, Dorchester, Roxbury, Cambridge, Milton, Needham, Roslindale, and South Boston. All recorded recipient-country activity is in the United States.
The foundation gives to Jewish communal institutions, cultural and civic organizations, hospitals and medical research groups, youth programs, and human service providers. Recent recipients include Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Esplanade Association, Boston Medical Center, and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the five-figure range: p25 is $12,500, the median is $32,874, and p75 is $112,429. It also makes a smaller number of much larger awards, including several grants in the $500,000 to $2,000,000 range.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Health Resources in Action, and Milton Academy, showing a pattern of recurring support.
Its grantmaking is highly concentrated in Massachusetts: 92% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Boston is the most frequent recipient city, with additional grants reaching Brockton, Lowell, New Bedford, Dorchester, Roxbury, Cambridge, Milton, Needham, and Roslindale.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES | BOSTON, MA | $1,500,000 | 2026 | JEWISH CAUSES |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $1,500,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| ESPLANADE ASSOCIATION | BOSTON, MA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | CULTURAL VITALITY |
| YMCA CAPE COD | WEST BARNSTABLE, MA | $800,000 | 2026 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON | BOSTON, MA | $730,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $500,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| MORE THAN WORDS | WALTHAM, MA | $500,000 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| HEALTH RESOURCES IN ACTION | BOSTON, MA | $373,158 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CUMMINGS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE DIMOCK CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE | LOWELL, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PAN MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE | NEEDHAM, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| TUFTS UNIVERSITY | MEDFORD, MA | $200,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $200,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BOSTON PLAN FOR EXCELLENCE | BOSTON, MA | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BOSTON COLLEGE | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY | WALTHAM, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $135,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $133,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $133,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $133,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL | WORCESTER, MA | $133,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| HARVARD COLLEGE PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $133,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| MASSINC | BOSTON, MA | $125,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION | BOSTON, MA | $125,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MASSACHUSETTS ALLIANCE FOR EARLY COLLEGE | WESTON, MA | $125,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER | BOSTON, MA | $112,500 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| REACH UNIVERSITY | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CUMMINGS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BEVERLY, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE MEADOWBROOK SCHOOL OF WESTON | WESTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON
$730,000EDUCATION
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
HEALTH
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$250,000HEALTH
THE DIMOCK CENTER
$250,000HEALTH
MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$250,000EDUCATION
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
TUFTS UNIVERSITY
$200,000EDUCATION
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$135,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$135,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$135,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$133,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$133,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$133,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
MASSINC
$125,000EDUCATION
MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION
$125,000EDUCATION
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER
$112,500HEALTH
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$100,000HEALTH