Private foundation · Nashville
Henry Laird Smith Foundation
In 2025 it gave 33 grants worth $547,500 to Tennessee groups. A typical grant was $1,250 to $17,500.
Invitation only: it picks who to fund. Don't send a proposal. Look for a connection through its board. See its board and officers below: do you or your board know any of them?
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 33 totaling $547,500
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $1,250 to $17,500 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $15,000: the middle grant to the 6 Tennessee groups it funded for the first time in 2025.
- Where it gives
- Davidson County, Williamson County · plus 16 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups? How we figure this
- 18% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2025 were new (not funded in 2023–2024): 6 of 33.
- Total giving that year
- $601,000
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $601K | $548K | 33 |
| 2024 | $623K | $590K | 33 |
| 2023 | $692K | $645K | 33 |
All grants paid To Tennessee
How to apply
The foundation's filing doesn't describe how to apply. Look for a website, or send a short letter asking whether it accepts requests.
Board and officers
Does your board know anyone here?
Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- Equitable Trust CompanyCo-trustee
- Overton T SmithTrustee
- Russell O StewartTrustee
- Ellen SmithTrustee
- Jeannette WarnerTrustee
- Sloan Warner JrTrustee
As listed in its 2025 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
How big its Tennessee grants are
| Grant size | Grants |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 5 |
| $1,000 to $4,999 | 9 |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 4 |
| $10,000 to $24,999 | 10 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | 3 |
| $100,000 or more | 2 |
From its 2025 IRS filing. Small groups: look at how many grants sit in the bands you'd ask for.
Tennessee organizations it funded
Largest first. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Past winner | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second Harvest | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $150K |
| The Land Trust for Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $106K |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center Development | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $50K |
| Nashville Tree Foundation | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $30K |
| Harpeth Hall School | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $26K |
| Travelers Rest | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $21K |
| Heritage Foundation | Franklin, Williamson County | Donation | $20K |
| The Welcome Garden | Goodlettsville, Davidson County | Donation | $18K |
| Christ Church Cathedral | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $18K |
| St George's Episcopal Church | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $15K |
| St Luke's Community House | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $15K |
| The Hermitage | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $11K |
| Alive Hospice | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $10K |
| Saint Augustine Chapel | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $10K |
| Siloam Family Health Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $10K |
| Nashville Symphony | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $6,000 |
| Meharry Medical College | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $5,000 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $5,000 |
| YWCA of Middle Tennessee | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $5,000 |
| Cheekwood | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $2,500 |
| Vanderbilt College of Arts & Sciences | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $2,500 |
| Vanderbilt Law School | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $2,500 |
| Friends of Warner Parks | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $2,000 |
| Nashville Opera | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $1,250 |
| Nashville Public Television | Nashville, Davidson County | Donation | $1,250 |