The Wisconsin State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 20-1878599

SMS Foundation Inc

A private foundation in Madison, WI. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 61 grants and $481,000 paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $481,000

    Grants listed
    61
    Assets, end of year
    $12,788,716
  • Tax year 2024

    $481,000

    Grants listed
    62
    Assets, end of year
    $10,930,223
  • Tax year 2023

    $480,000

    Grants listed
    61
    Assets, end of year
    $10,051,515
  • Tax year 2022

    $475,000

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $9,042,541
  • Tax year 2021

    $460,000

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $10,692,076
  • Tax year 2020

    $476,500

    Grants listed
    58
    Assets, end of year
    $9,568,047
  • Tax year 2019

    $472,000

    Grants listed
    53
    Assets, end of year
    $8,524,463

Grants paid in 2025

61 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Hodan CenterMineral Point, WI

    Community rehabilitation programs for adults with disabilities

    $40,000
  2. Madison Community FoundationMadison, WI

    Philanthropy to advance a more vibrant and equitable community in madison wi

    $15,000
  3. American Indian College FundDenver, CO

    Supports native students access to higher education.

    $10,000
  4. Arts HorizonsEnglewd CLFS, NJ

    Support for arts programs for children.

    $10,000
  5. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsNew York, NY

    Prevention of cruelty to animals

    $10,000
  6. Bethany ApartmentsRacine, WI

    Transitional housing for victims of domestic abuse

    $10,000
  7. Chief Blackbird CenterOdanah, WI

    Provide government services to tribal members

    $10,000
  8. Domestic Abuse Intervention ServicesMadison, WI

    To provide assistance to people who have experienced domestic abuse

    $10,000
  9. Dane County Humane SocietyMadison, WI

    Care of homeless animals.

    $10,000
  10. Doctors Without BordersNew York, NY

    Medical aid to persons whose survival is threatened

    $10,000
  11. End Domestic Abuse WiMadison, WI

    To reduce and eliminate domestic violence, abuse and oppression

    $10,000
  12. Fine Arts Work Center ProvincetownProvincetown, MA

    To encourage and develop emerging visual artists and writers

    $10,000
  13. Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsKey West, FL

    To promote humane treatment of all animals.

    $10,000
  14. Foundation for Madison Public SchoolsMadison, WI

    Educational purposes at the discretion of the charity.

    $10,000
  15. God's Love We DeliverNew York, NY

    Cook and deliver meals to clients in need.

    $10,000
  16. Kansas City Art InstituteKansas City, MO

    To educate the artists and designers of tomorrow.

    $10,000
  17. Kiva MicroloansSan Francisco, CA

    Connecting people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty

    $10,000
  18. Planned Parenthood of WisconsinMilwaukee, WI

    To empower all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health.

    $10,000
  19. Planned Parenthood USAWashington, DC

    To empower all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health.

    $10,000
  20. Reach DaneFitchburg, WI

    Fund head start programs

    $10,000
  21. Red Hook InitiativeBrooklyn, NY

    Youth empowerment and environmental justice

    $10,000
  22. Samuel's HouseKey West, FL

    To provide housing for homeless women.

    $10,000
  23. Second Harvest FoodbankMadison, WI

    To acquire and distribute food to people in need.

    $10,000
  24. Urban League of Greater MadisonFitchburg, WI

    Improve the social and economic conditions of bipoc and the economically disadvantaged

    $10,000
  25. UW School of Veterinary ScienceMadison, WI

    Veterinary education

    $10,000
  26. Wisconsin Humanities CouncilMiddleton, WI

    Supports and creates programs that use history, culture, and discussion

    $10,000
  27. YWCA MadisonMadison, WI

    To build healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities.

    $10,000
  28. Arts for Arts IncNew York, NY

    To advocate for human rights & justice in support of freejazz improvised music &art.

    $8,000
  29. Recovery FoundationMadison, WI

    Support recovery from substance use disorders

    $7,000
  30. The Rabbit HoleNorth Kansas City, MO

    Museum to celebrate children's literature

    $6,000
  31. Arts and Literature LabMadison, WI

    To encourage visual, literary and performing artists to explore and develop their crafts

    $5,000
  32. Clean Lakes AllianceMadison, WI

    To improve water quality of lakes, streams and watersheds.

    $5,000
  33. Food Bank of New York CityNew York, NY

    To end hunger by organizing food.

    $5,000
  34. Hazeldon Betty Ford FoundationSt Paul, MN

    Removing barriers to recovery from addiction

    $5,000
  35. Hips RoadNew York, NY

    Provide artistic development and cultural exchanges

    $5,000
  36. Holy Apostle Soup KitchenNew York, NY

    To provide meals to the hungry.

    $5,000
  37. Keep Wi Warmcool FundMadison, WI

    To provide heat and power to those most in need

    $5,000
  38. Key West LibraryKey West, FL

    To provide library services.

    $5,000
  39. Madison Museum of Contemporary ArtMadison, WI

    Exhibit, collect, preserve and interpret modern and contemporary art

    $5,000
  40. Martha's Vineyard Animal ShelterEdgartown, MA

    To provide shelter, care, love to domesticated homeless animals.

    $5,000
  41. Music CaresSanta Monica, CA

    To provide a safety net of critical assistance for musicians in time of need.

    $5,000
  42. Natural Resource Defense CouncilNew York, NY

    Safeguard the earth, its people, plants, animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends

    $5,000
  43. Nature ConservancyArlington, VA

    Land and water conservation

    $5,000
  44. New Music USANew York, NY

    To nurture the creation of new music.

    $5,000
  45. Now FoundationWashington, DC

    Women's rights issues

    $5,000
  46. Oak Bluffs Ma LibraryOak Bluffs, MA

    To build cultural awareness and provide library services

    $5,000
  47. Ocean Cleanup N Pacific FoundationPasadena, CA

    To preserve and protect the natural ocean environment

    $5,000
  48. Smile TrainNew York, NY

    Provide free treatment for poor children with cleft and other medical problems.

    $5,000
  49. St Colleta's of WisconsinJefferson, WI

    Create opportunities for developmentally disabled

    $5,000
  50. St John's Lutheran-PorchlightMadison, WI

    To provide meals for the homeless.

    $5,000
  51. The Studios of Key WestKey West, FL

    To provide a supportive environment for creative experience

    $5,000
  52. Truefalse Film FestColumbia, MO

    Support of cinematic arts.

    $5,000
  53. UNICEF USANew York, NY

    Nurturing and caring for children.

    $5,000
  54. United to Beat Malaria (fka Nothing But Nets)Washington, DC

    Reduce malaria.

    $5,000
  55. Wi Academy of Sciences Arts & LettersMadison, WI

    To share great ideas from science, arts, letters.

    $5,000
  56. Willa Brown Aviation AcademyMiddleton, WI

    Educational organization seeking to expose youth to careers and experiences in aviation

    $5,000
  57. Wisconsin Foundation for School MusicWaunakee, WI

    Promote and perpetuate music education.

    $5,000
  58. Wisconsin Public RadioMilwaukee, WI

    To enlighten and enrich the quality of life for its listeners

    $5,000
  59. Wisconsin Public TelevisionMadison, WI

    To enrich, educate and entertain its audiences.

    $5,000
  60. World Wildlife FundWashington, DC

    Protect future of nature and wildlife

    $5,000
  61. Wort-Fm (back Porch Radio Broadcasting)Madison, WI

    To assist in financing listener sposored community radio.

    $5,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Human services4 grants $40,00019% of the total
  2. Animals3 grants $30,00014% of the total
  3. Arts and culture4 grants $30,00014% of the total
  4. Education3 grants $30,00014% of the total
  5. International aid2 grants $15,0007% of the total
  6. Philanthropy and grantmaking1 grant $15,0007% of the total
  7. 6 other causes7 grants $47,00023% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Wisconsin28 grants $252,000
  2. New York9 grants $58,000
  3. District of Columbia6 grants $40,000
  4. Florida4 grants $30,000
  5. Missouri3 grants $21,000
  6. California3 grants $20,000
  7. Massachusetts3 grants $20,000
  8. Colorado1 grant $10,000
  9. Maryland1 grant $10,000
  10. New Jersey1 grant $10,000

Officers, directors and trustees

5 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Sarah E SpencerPRESIDENT, DIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Matthew D SilversteinVICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Thomas G TierneyTREASURER Hours 1Pay $0
  • Johanna AllexSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Mark SpencerDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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