A SHORT HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION

Ralph L. Smith was a lumberman who owned timberland and mills in Oregon, Washington and Northern California until the 1960's. The foundation bearing his name was established in 1952. Smith generously endowed his foundation after selling his company to Kimberly-Clark, a major paper products manufacturer.

The Ralph L. Smith Foundation is a private, family foundation with three granting centers that operate autonomously. The foundation has been making grants in Oregon for over forty years, administered by family members. Through additions to the endowment and growth of the investments, the Oregon portion of the foundation endowment was $6.6 million in 2006. Oregon grants totaled around $450,000 in 2007. It is this portion that is in transition.