The A. O. Smith Foundation
We are committed to making our communities a better place to live and work.
Our Mission & Impact
The A. O. Smith Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is supported by donations from the company’s profits. We partner with and support nonprofit organizations in education, arts and culture, and health and human services in the communities in which we operate. The Foundation also encourages A. O. Smith employees around the world to live the company’s values through volunteerism and community involvement.
Established in 1955, the A. O. Smith Foundation has provided over $54 million in financial support for worthwhile community organizations, institutions and programs.
Support for Community Partners
The Foundation accepts applications for support throughout the year. Requests are reviewed in the order in which they are received. To apply for support, mail your request to:
attn: Rita Schwalbach
11270 West Park Place, Suite 170
Milwaukee, WI 53224-9508
To contact us via email:
Be sure to include:
- verification of IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status
- organization’s exact name and location
- description, including objectives, purpose and geographic area served by the organization
- explanation of the activity for which support is requested
- description of benefits to be achieved and who will receive benefits
- amount of support being requested
- Budget information, including resources of income
- plans for reporting results
- any brochures, pamphlets or other material that describe your organization in greater detail
Please note: the Foundation’s bylaws prohibit contributions to politically active organizations or any other organization whose chief purpose is to influence legislation
Programs for A. O. Smith Employees
The Foundation believes education is one of the most important investments individuals can make in the future and operates two distinct programs:
- Our Matching Gift Program matches all employee alumni school contributions to qualified colleges, universities and high schools, dollar for dollar, up to a maximum of $3,000 per year.
- Our Scholarship Program assists employees’ children who plan to continue education in college or vocational-technical school, through renewable scholarships for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.
Board of Directors
The A. O. Smith Foundation Board of Directors acts as an advisor and counselor to management and ultimately monitors its performance.
Mark D. Smith
President
Curt E. Selby
Secretary
Bruce M. Smith
Director
Roger S. Smith
Director
Stephen M. Shafer
Director
Our Founder
In 1955, A. O. Smith president Lloyd B. “Ted” Smith — great-grandson of A. O. Smith founder Charles J. Smith — established the A. O. Smith Foundation.
In 2025, we donated $1,933,716 to these partner organizations:
Promotes learning and intellectual development for all ages through a variety of programs.
Adventure Science Center
All In Milwaukee
Alverno College
Artists Working in Education
Association des membres de la police montée du Québec
Auburn University Foundation
Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement
Augustana College
Bethesda Center
Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Books from Birth
Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County
Boys & Girls Club of Franklin
Boys & Girls Club of Hartsville
Brookfield Academy
Carolina Kids
Caroll University
Centennial Robotics Program
Centro De La Comunidad Unida
CFP Antoine-de-St.-Exupéry
Cheatham County School District
Chesterfield Marlboro Headstart
Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee
City Forward Collective
COA Youth & Family Centers
College Possible
Columbia Central High School
Concordia University Wisconsin
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Discovery World Science & Technology Museum Milwaukee
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
École Primaire St. -Octave
Fairview High School
Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
Girls on the Run Northeast Tennessee
Hands On Regional Museum
Harbor Fest
Historic Yellow Springs
Hoof and Harness Experiential Learning Inc.
Howard Fuller Academy
Imagination Library
Journey House Inc.
Junior Achievement of Wisconsin
Lake Country Clean Waters
Leadership Wilson
Literacy Services of Wisconsin
Marquette University High School
Messmer Catholic Schools
Middle Tennessee State University Foundation
Milwaukee County Historical Society
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Milwaukee Public Broadcasting Service
Milwaukee Public Museum
Milwaukee Rescue Mission
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Mount Juliet High School
Mount Mary University
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
Penfield Children's Center
Riveredge Nature Center
Rotary Club of Milwaukee Inc.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Scouting American Three Harbors Council
Scouts du Montréal Métropoitain
Seton Catholic Schools
Sharp Literacy, Inc.
St. Augustine Prep
St. Francis Children's Center
St. Joan Antida High School
St. Marcus School
STEM Forward
Teens Grow Greens
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Tennessee Tech University Foundation
The Water Council
University of Illinois Foundation
University of Wisconsin Foundation
Upper Grand Learning Foundation
Urban Ecology Center
UWM Foundation, Inc.
Watertown Elementary School
Watertown High School
Wilson Central High School
Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran High School
Youth Leadership Cheatham County
Zoological Society of Milwaukee
Provides assistance to people to help them stabilize their life and find self-sufficiency through guidance, counseling, treatment and the providing of basic needs.
A Soldier's Child Foundation
Accueil Bonneau
Agape Nashville
Aigle Bienfaisant
Allen DeShields Organization-Ident-A-Kid
American Red Cross
Ancora TN
Appalachia Service Project
Ashland City Firefighters Fund
Ashland City Police Department
Assistance League of Tucson
Best Buddies
Big Brother Big Sister of Middle Tennessee
Big Brother Big Sister of Milwaukee
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Brightstone
Bristol Speedway's Children's Charities
Brooks House
CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates
Center of Hope-Columbia
Centraide du Grand Montréal
Central Texas Food Bank
Centre Wellington Food Bank
Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce
Cheatham County Sheriff's Department
Child Advocacy Centers
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Citizens Advocacy
Coalition For Kids
Cookeville Human Fund
Darlington County Sheriff's Office
Discalced Carmelitas Monastery
Empower Me Center
Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 81
Good Samaritan Ministries
Good Samaritan Shelter
Goodwill of Greater Milwaukee and Chicago
Grand River Conservation Authority
Habitat for Humanity Darlington County
Habitat for Humanity Guelphen Wellington
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville
Habitat for Humanity Wilson County
Hope Center Ministries
Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee
Isaiah 117 House Resource Center
Jericho Shriners
Johnson City Firefighters Association
Joseph's Storehouse
Kathy's House Inc.
Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce
Lower Lights Minstries
Make-A-Wish Foundation
McBee Lions Club
McBee Rescue Squad
Mid Ohio Food Bank
Mid-Cumberland Meals-on-Wheels
Milwaukee Rescue Mission
Mission of Hope
Montagnard Dega Association
Nashville Diaper Connection
New Leash on Life
Old Glory Honor Flight
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
PACS Phoenixville Area Community Services
Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault
Pegram Fire Department
Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department
Project Return
Quilts of Honor America
Restoring Responders
Riverworks Development Corporation
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Appalachian
Safe Haven Cheatham County
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee
Sojourner Family Peace Center
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care
Stars Nashville
The Ark Community Resource Center
The Bridge House
The Salvation Army
Thistle Farms
Trent Hill Center for Children and Families
Veterans Memorial Park
Vision Forward
War Memorial Center
Waves, Inc.
Wilson County Christmas for All
Wilson County Community Help Center
Wilson County Promotions, Inc.
Wilson Works
Youth Go
Brings the performing arts to the public; preserves and commemorates the events, places and cultures that created and continue to shape the nation.
American Players Theatre
Clarksville Community Concert Association
First Stage
Friends of Villa Terrace
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee Film
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
United Performing Arts Fund
Supports hospitals, substance abuse treatment programs, diseases, medical research, mental health and crisis services.
Al Menah Shriners Hospital
Alzheimer's Association
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
Arthritis Foundation
Aurora Healthcare Foundation
Ballad Health Foundation
Children's Cancer Family Foundation
Children's Wisconsin
Club des petits déjeuners
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Tennessee Chapter
Downs Syndrome Clarksville Association
Easterseals Tennessee
Groves Memorial Community Hospital
H.U.S.T.L.E. Recovery
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Live Like Jake
Medical College of Wisconsin
Mercy Children's' Hospital
Serenity Inns Inc.
Sherry's Run
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation
United Way of Cheatham County
United Way of Chesterfield County
United Way of Fergus
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha Counties
United Way of Hartsville
United Way of Northern Kentucky
