Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Christopher D. Smithers Foundation

The Christopher D. Smithers Foundation is a long‑standing private family foundation dedicated to addressing alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders as treatable medical illnesses. Founded in 1952 by R. Brinkley Smithers in memory of his father, the foundation has concentrated its philanthropy on prevention, treatment, research and public education around addiction. From its base in New York, it supports nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, hospitals and community initiatives across the United States and, in some cases, internationally.

The foundation operates as a discretionary grantmaker rather than a rigid program agency. Its Grants section explains that proposals from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations are accepted for programs focused on prevention, treatment and education related to alcohol use disorder and substance use disorders. Applicants are asked to submit a description of their program, the amount requested, proof of nonprofit status and a recent annual report, indicating that the foundation evaluates projects individually.

Historically, the Smithers Foundation has funded major initiatives that shaped the modern addiction field. Early grants supported the National Committee on Alcoholism (now the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) and contributed to building a nationwide affiliate network. The foundation helped establish what is now the American Society of Addiction Medicine, funded research underlying the influential work “The Disease Concept of Alcoholism,” and supported workplace recognition of alcohol use disorder that contributed to the development of employee assistance programs.

Over subsequent decades, the foundation made large gifts to create the Smithers Alcoholism Treatment and Training Center within a leading hospital, supported Cornell and Rutgers Universities to create a major workplace prevention institute, and invested in youth prevention and education efforts in partnership with schools, community organizations and sports foundations. It has also supported international work through United Nations‑related initiatives and collaborations with the World Health Organization, as well as clinical training projects and conferences with Columbia University and Columbia Psychiatry.

Alongside its grantmaking, the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation sponsors a portfolio of awards that highlight leadership and innovation in addiction science and public awareness. These include lifetime achievement and annual awards in the name of R. Brinkley Smithers, the Adele C. Smithers Award for public advocacy on alcohol use disorder, and the R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award administered by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The foundation also created the Ambassador of Hope Award, in partnership with international film and television bodies, to recognize works that raise awareness of alcohol abuse and social justice issues.

Across its history, the foundation’s grants and awards have supported treatment providers, researchers, educators, criminal justice and prison‑based programs, youth organizations, workplace initiatives and international partners. Its funding has helped normalize the understanding of addiction as a medical condition, expand evidence‑based treatment and prevention, and combat stigma. Today, it continues to invite proposals from nonprofit organizations working to prevent substance use disorders, improve access to treatment and educate the public about recovery and hope.