The W W Smith Charitable Trust
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $12.6 million (2025)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: Saint Louis, MO with some programs in Philadelphia/Delaware River area
Contact Details
- Mailing Address: PO Box 505, Saint Louis, MO 63166-0505
- Website: No public website found
- Phone: Not publicly available
- Email: Not publicly available
Overview
The W W Smith Charitable Trust is a private independent foundation established by William Wikoff Smith, with assets of approximately $243 million as of 2025. The trust distributed $12.6 million in charitable disbursements in 2025, representing 96.2% of its total expenses. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private foundation since August 2015, the trust is administered by Wells Fargo Bank NA as co-trustee. The foundation focuses on ensuring basic human needs are met, supporting higher education through scholarships, and enabling basic medical research in critical disease areas.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates four main grant programs:
- Basic Human Needs: Support for needy children and low-income elderly (60+ years)
- Medical Research: Basic research funding for heart disease, cancer, AIDS, and juvenile diabetes
- College Scholarships: Financial aid programs at MSCHE-accredited four-year universities (does not accept direct student requests)
- Maritime Education: Support for maritime educational activities in the Philadelphia/Delaware River area
Priority Areas
- Food, clothing, and shelter for vulnerable populations
- Basic medical research in specified disease areas
- Undergraduate scholarship support through institutions
- Maritime heritage preservation and education
What They Don't Fund
- Direct student scholarship requests
- Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
- Programs outside their four specified funding areas
Governance and Leadership
The trust is managed by:
- Wells Fargo Bank NA - Co-Trustee
- Deborah McKenna - Co-Trustee
- Brian Jones - Senior Program Officer
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The trust appears to operate through trustee discretion and does not maintain a public website or published application guidelines. Grant decisions are likely made through pre-existing relationships and trustee identification of suitable recipients.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly available
Success Rates
Not publicly available
Reapplication Policy
Not publicly available
Application Success Factors
Without published guidelines or a public application process, organizations seeking support from The W W Smith Charitable Trust should:
- Ensure strong alignment with one of the four specified program areas
- Be located within the trust's geographic focus areas
- For college scholarship programs, be an MSCHE-accredited four-year university
- For maritime programs, operate in the Philadelphia/Delaware River area
- Consider reaching out through Wells Fargo Bank's trust services as they serve as co-trustee
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- This is a private foundation without a public application process
- Focus areas are very specific and clearly defined
- Geographic restrictions apply, particularly for maritime programs
- College scholarship support is only through institutions, not individuals
- The trust maintains a low public profile with no website or published guidelines
- With $12.6 million in annual giving and $243 million in assets, this is a substantial funder for organizations that align with their priorities
- Relationship building through trustees and existing grantees may be necessary for consideration
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The W W Smith Charitable Trust (EIN: 23-6648841), accessed December 2025
- GuideStar Profile - The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust, accessed December 2025
- Charity Navigator - Organization Profile (EIN: 236648841), accessed December 2025