The W W Smith Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10.1 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Philadelphia area and broader US (based on recent 990-PF records)

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 $214.5 million as of 2023. The trust distributed $10.1 million in grants in 2023. Operating as a 501(c)(3) private foundation, 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 $10.1 million in annual giving and $214.5 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