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Stella B Smith Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$0.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $595,185 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: At trustees' discretion
  • Grant Range: Varies (average ~$33,000-$37,000; major gifts up to $1 million+)
  • Geographic Focus: Arkansas only

Contact Details

Phone: 501-376-0504
Address: 1911 Country Club Lane, Little Rock, AR 72207-2035
Website: None
Email: Not available

Overview

The Stella B Smith Charitable Trust (also known as Stella Boyle Smith Trust) is a private foundation established around 1974 with assets of $14.8 million as of 2023. The trust continues the philanthropic legacy of Stella Boyle Smith (1894-1994), a Little Rock philanthropist who founded the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and was known for her hands-on support of Arkansas Children's Hospital. Since her death in 1994, the trust has donated more than $5 million to Arkansas organizations, focusing primarily on performing arts (especially music), education, healthcare, and human services. The foundation makes approximately 16-18 grants annually, totaling around $595,000, exclusively to Arkansas-based organizations selected at the trustees' discretion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not have formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from smaller community grants to major multi-year commitments exceeding $1 million. Recent major commitments include:

  • $1 million+ to University of Arkansas Land of Opportunity Scholarship (2024)
  • Major support for Arkansas Symphony Orchestra's $11.75 million Stella Boyle Smith Music Center
  • $1 million to Arkansas Children's Hospital south wing construction (2009)

Priority Areas

  • Performing Arts (particularly music and symphony)
  • Education (scholarships and university programs)
  • Healthcare (especially children's healthcare)
  • Human Services

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside Arkansas
  • Unsolicited requests
  • Organizations without existing relationships with trustees

Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

  • Michael R. Mayton - Trust President/Senior Trustee (Partner at Mayton, Newkirk and Jones law firm, Little Rock)
  • Catherine Hamilton Mayton - Trustee (Little Rock)
  • Maxine B. Hamilton - Trustee (Little Rock)

The trustees manage the foundation as a family operation, with Michael Mayton, his wife Cathy, and mother-in-law Maxine Hamilton serving as the decision-makers for all grants.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does NOT accept unsolicited grant applications. The Stella B Smith Charitable Trust operates on an invitation-only basis, with all grants made at the trustees' discretion to preselected charitable organizations. There is no public application portal, process, or deadline cycle.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the trust's giving patterns and trustee connections:

  • The trust maintains long-term relationships with major Arkansas cultural institutions, particularly those connected to music and performing arts
  • Organizations with connections to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra community may have better visibility
  • Michael Mayton's role as a partner at Mayton, Newkirk and Jones law firm in Little Rock suggests professional connections through the legal and business community
  • The trust regularly supports organizations where Stella Boyle Smith had personal involvement during her lifetime

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustees' discretion without formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the trust does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, analysis of their giving patterns shows:

  • Strong Arkansas roots are essential - every known grant has gone to Arkansas-based organizations
  • Music and arts organizations receive priority, particularly those connected to classical music and symphony
  • Long-term relationships matter - many recipients like Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, University of Arkansas, and Arkansas Children's Hospital receive recurring support
  • Capital campaigns and endowments are favored for major gifts, with several $500,000-$1 million+ commitments documented
  • Organizations honoring Stella Boyle Smith's legacy through naming opportunities have received major support
  • Educational institutions offering music programs or scholarships align with the founder's interests

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is a legitimate grant-making foundation with substantial assets ($14.8 million) but is NOT accessible through traditional grant applications
  • Focus is exclusively on Arkansas organizations with no known exceptions
  • Relationship building through Arkansas business, legal, and arts communities may be the only path to consideration
  • Organizations already receiving support appear to maintain long-term funding relationships
  • Major gifts often involve naming opportunities honoring Stella Boyle Smith
  • The trust particularly values music education and performance, reflecting the founder's role in establishing the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
  • Without existing connections to the trustees or Arkansas philanthropic circles, this is not a viable funding target

References

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