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Joel E Smilow Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$8.4M
Grant Range
$11K - $3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8.37 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $11,000 - $3,000,000
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Connecticut, Delaware, and Pennsylvania; national grants to select institutions
  • Application Method: Application form required

Contact Details

Address: 200 Bellevue Parkway Suite 250, Wilmington, DE 19809

Phone: (302) 793-3290

Contact Person: Meghan Vercillo

Note: While the trust is administratively based in Delaware, it was founded in Connecticut and maintains strong ties to the region.

Overview

The Joel E Smilow Charitable Trust was established in 1987 by Joel E. Smilow (Yale Class of 1954, former CEO of Playtex, who passed away in 2021). The trust has evolved into a family foundation now led by his son William Smilow as President and CEO, along with trustees Richard J. Smilow and others. With annual distributions of approximately $8.37 million in 2024, the foundation primarily supports healthcare institutions, higher education, and youth development programs. The trust focuses on transformative gifts to established institutions, particularly in medical research, cancer care, cardiovascular medicine, and education initiatives. The foundation has supported landmark projects including Yale's Smilow Cancer Hospital, the Smilow Center for Translational Research at Penn Medicine, and most recently, a $3 million leadership gift to the Cobbs Creek Restoration and TGR Learning Lab project in Philadelphia.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formally structured grant programs but makes strategic grants across three primary areas with significant variation in grant sizes:

  • Major Institutional Gifts: $1,000,000 - $3,000,000+ (healthcare facilities, university buildings, major capital campaigns)
  • Program Support Grants: $50,000 - $500,000 (educational programs, medical research, youth development)
  • General Operating Support: $11,000 - $100,000 (median grant: $11,000)

Recent grants in 2024 included:

  • $3,000,000 to The Cobbs Creek Restoration & Community
  • $2,020,000 to Yale University
  • $2,000,000 to Norwalk Hospital Foundation
  • $100,000 to Bridgeport Hospital Foundation

Priority Areas

Healthcare and Medical Research

  • Cancer treatment and research facilities
  • Cardiovascular medicine and research
  • Hospital foundations and patient care initiatives
  • Medical school research centers

Higher Education

  • University capital projects and endowments
  • Medical education and research
  • Athletics facilities and programs at Yale University
  • STEAM education initiatives

Youth Development and Education

  • Boys & Girls Clubs (Joel Smilow was the organization's largest living donor)
  • Charter schools and educational innovation
  • Youth education centers and learning labs
  • College access and career readiness programs

Arts and Culture

  • Support for major cultural institutions (Joel Smilow was a director emeritus of the New York Philharmonic)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their core focus areas of healthcare, education, and youth development
  • Projects without clear institutional backing or infrastructure
  • General operating support for smaller or startup organizations (except where strategic relationships exist)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • William Smilow, Trustee and President/CEO of Smilow Foundation (40 hours/week, $300,000 compensation) - Son of founder Joel Smilow, also President and Founder of Great Oak Holdings, Inc.; serves on boards of Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation
  • Richard J. Smilow, Director ($20,000 compensation) - Family member
  • Stephen Farley, Director
  • John P. Shoemaker, Director
  • Mark Lazarus, Director

Staff:

  • Jennifer Lippincott, VP Operations (40 hours/week, $125,000 compensation)

Leadership Quote:

Bill Smilow stated regarding the Cobbs Creek project: "What the Cobbs Creek Foundation and TGR Foundation are building will have an incredible impact on the lives of youth and local communities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Joel E Smilow Charitable Trust accepts applications but maintains a highly selective, relationship-driven grantmaking approach. According to their IRS filings, the foundation requires an application form and states that grants must be "within the guidelines of mission statement."

Application Requirements:

  • Formal application form required
  • Must align with foundation's mission statement
  • Contact Meghan Vercillo at (302) 793-3290 for application procedures

Important Notes:

  • The foundation appears to primarily support organizations with which trustees have established relationships or board connections
  • Many major grants go to institutions where the Smilow family has historical ties (Yale University, Penn Medicine, Connecticut hospitals)
  • Unsolicited applications are accepted but success rates for organizations without existing relationships appear to be very low

Getting on Their Radar

Board Connections: Bill Smilow serves on the boards of Cobbs Creek Foundation, TGR Foundation, Penn Medicine Board, and Cardiovascular Institute. Organizations where Smilow family members have governance roles receive significant support.

Geographic Focus: While administratively based in Delaware, the foundation has strong ties to Connecticut (where Joel Smilow lived) and Philadelphia (where Bill Smilow's business Great Oak Holdings is based). Organizations in these regions, particularly Fairfield County CT and greater Philadelphia, align with the foundation's geographic interests.

Institutional Partnerships: The foundation has demonstrated interest in collaborative projects involving multiple institutions, such as the Cobbs Creek project partnering with TGR Foundation.

Legacy Areas: Healthcare institutions (particularly cancer and cardiovascular medicine), Yale University, Boys & Girls Clubs, and charter schools reflect the founder's lifetime philanthropic commitments and continue to receive support.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with quarterly or periodic trustee meetings typical of such organizations, applicants should expect decisions may take several months.

Success Rates

The foundation made 18 grants in 2024 from total distributions of $8.37 million. Success rates are not publicly disclosed, but the concentrated grantmaking (18 grants annually) suggests a highly selective process with a low acceptance rate for unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly stated. However, the foundation demonstrates a pattern of multi-year support to favored institutions, suggesting that successful grantees can expect consideration for continued funding.

Application Success Factors

Institutional Strength and Track Record: The foundation's grantmaking pattern shows a strong preference for established institutions with proven track records. Recent major grants to Yale University, Penn Medicine, Norwalk Hospital Foundation, and Bridgeport Hospital Foundation demonstrate this priority.

Alignment with Founder's Legacy: Joel E. Smilow's lifetime commitments to cancer research, cardiovascular medicine, Yale University, Boys & Girls Clubs, and charter schools continue to influence grantmaking. Projects honoring these legacy areas have higher likelihood of support.

Transformative Impact on Youth: Bill Smilow's quote about the Cobbs Creek project emphasizes "incredible impact on the lives of youth and local communities." Applications should clearly articulate measurable impact on young people's lives, particularly through education, healthcare access, or skill development.

Capital Projects with Naming Opportunities: The Smilow family's major gifts have typically supported capital projects bearing the Smilow name (Smilow Cancer Hospital, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Smilow Heart Institute, Smilow Woodland TGR Learning Lab). Major capital campaigns offering naming recognition may be of particular interest.

Connecticut and Philadelphia Connections: Geographic proximity to areas of Smilow family connection (Fairfield County, CT; greater Philadelphia) appears advantageous, though the foundation also supports select national institutions.

Board Relationships: Organizations where Smilow family members serve on boards or have governance roles receive substantial support. Building authentic relationships with foundation leadership over time is important for consideration.

Collaborative, Multi-Partner Projects: The Cobbs Creek project involved partnership between Cobbs Creek Foundation, TGR Foundation, and Smilow Foundation. Projects involving strategic partnerships and multiple funders appear to align with current priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: This foundation operates primarily through trustee-identified opportunities rather than open competition. Focus on relationship-building with board members and staff rather than cold applications.

  • Think big for major asks: The foundation makes both small grants (median $11,000) and transformational gifts ($1-3 million+). If you have a relationship and a capital project, don't be afraid to make a substantial request.

  • Legacy matters: Joel Smilow's lifetime commitments to cancer research, cardiovascular medicine, Yale, Boys & Girls Clubs, and charter schools continue to influence grantmaking. Projects aligned with these legacy areas should emphasize this connection.

  • Youth impact is paramount: Under Bill Smilow's leadership, demonstrable impact on young people's lives—particularly through education, healthcare access, and opportunity creation—is a critical success factor.

  • Geographic strategy: While national grants are made to select institutions, Connecticut and Philadelphia-area organizations have geographic advantage given family and business connections to these regions.

  • Board connections open doors: Bill Smilow serves on multiple boards, and organizations where Smilow family members have governance involvement receive significant support. If you can cultivate board-level relationships authentically over time, this dramatically increases funding likelihood.

  • Capital projects with naming rights: The foundation has consistently supported major capital projects offering naming recognition. If you have a transformational capital need and can offer appropriate recognition, this aligns with historical patterns.

References

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