Smith Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $812,000 - $882,000
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $16,000 - $175,000
• Geographic Focus: Kentucky, Texas, Ohio (primary); California, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina (secondary)

Contact Details

• Mailing Address: PO Box 919798, Orlando, FL 32891-9798
• Corporate Trustee: Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank)
• General Truist Philanthropic Solutions Contact: sofia.b.aun@truist.com
• Website: None identified
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Smith Foundation, formerly known as the Edward P. and Mary Klein Smith Charitable Trust, is a private charitable trust established as a 4947(a)(1) private foundation with approximately $12.4 million in assets. The foundation distributes between $812,000 and $882,000 annually through 25-27 grants per year, with an average grant size of approximately $33,000. As a trust administered by Truist Bank as corporate trustee, the foundation operates without a public application process, making grants at trustee discretion according to the terms of the original trust document established by Edward P. and Mary Klein Smith. The foundation received its IRS ruling in November 2023 when it reorganized and adopted its current name.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate specific named grant programs but makes discretionary grants through its trustee in the following ranges:

• Typical grants: $16,000 - $175,000
• Average grant size: ~$33,000
• Annual distribution: 25-27 grants totaling $812,000 - $882,000

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant-making patterns:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions documented; however, as a private trust with trustee-administered grants, funding appears limited to organizations within established geographic and programmatic parameters.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates as a charitable trust with Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank) serving as corporate trustee. Truist Bank receives approximately $131,000 annually in trustee compensation for administering the trust. The foundation does not have a traditional board of directors or trustees beyond the corporate trustee arrangement. All grant decisions are made by Truist Bank's Philanthropic Solutions team in accordance with the terms of the original trust document.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Smith Foundation is a privately-administered charitable trust with Truist Bank as corporate trustee, and grants are made at trustee discretion according to the terms of the original trust document. The foundation is not among the six Truist Trusteed Foundations that accept public applications through an online portal.

Organizations seeking support would need to contact Truist Bank's Philanthropic Solutions team directly to inquire about any potential consideration process, though unsolicited proposals are unlikely to be accepted.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not available - grants are made through trustee discretion rather than a competitive application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this trust and absence of a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that have received support appear to be:

• Located in the foundation's geographic focus areas (Kentucky, Texas, Ohio primarily)
• Operating in education, healthcare, or philanthropic sectors
• Part of an established network of beneficiaries known to the trustee

The consistent pattern of 25-27 grants annually suggests a relatively stable roster of beneficiary organizations receiving ongoing support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Smith Foundation is a grant maker but does not accept public applications
• Annual giving totals $812,000 - $882,000 distributed across 25-27 grants
• Average grant size is approximately $33,000, ranging from $16,000 to $175,000
• Geographic focus centers on Kentucky, Texas, and Ohio
• Truist Bank serves as corporate trustee and administers all grants
• Organizations seeking support should contact Truist's Philanthropic Solutions team, though success with unsolicited inquiries is unlikely
• The foundation appears to support a consistent group of beneficiaries year over year

References

• Instrumentl 990 Report on Smith Foundation (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/smith-foundation-fka-edward-p-and-mary-klein-smith-charitable-trust
• Charity Navigator Profile for EIN 900587749 (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/900587749
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Smith Foundation (accessed February 17, 2026): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/900587749
• CauseIQ Foundation Profile (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/smith-foundation,900587749/
• Grantmakers.io Profile (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/900587749-smith-foundation-fka-edward-p-and-mary-klein-smith-charitable-trust
• Truist Trusteed Foundations Information (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.truist.com/trusteed-foundations
• Truist Application Information Page (accessed February 17, 2026): https://www.truist.com/trusteed-foundations/application-info