The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation which makes grants primarily for three specific purposes. Grants have generally been for basic medical research for faculty with appointments in universities, hospitals and research centers in the Delaware Valley. To further enhance the effectiveness of the research grants, a distinguished medical advisory committee comprised of leading scientists informs staff and the Trustees. Almost always, grants are limited to organizations within Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties as well as the City of Camden, New Jersey.
Grants are made only to tax exempt organizations not classified as private foundations or private operating foundations as defined by the Tax Reform Act of 1969. Evidence is required from every applicant that the Internal Revenue Service currently approves of the organization’s tax exempt status under Code Section 501(c) (3), or its analogues, and designates the proposer as not being a private foundation under Section 509.
Grants will be made for programs or organizations with proven or prudently predictable records of performance, never directly to individuals. Capital projects and special programs may be funded (see separate program guidelines), but requests for deficit financing are not considered.
The Trust accepts and processes applications for grants throughout the year for Food, Clothing and Shelter. Site visits prior to the submission of a written proposal are discouraged. Please do telephone the Trust’s West Conshohocken office to ask questions prior to preparing a full proposal.
All proposals are reviewed carefully. If the request falls within the framework of present priorities, more detailed information may be requested and a site visit initiated by Trust staff. Final decisions about qualified proposals and all grant terms are made by the Trustees. Proposal endorsement letters are discouraged by the Trustees.
Grantees are encouraged to announce information to the news media concerning their grants, after clearing proposed copy with the Trust in advance of release. Commemoratives are not expected.
No part of any grant may be subjected to a fundraiser’s commission. Proposals will not be considered for development officer capacity-building.
The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust budgets no funds to purchase charity tables, program advertisements, golf tournament sponsorships, organizational memberships or analogous fundraising events.
Prompt repayment to the Trust of grant funds unused within the period specified in the Trust’s award notification letter is expected. Interest earned on our funds during any such time interval may not be retained by any grantee.
Except for medical research protocols, no copies of proposals are needed.
The Trust has no experience making program related investment (PRI). As with any prospective grant concept, a letter or phone call of inquiry prior to preparing a full proposal is always appropriate.
Normal Trust business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.