Stella Smith Charitable Trust
The Stella Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including arts and cultural institutions and organizations serving children.
Stella Smith Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Stella Smith Charitable Trust gave $620K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), mostly in Arkansas. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $620,055
- +9.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,753
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,071
- Total assets
- $16,587,884
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Stella Smith Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. The filing lists Mike or Cathy Mayton as contacts, says there is no particular form or required material, and states that awards are restricted to purposes allowed by the trust document: charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or any of these as deemed proper.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Mike Or Cathy Mayton
Mailing address: 1911 Country Club Lane, Little Rock, AR 72207
Phone: (501) 376-0504
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Stella Smith Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Arkansas Symphony Orchestra ($162K). Together the top 10 received $555K.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 84 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arkansas, 10% to recipients in Washington, DC, 8% to recipients in Ohio, and 6% to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Stella Smith Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $34K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $451K (2020) to $691K (2019). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $620K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Little Rock, AR | General Fund | $161,500 |
| Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Washington, DC | General Fund | $65,000 |
| Crystal Bridges Museum Bentonville, AR | General Fund | $56,000 |
| Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Little Rock, AR | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Arkansas Repertory Theatre Little Rock, AR | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Huntington National Artspace Columbus, OH | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Mount Vernon Ladies Association Mt Vernon, VA | General Fund | $35,385 |
| Arkansas Children's Foundation Little Rock, AR | General Fund | $32,141 |
| William J Clinton Foundation Little Rock, AR | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Ballet Arkansas Little Rock, AR | General Fund | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $16,587,884 | $531,952 | $925,346 | $620,055 | 16 | $806,140 | $422,107 | $810,003 |
| 2024 | $16,320,806 | $726,560 | $863,935 | $564,734 | 17 | $746,848 | $613,112 | $769,143 |
| 2023 | $14,846,143 | $580,054 | $877,846 | $595,185 | 18 | $773,042 | $457,985 | $701,056 |
| 2022 | $13,685,388 | $511,235 | $787,932 | $485,941 | 16 | $666,475 | $384,418 | $715,673 |
| 2021 | $15,812,346 | $601,134 | $854,868 | $562,794 | 17 | $742,441 | $489,092 | $754,819 |
| 2020 | $14,600,051 | $826,930 | $805,800 | $451,265 | 16 | — | $627,003 | $676,614 |
| 2019 | $16,356,473 | $1,190,809 | $1,060,112 | $690,583 | 27 | — | $995,073 | $779,821 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stella Smith Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $810K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing information does not state a mission for the trust. Its 2025 grants show support for performing arts organizations, museums, and other cultural organizations, as well as organizations working in areas including children’s healthcare, education, and heritage poultry conservation.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Arkansas Repertory Theatre says it produces theatrical work and engages local and regional audiences. Ballet Arkansas says it provides dance programming and education. Arkansas Children’s Foundation says it champions children and seeks to transform healthcare delivery for children. Arkansas Cinema Society says it builds a film community and supports film talent in Arkansas. Heritage Poultry Conservancy says it works to preserve threatened domestic poultry breeds and strains.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust reported 16 grants totaling $620,055. Grant amounts ranged from $29 to $161,500, with a median grant of $31,070. Notable awards included $161,500 to Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, $65,000 to the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, $56,000 to Crystal Bridges Museum, and $50,000 each to Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and Huntington National Artspace. Other 2025 awards included $32,141 to Arkansas Children’s Foundation and $25,000 to Ballet Arkansas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael R. Mayton and Catherine H. Mayton as trustees.
Stella Smith Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Catherine H. Mayton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$69K (2019) → $69K (2025)
Michael R. Mayton
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$75K (2019) → $75K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kay Kelley Arnold (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $75K, to Michael R Mayton (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Stella Smith Charitable Trust
How much does Stella Smith Charitable Trust give each year?
Stella Smith Charitable Trust gave $620K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $565K across 17 grants.
What is Stella Smith Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Stella Smith Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $31,071, and its average grant was $38,753, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stella Smith Charitable Trust that year got $30K on average.
Where does Stella Smith Charitable Trust give grants?
Stella Smith Charitable Trust gives mostly in Arkansas: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (10%) and Ohio (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (11 grants).
Does Stella Smith Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Stella Smith Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Stella Smith Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Stella Smith Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Arkansas Symphony Orchestra ($161,500), Kennedy Center for Performing Arts ($65,000) and Crystal Bridges Museum ($56,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Stella Smith Charitable Trust?
Stella Smith Charitable Trust reported $16.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $806K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $810K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Stella Smith Charitable Trust fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission for the trust. Its 2025 grants show support for performing arts organizations, museums, and other cultural organizations, as well as organizations working in areas including children’s healthcare, education, and heritage poultry conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stella Smith Charitable Trust?
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Stella Smith Charitable Trust's EIN?
Stella Smith Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7365134. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Stella Smith Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Stella Smith Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Stella Smith Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stella-smith-charitable-trust-morg_a1ff2eab7c344f579dbb84ad75ffd6eb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237365134_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Stella Smith Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/stella-smith-charitable-trust-morg_a1ff2eab7c344f579dbb84ad75ffd6eb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Stella Smith Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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