Stella Smith Charitable Trust
The Stella Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Established around 1974, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic giving in the performing arts, education, human services, and support for children's healthcare.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.3M
+9.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$565K
-5.1% YoY
Grant Count
17
-5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+0.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust primarily funds:
- Performing Arts – Including symphony orchestras, ballet, and arts centers
- Education – General educational initiatives
- Human Services – Community-focused programs
- Children's Healthcare – Support for children's hospitals
The foundation also supports historic preservation and arts grants for nonprofits.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in Arkansas, Ohio, and Virginia, with a particular emphasis on Little Rock and the surrounding Arkansas region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $16,320,806 (most recent filing)
- Total Annual Giving: $564,734
- Address: 1911 Country Club Lane, Little Rock, AR 72207-2035
- Contact: 501-376-0504
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,320,806 | $14,846,143 | $13,685,388 |
| Revenue | $726,560 | $580,054 | $511,235 |
| Expenses | $863,935 | $877,846 | $787,932 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $746,848 | $773,042 | $666,475 |
| Net Investment Income | $613,112 | $457,985 | $384,418 |
| Distributable Amount | $769,143 | $701,056 | $715,673 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mike Mayton – Trustee (as of July 2024)
The foundation operates with 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL R MAYTON | TRUSTEE | 4 | $75,000 |
| CATHERINE H MAYTON | TRUSTEE | 4 | $69,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The trust continues to support major cultural institutions in Arkansas, with significant grants to performing arts organizations including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Society Guild and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The foundation maintains active grantmaking focused on arts and education initiatives in its service regions.
W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust awards more than $60k in grants to localRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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