Stella Smith Charitable Trust

LITTLE ROCK, AR EIN: 23-7365134

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

-5.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$33K

+0.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stella Smith Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $769K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

Arkansas $1.7M (65%)

District of Columbia $531K (20%)

Virginia $214K (8%)

Ohio $105K (4%)

New York $60K (2%)

Colorado $5K (0%)

Oregon $4K (0%)

Illinois $2K (0%)

+1 more states

States

Arkansas Colorado District of Columbia Illinois New York Ohio Oregon Texas Virginia

Cities

AlexandriaArlington HeightsAspenBentonvilleClevelandColumbusConwayDallasHot SpringsLittle RockMt VernonNew YorkPortlandSyossetWashington

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

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arkansas Symphony Orchestra ($152,500), Mount Vernon Ladies Association ($85,769), Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts ($70,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ACCESS SCHOOLS LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$5,000
ARKANSAS BLACK HALL OF FAME LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$13,500
ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$29,443
ARKANSAS CINEMA SOCIETY LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$10,000
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$70,000
ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$152,500
BALLET ARKANSAS LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$35,000
EPISCOPAL COLLEGIATE SCHOOL LITTLE ROCK, AR	GENERAL FUND	$2,500
FROM ENERGY TRANSFER LP K-1 DALLAS, TX	GENERAL FUND	$22
HUNTINGTON NATIONAL ARTSPACE COLUMBUS, OH	GENERAL FUND	$50,000

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 local

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stella Smith Charitable Trust fund?

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.

How do I apply for a grant from Stella Smith Charitable Trust?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $564,734 (most recent reporting period) • Typical award range: $16–$162,500 • Recent grants made: 16 grants in 2023 **Recent Grant Examples:** • John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: $103,000 (2023) • Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Society Guild: $102,500 (2023) • South Arkansas Arts Center: $35,000 (2023) • Ballet Arkansas: $23,000 (2023) **Grant Type:** The trust awards general fund support to its grantees.

Where does Stella Smith Charitable Trust make grants?

The trust primarily funds organizations in Arkansas, Ohio, and Virginia, with a particular emphasis on Little Rock and the surrounding Arkansas region.

What size grants does Stella Smith Charitable Trust award?

In 2024, Stella Smith Charitable Trust awarded 17 grants totaling $565K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Stella Smith Charitable Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Stella Smith Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $769K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.