The William S Smith Charitable Trust
The William S Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It made 18 grants totaling $7,877,000 in filing year 2024, with all reported grant dollars going to recipients in Oklahoma.
The William S Smith Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: The William S Smith Charitable Trust gave $7.9M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $438K), mostly in Oklahoma. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,877,000
- -18.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $437,611
- -18.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $195,834
- Total assets
- $77,411,929
- -2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (5 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oklahoma (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The William S Smith Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6120 S Yale Avenue Ste 1900, Tulsa, OK 74136
Phone: (918) 894-4080
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The William S Smith Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Humble Sons Bike Company ($2.6M). Together the top 10 received $7.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 15 grants of 64 (23%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported grant dollars in filing year 2024 went to organizations in Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The William S Smith Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 18 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $106K; repeat grants $565K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $400K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 179% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2022) to $12.0M (2021). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $7.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Humble Sons Bike Company Broken Arrow, OK | New Building | $2,625,000 |
| Gilcrease Museum Tulsa, OK | New Building Pledge | $1,125,000 |
| United Way Tulsa, OK | 2024 Campaigns | $925,000 |
| Tulsa Zoo Management Inc Tulsa, OK | Operational Project Support; African Wilds: Carnivores Program | $640,000 |
| YMCA Tulsa, OK | Zarrow Building Campaign | $500,000 |
| Life Senior Services Tulsa, OK | William S Smith Gardens Fund | $458,333 |
| Riverfield Country Day School Tulsa, OK | Inspired Campaign | $400,000 |
| Tulsa Day Center Tulsa, OK | Animal Shelter | $252,000 |
| Food on the Move Tulsa, OK | Campus Phase One + Campus Phase 2 | $225,000 |
| Pathways Adult Learning Center Tulsa, OK | New Building Project | $166,667 |
Ready to take the next step with The William S Smith Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $77,411,929 | $6,405,264 | $8,557,032 | $7,877,000 | 18 | $8,058,769 | $5,507,001 | $4,491,211 |
| 2023 | $79,557,180 | $211,595 | $10,323,768 | $9,683,333 | 18 | $9,839,552 | $1,770,121 | $4,413,456 |
| 2022 | $89,697,881 | $-1,579,086 | $4,400,888 | $3,588,333 | 15 | $3,743,788 | $1,425,115 | $4,479,283 |
| 2021 | $95,681,883 | $103,281,606 | $12,299,124 | $12,003,000 | 13 | $12,074,813 | $6,237,352 | $2,854,907 |
| 2020 | $4,699,401 | $305,808 | $40,190 | — | — | — | $275,484 | $262,433 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William S Smith Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the trust. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied purposes, including building projects, campaigns, operational support, and services.
Grantees describe their own work in a range of ways. Humble Sons Bike Company says it provides bicycles and helmets to underprivileged children; Tulsa Zoo Management says it connects, cares, and advocates for wildlife, people, and wild places; and Riverfield Country Day School says it aims to empower students to change their world. Tulsa Day Center says it serves people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, while Food on the Move says it works to transform food deserts and issues associated with food insecurity.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the trust reported 18 grants totaling $7,877,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $2,625,000, with a median of $195,834. In 2023, it reported 18 grants totaling $9,683,333; in 2022, it reported 15 grants totaling $3,588,333.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $2,625,000 to Humble Sons Bike Company for a new building; $1,125,000 to Gilcrease Museum for a new-building pledge; $925,000 to United Way for 2024 campaigns; $640,000 to Tulsa Zoo Management for operational project support and its African Wilds: Carnivores program; and $500,000 to YMCA for the Zarrow Building Campaign. Other grants included $458,333 to Life Senior Services for the William S Smith Gardens Fund, $400,000 to Riverfield Country Day School for the Inspired Campaign, and $252,000 to Tulsa Day Center for an animal shelter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Trust Company of Oklahoma as institutional trustee and Erik Chillingworth as trustee.
The William S Smith Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Erik Chillingworth
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$161K (2022) → $177K (2024)
Trust Company Of Oklahoma
Institutional Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$287K (2021) → $464K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: William S. Smith (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $464K, to Trust Company of Oklahoma (Institutional Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The William S Smith Charitable Trust
How much does The William S Smith Charitable Trust give each year?
The William S Smith Charitable Trust gave $7.9M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.7M across 18 grants.
What is The William S Smith Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
The William S Smith Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $195,834, and its average grant was $437,611, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The William S Smith Charitable Trust that year got $106K on average.
Where does The William S Smith Charitable Trust give grants?
The William S Smith Charitable Trust gives mostly in Oklahoma: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tulsa, OK (16 grants).
Does The William S Smith Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 22% of The William S Smith Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The William S Smith Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
The William S Smith Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Humble Sons Bike Company ($2,625,000), Gilcrease Museum ($1,125,000) and United Way ($925,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The William S Smith Charitable Trust?
The William S Smith Charitable Trust reported $77.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The William S Smith Charitable Trust fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the trust. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied purposes, including building projects, campaigns, operational support, and services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The William S Smith Charitable Trust?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The William S Smith Charitable Trust's EIN?
The William S Smith Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6144422. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The William S 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William S Smith Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The William S Smith Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-william-s-smith-charitable-trust-morg_8370b629416f422981a78c90185e4a94
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456144422_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The William S Smith Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-william-s-smith-charitable-trust-morg_8370b629416f422981a78c90185e4a94},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The William S 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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