Virginia Smith Charitable Trust
The Virginia Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 2009 and based in Chappell, Nebraska. Operating as a trust structure, it functions as a grantmaking organization with no paid staff, relying instead on a board of trustees to oversee its philanthropic activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.5M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$506K
-4.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
-13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+10.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Virginia Smith Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $576K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The trust demonstrates consistent grant activity, awarding between 32-39 grants annually in recent years. Grant sizes vary considerably, with a median grant amount of approximately $2,000-$2,500 and a range extending from $100 to $285,000. Recent grants have supported diverse community needs including:
Grant Range
s vary considerably, with a median grant amount of approximately $2,000-$2,500 and a range extending from $100 to $285,000. Recent grants have supported diverse community needs including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily supports communities in Nebraska and Colorado, with documented funding to cities including Ashland, Beatrice, Big Springs, Chappell, Julesburg, Lewellen, Lodgepole, and Sidney.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $6.5 million (as of December 2024)
Annual Revenue: $691,230 (2024)
Annual Expenses: $653,419 (2024)
Total Giving: Approximately $506,000-$553,000 annually
The trust maintains a healthy financial position with assets in the top 10% of foundations nationally by asset size.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,509,627 | $6,471,816 | $6,670,110 |
| Revenue | $691,230 | $471,429 | $372,635 |
| Expenses | $653,419 | $669,723 | $698,329 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $550,319 | $574,525 | $596,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $288,438 | $308,512 | $252,389 |
| Distributable Amount | $575,813 | $556,039 | $567,497 |
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
177 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Scholarships Paid to Post- ($285,000), City of Chappell Nebraska ($50,000), Chappell Fire District 1 ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BEREA LUTHERAN CHURCH CHAPPELL, NE | SUPPORT | $100 |
| SUCCEED INC CHAPPELL, NE | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | $2,000 |
| CHAPPELL FIRE DISTRICT 1 CHAPPELL, NE | BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS | $30,000 |
| NEBRASKA LUTHERAN ASHLAND, NE | SULLIVAN HILLS CAMP | $10,000 |
| CITY OF CHAPPELL NEBRASKA CHAPPELL, NE | LIBRARY EQUIPMENT | $1,000 |
| CHAPPELL AIRPORT AUTHORITY CHAPPELL, NE | RUNWAY IMPROVEMENT | $20,000 |
| LODGEPOLE DEPOT MUSEUM LODGEPOLE, NE | REPAIRS | $500 |
| CHAPPELL SENIOR CENTER CHAPPELL, NE | OPERATING EXPENSES | $12,000 |
| CHAPPELL SENIOR CENTER CHAPPELL, NE | REPAIRS | $4,200 |
| SOLID ROCK BIBLE CHURCH CHAPPELL, NE | FOOD PANTRY | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trust is governed by a board of five trustees:
- Leonard Littlejohn – Chairperson
- Jerome E. Cabela – Trustee
- Kenneth Fornander – Trustee
- Janet Flohr – Trustee
- Merlyn Carlson – Trustee
Each trustee works approximately one hour per week and receives annual compensation of $6,000 (Carlson receives $4,500).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEROME E CABELA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $6,000 |
| KENNETH FORNANDER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $6,000 |
| LEONARD LITTLEJOHN | CHAIRPERSON/ | 1 | $6,000 |
| JANET FLOHR | TRUSTEE | 1 | $6,000 |
| MERLYN CARLSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | $4,500 |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 525, Chappell, NE 69129-0525
Phone: 308-874-2929
EIN: 86-6348709
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Virginia Smith Charitable Trust?
The trust demonstrates consistent grant activity, awarding between 32-39 grants annually in recent years. Grant sizes vary considerably, with a median grant amount of approximately $2,000-$2,500 and a range extending from $100 to $285,000. Recent grants have supported diverse community needs including: • Operating expenses for senior centers • Library support • Food pantry assistance • Equipment purchases • Chamber of commerce initiatives • Utility assistance • Camp programming • Street renovat…
Where does Virginia Smith Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily supports communities in Nebraska and Colorado, with documented funding to cities including Ashland, Beatrice, Big Springs, Chappell, Julesburg, Lewellen, Lodgepole, and Sidney.
What size grants does Virginia Smith Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Virginia Smith Charitable Trust awarded 32 grants totaling $506K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Virginia Smith Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Virginia Smith Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $576K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Virginia Smith Charitable Trust's EIN?
Virginia Smith Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-6348709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Virginia Smith Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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