W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund
W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund is a private grantmaking foundation based in Hamilton, Ohio, established in July 1996. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a philanthropic entity focused on supporting charitable and educational initiatives, particularly in the areas of history, historic preservation, and regional heritage.
Key facts about W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund
- EIN
- 31-1438321
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $99,943
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- Average grant
- $3,331
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (9 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The trust awards grant funding twice per year. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund's 30 itemized 2025 grants were Ohio (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oxford, OH (7 grants), Hamilton, OH (5 grants), Cincinnati, OH (4 grants) and Middletown, OH (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 30 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund
- How to evaluate W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$100K
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
30
+42.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-22.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust was established by Ophia Smith, wife of W.E. Smith, a former history department chair at Miami University. The foundation prioritizes funding for history-related projects, historic preservation, and educational programs. Primary focus areas include support for libraries, museums, historical societies, and organizations engaged in regional history documentation and education across southwest Ohio.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$149 to $27,919
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Funding is concentrated in Ohio, with 100% of grants directed to Ohio organizations. Within the state, funding concentrates in Oxford (19%), Cincinnati (19%), and Hamilton (13%). The trust serves southwest Ohio communities, with particular emphasis on Butler County and surrounding regions.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 30 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Year (2025):
- Total Revenue: $181,742
- Total Expenses: $134,431
- Net Income: $47,311
- Total Assets: $2,067,122
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2025):
- Dividends: $66,586 (36.6%)
- Sales of Assets: $113,186 (62.3%)
- Interest Revenue: $1,970 (1.1%)
Expense Breakdown (2025):
- Charitable Disbursements: $113,286 (84.3%)
- Compensation of Officers: $31,120 (23.1%)
Funding Trajectory: The foundation has demonstrated 23% growth over nine years, indicating stable and gradually increasing funding capacity.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Smith Library of Regional ($12,000), Pyramid Hill Scupture Park ($10,000), Middletown Historical ($7,940).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SMITH LIBRARY OF REGIONAL Oxford, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $12,000 |
| PYRAMID HILL SCUPTURE PARK Hamilton, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| MIDDLETOWN HISTORICAL Middletown, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $7,940 |
| OXFORD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION Oxford, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $7,040 |
| BUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL Hamilton, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $5,124 |
| THE GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA Hamilton, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| ATRIUM MEDICAL CENTER FDN Middletown, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| TALAWANDA MIDDLE SCHOOL Oxford, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| MILFORD TOWNSHIP Oxford, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $4,300 |
| Harriet Beecher Stowe House Cincinnati, OH | 501(C)(3) GENERAL OPERATING | $3,850 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dick Sollman serves as chair of the trust's advisory board. The trust maintains one reported trustee/board member position.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In summer 2024, the W.E. Smith Family Charitable Trust approved $64,460 in grants to 20 local organizations focused on historic preservation and education. Notable 2024 grants included funding for the Reily Township Historical Society to catalog museum records, the Oxford Museum Association for Pioneer Farm House Museum restoration work, and Smith Library for digitization of local high school yearbooks.
In 2026, the trust announced $49,000 in grants to 14 history-related projects across southern Ohio, supporting initiatives ranging from oral history projects to historical marker installations and steel industry exhibitions.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund fund?
The trust was established by Ophia Smith, wife of W.E. Smith, a former history department chair at Miami University. The foundation prioritizes funding for history-related projects, historic preservation, and educational programs. Primary focus areas include support for libraries, museums, historical societies, and organizations engaged in regional history documentation and education across southwest Ohio.
How do I apply for a grant from W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund?
The trust awards grant funding twice per year. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund make grants?
Funding is concentrated in Ohio, with 100% of grants directed to Ohio organizations. Within the state, funding concentrates in Oxford (19%), Cincinnati (19%), and Hamilton (13%). The trust serves southwest Ohio communities, with particular emphasis on Butler County and surrounding regions.
What size grants does W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund award?
In 2025, W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund awarded 30 grants totaling $100K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund's EIN?
W E Smith Family Charitable Trust Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1438321. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.