Inez Duff Bishop Charitable Trust Fund

The Inez Duff Bishop Charitable Trust was created in 1966 through the Last Will and Testament of Inez Duff Bishop, a resident of Charlottesville, Virginia. The trust was established to bring humanitarian blessings to people, particularly those in the local community, and is administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as the sole trustee. Wells Fargo’s Trust Philanthropic Services manages this and other private foundations, and this particular trust reflects Ms. Bishop’s legacy by supporting charitable causes in health, human services, education, the arts, and especially services for individuals who are visually impaired or financially in need of medical assistance. The trust's mission is to support a broad range of charitable activities, with a strong emphasis on assistance for the visually impaired and providing hospital and medical care for individuals in financial need. While the trust considers grants across a wide spectrum of categories—including arts, culture, humanities, education, environment, animals, health, human services, public/society benefit, and religion—it maintains a focused funding practice. Specifically, it tends to support organizations that serve individuals who are visually impaired or are underprivileged and in need of medical care. Grants are typically awarded to organizations located within Charlottesville or Albemarle County, Virginia. While the trust technically serves the broader state of Virginia, the geographic emphasis is distinctly local. This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to nonprofit entities and healthcare organizations operating in that specific region. The funding opportunity is not available nationwide, and eligibility is explicitly limited to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations as recognized by the Internal Revenue Code. The trust accepts applications year-round, but in order to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting, applications must be submitted by August 1. The review process culminates in November, when applicants are notified of the funding decisions. Submissions are made through the online application system managed by Wells Fargo’s Philanthropic Services. Upon submission, applicants receive an automated confirmation email. Organizations that are awarded grants may be required to submit periodic progress reports and a final report detailing the outcomes of the funded project. Grants typically range from $3,000 to $10,000, with the trust awarding approximately 13 grants annually. The average total giving per year is about $75,000. While the program does not indicate any requirement for matching funds, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate impact, financial need, and alignment with the trust's mission areas. The process does not appear to include a pre-application or letter of inquiry phase, simplifying the submission process but also requiring that applications be fully developed and compliant with all guidelines upon submission. Questions or technical support issues related to the grant process may be directed to Wells Fargo’s Grant Administration team. They can be contacted via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com or by phone at 1-888-235-4351. Additional information and application access are available on Wells Fargo’s Trust Philanthropic Services website.