The Howell Lockhart Seiple Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations whose programs serve charitable, religious, literary, educational, and scientific purposes. Administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the trust focuses on supporting a wide range of community needs, with an emphasis on organizations located in the Delaware Valley region of Pennsylvania, although it maintains no strict geographic limitations.
The trust supports initiatives in multiple program areas, including arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment and animal welfare; health; human services; public and society benefit; and religion. While the trust maintains a broad funding scope, its giving history shows a preference for organizations that serve communities in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations as defined by the IRS. The trust aims to fund programs that align with its charitable mission and demonstrate tangible benefit to their target communities. The average grant size is approximately $2,500, and around 15 grants are awarded each year. Projects of all sizes may be considered, but applicants should note that funding levels are relatively modest.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted by April 30 in order to be considered at the trust's annual grant meeting in June. Applicants will receive confirmation of their submission by email. Grantees are generally required to submit a progress report within six months of receiving funds unless otherwise instructed at the time of the award.
The trust does not publicly list detailed application questions or evaluation criteria, so applicants should ensure their proposals clearly articulate the purpose, expected impact, and alignment with the trust’s funding areas. Transparency, community relevance, and clear charitable purpose are expected to improve an application’s competitiveness.
