The Nina Astin Winkler Charitable Trust is a private philanthropic fund administered through Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services, a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Established under the Last Will and Testament of Nina Astin Winkler dated February 28, 1966, the trust reflects Ms. Winkler’s deep personal commitment to charitable endeavors in her hometown of Bryan, Texas. She was a lifelong resident of Brazos County until her death on December 2, 1967. The trust continues to fulfill her legacy by supporting a range of nonprofit organizations aligned with her vision of community betterment.
The primary objective of the Nina Astin Winkler Charitable Trust is to support charitable causes, particularly those that benefit the Bryan, Texas area. While the trust does not impose formal geographic limitations, its giving history and stated priorities clearly indicate a strong preference for organizations based in Bryan. The supported program areas span across a variety of sectors including arts, culture, humanities, education, the environment and animal welfare, health, human services, public and societal benefit, and religion.
The trust considers applications from organizations that qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. However, it does not support requests for endowments, which is a specific limitation noted in the foundation's guidelines. All applications must be submitted electronically, and applicants will receive an automated confirmation upon submission. Grant decisions for applications submitted by the annual deadline of July 31 are typically communicated by October, following a review meeting in September.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, but only those received by July 31 will be considered during the annual review cycle. This approach allows organizations time to prepare and submit materials without a restrictive short window, yet still adheres to a predictable annual cycle for disbursement decisions. There is no mention of pre-application requirements, letters of intent, or other segmented stages of application in the available guidelines.
Organizations seeking technical support or guidance related to the application process may contact the Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services team by phone at 1-888-235-4351 or via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. The site also clarifies that individuals seeking educational scholarships should explore other opportunities provided through csascholars.org, as this fund does not provide scholarships.
In summary, the Nina Astin Winkler Charitable Trust offers consistent annual funding for a broad spectrum of charitable activities, with a focused geographic emphasis on Bryan, Texas. It is managed with transparency and a structured annual cycle, offering a straightforward and accessible application process for eligible nonprofits seeking to support the trust's areas of interest.
