Clara Blackford Smith & W. Aubrey Smith Charitable Foundation Grant

The Clara Blackford Smith & W. Aubrey Smith Charitable Foundation was created in 1978 through the will of Mrs. Clara Blackford Smith, a known philanthropist dedicated to supporting healthcare. Administered under Bank of America's Philanthropic Solutions division, this foundation continues Mrs. Smith's legacy by focusing its charitable giving on underserved populations, particularly in the areas of education, health care, and human services. The fund aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of essential services for vulnerable communities, especially those within Grayson County, Texas. The foundation primarily offers grants with a one-year duration. However, multi-year support may be considered on occasion. While there are no explicitly stated restrictions regarding how funds must be spent, the focus remains tightly aligned with the foundation’s core mission areas of education, health, and human services. There are no geographic restrictions beyond the strong preference for programs that impact residents of Grayson County, Texas, suggesting a regional emphasis even if statewide Texas applicants are welcome. Applications are accepted twice yearly, with deadlines on January 1 and August 1. Interested applicants must submit their materials via Bank of America’s online application system. There is no indication of any pre-application requirements, letters of intent, or preliminary screening. However, applicants are advised to follow submission procedures outlined in downloadable PDF or Word documents available through the fund’s website. The foundation is currently active and accepting applications. It does not operate on a rolling basis, but it is a recurring opportunity with clearly established biannual deadlines. The next expected deadline after August 1 would fall on January 1 of the following year, making this a regular and predictable funding source for eligible nonprofits. Eligibility for funding is open to nonprofit organizations. Although specific organizational types are not detailed in the source, the lack of explicit restrictions and the structure of Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions program strongly imply that 501(c)(3) nonprofits are the primary applicants. There are no notes indicating eligibility for for-profits, individuals, or government entities. Additional eligibility details and procedural steps can be found in downloadable procedure documents. Applicants with questions or those seeking guidance on the application process are encouraged to contact the Texas office of Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions at tx.philanthropic@bofa.com. Applicants are instructed to include the name of the foundation in the subject line of their email inquiries. Detailed procedural documentation is available online to assist in navigating the application portal and requirements.