May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust Grants

The May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Larkspur, California, dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that assist people in overcoming barriers to opportunity and advancing toward self-sufficiency. Rooted in the values and vision of its founders, the Trust focuses its philanthropy on four primary populations: adults and transitioning youth with disabilities, foster youth, older adults, and veterans. While it no longer accepts unsolicited grant applications, it invites qualified organizations to initiate contact through a preliminary email inquiry process, which provides a pathway for potential future consideration. The Trust’s mission emphasizes the importance of supporting vulnerable populations through services that foster personal development, stability, and independence. It seeks to fund organizations that demonstrate measurable outcomes and long-term impact in the lives of their participants. Program areas reflect this commitment by targeting transitional populations—such as youth exiting foster care or veterans reentering civilian life—whose success often depends on timely, accessible support systems. Emphasis is placed on sustaining established, high-impact programs that are well integrated into their communities and supported by diversified funding sources. Geographic scope for grantmaking is broad but includes key restrictions. The Trust supports U.S.-based organizations, as well as qualified international organizations that can demonstrate equivalency to U.S. public charities. Grants are awarded exclusively to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or equivalent; organizations must not be private foundations. Fiscal sponsorship is permitted, provided the sponsor is a 501(c)(3) and offers a formal letter of authorization. Services delivered through religious organizations are eligible only if they are non-sectarian in nature, do not promote specific religious doctrine, and are open to all without religious participation requirements. Grantmaking is selective, with rigorous alignment criteria. Competitive applicants are those that directly serve one of the four focus populations through programs that have demonstrated sustained success over at least two years. Organizations should also meet all geographic and structural eligibility requirements. The Trust evaluates prospective grantees based on organizational stability, leadership, clarity of mission, and documented outcomes. Organizations that rely heavily on government funding—defined as more than 70% of total revenue—are typically not competitive. The submission process begins with a brief email inquiry, allowing organizations to introduce themselves and their alignment with the Trust’s funding priorities. While all inquiries are reviewed, due to the volume received, not all will receive a reply. Selected organizations may be invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which may take up to six weeks for review. If an LOI is approved, a full proposal may be requested, with decisions rendered in four to six months. Trustees meet quarterly to evaluate proposals; however, meeting dates are not published. Introductory meetings are not available due to volume and geographic scope. There is no formal application portal for unsolicited applications. All initial communication must be made via email. Invited applicants submit their LOIs and proposals through a designated grants portal. For technical assistance with the portal, organizations are instructed to contact the Trust at [email protected]. Grant decisions are guided by strategic alignment, sustainability, and population impact. Organizations are encouraged to thoroughly review the Trust’s website, particularly the Funding Priorities section, for specific strategies and requirements under each population focus area. In summary, while the Trust does not accept open applications, its structured inquiry and invitation process offers a route for eligible organizations to engage. Emphasis on demonstrated success, strategic alignment, and diversified funding reflects the Trust’s commitment to impactful, sustainable philanthropy.