The Gertrude L. Hirsch Charitable Trust is a philanthropic foundation administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and was established under the Last Will and Testament of Gertrude Hirsch, a New Jersey resident who passed away in 1987. The trust operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes and supports only 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. The foundation is part of the Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services Private Foundations, which oversees a variety of charitable funds aimed at advancing community welfare.
The trust focuses on six primary program areas: arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment and animals; health; human services; and public/society benefit. Although there are no formal geographic restrictions, funding preferences are given to organizations located in the New Jersey area, consistent with the founder’s place of residence and the trust’s historical practices.
Eligible organizations must be based in the United States or its possessions, as no grant funds may be used outside these areas. Applications are accepted annually with a submission deadline of July 7. Decisions regarding grant awards are made in September. Applicants receive an automatic email confirmation upon submission and will be notified of the outcome of their applications in due course.
Grants generally range between $5,000 and $10,000, and recipients are required to submit a progress report six months after receiving the funds. This requirement ensures accountability and helps the trust monitor the impact of its funding.
Interested applicants can apply online through the Wells Fargo grants portal. For technical support or further information, applicants can contact Wells Fargo’s grant administration team by phone at 1-888-235-4351 or via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. Individuals seeking scholarships should note that the trust does not fund personal educational scholarships and are directed instead to explore opportunities at csascholars.org.
