The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust, established by William Wikoff Smith, aims to address fundamental human needs including food, clothing, and shelter; supports higher education scholarships, maritime education and heritage preservation; and funds basic medical research in Heart Disease, Cancer, and AIDS.
The Basic Needs grant program by the W. W. Smith Charitable Trust focuses on providing direct assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, specifically school-aged children and older adults (ages 60 and older), in the five-county Greater Philadelphia region and the City of Camden, NJ. The program supports efforts to provide food, clothing, and shelter, aiming to solve community problems with innovative approaches. Grants are awarded for a one-year term, with organizations eligible for three consecutive years of funding before a mandatory two-year break. Award amounts typically range from $10,000 to $40,000, with no maximum limit specified for certain projects.