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 Trust's Medical Research program focuses on supporting basic research in three major areas: Heart Disease, Cancer, and AIDS. It awards grants exclusively to non-profit institutions like universities, hospitals, and research centers, specifically within the five-county Greater Philadelphia area and the City of Camden, NJ. The program encourages scientists and research faculty at eligible institutions to apply, favoring projects that show strong potential for larger-scale funding opportunities in the future. Each proposal undergoes a rigorous peer review by a medical advisory committee outside the Trust's geographic funding area to ensure funding is directed towards impactful and meritorious research projects against heart disease, cancer, and AIDS.