The James & Linda Smith Charitable Trust focuses on local and regional community needs in Southwest Virginia and neighboring areas, funding direct-service nonprofits that serve vulnerable people, animals, and the environment. Their giving highlights basic needs (food banks, shelters, affordable housing), health and medical access (free clinics, prosthetics, Make‑A‑Wish), animal welfare and wildlife rescue, and K–12/student support and sustainability education. Grants are often modest and targeted to program support or immediate needs, with many repeat awards to the same local organizations.
A defining feature of James & Linda Smith Charitable Trust is its steady support for direct-service nonprofits that meet immediate needs in Southwest Virginia and neighboring communities. The trust’s recent grants show a pattern of modest, practical awards for food assistance, shelter, medical access, animal care, youth support, and environmental education. Repeat funding is part of that pattern: Friends of OCDSS received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for immediate needs of clients of Orange County DSS, while Free Clinic of the New River Valley received awards across 2023, 2024, and 2025 for medical care for low-income individuals. The trust also funds organizations serving people in crisis, including Durham Rescue Mission for shelter, Hope to Walk for prosthetic legs, and Feeding America SW VA for food assistance. Alongside human services, it supports animal rescue and wildlife care through grantees such as Humane Society of Montgomery County, Carolina Tiger Rescue, and Duke Lemur Center. Its grant history reflects targeted awards for program support, emergency response, and scholarship aid rather than broad, open-ended funding.
Basic needs are a clear priority. The trust gave $5,000 to Feeding America SW VA for food assistance and $2,000 to Interfaith Council for Social Servi to assist in providing food to those in need. Shelter and emergency relief also appear often, including $5,000 to Durham Rescue Mission to provide shelter and $5,000 to Gods Pit crew to support local communities from natural disaster. In health-related giving, the trust awarded $4,000 to Hope to Walk to offer prosthetic legs and hope to a world in need, and $3,500 to Free Clinic of the New River Valley for medical care for low income individuals. Education support shows up through a $5,000 grant to Durham Academy for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students and a $5,000 grant to Saint Michaels Lutheran Church for a Backpack Program for Youth.
Typical awards are small and concentrated near the lower end of the schedule: p25 is $1,500, median is $1,500, and p75 is $5,000. The trust’s recent activity also shows repeat awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Friends of OCDSS and Free Clinic of the New River Valley. Grants are usually restricted to a named purpose, such as food assistance, shelter, medical care, or scholarship support. The trust funds individuals as well as nonprofits, and its latest 990 year on file is 2025.
$63K
$831K
$110K
$82K
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 39% of grants go to recipients in NC.
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Distributed across many small-to-medium grants (most under $20k) with frequent repeat funding to core local grantees; emphasis on program and emergency support rather than large multi‑year endowments. Geographically concentrated in Roanoke/SW Virginia and nearby communities, mixing secular human services, faith‑based initiatives, and animal/wildlife causes.
Notable grantees: Friends of OCDSS, Free Clinic of the New River Valley, Feeding America SW VA, Humane Society of Montgomery County / local animal rescues (Paws4ever, Independent Animal Rescue), Durham Rescue Mission
Grantmaking is regional, with Virginia receiving the largest share of grants and 45% of awards going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipients cluster in Southwest Virginia cities such as Blacksburg, Salem, Radford, Christiansburg, and Danville, alongside North Carolina grantees in Durham, Hillsborough, Carrboro, Pittsboro, and Mebane. The trust’s giving also reaches beyond Virginia into nearby communities in North Carolina, while all recorded recipients are in the US.
The trust supports direct-service nonprofits focused on food assistance, shelter, medical care, animal welfare, youth support, and environmental education. Recent grants include food banks, a rescue mission, a free clinic, animal rescues, and scholarship or backpack programs.
Yes. Friends of OCDSS received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Free Clinic of the New River Valley received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern suggests recurring support for some local partners.
The reported grant-size distribution is tightly clustered: p25 is $1,500, median is $1,500, and p75 is $5,000. Many recent awards sit at $5,000, with smaller grants appearing as well.
The trust funds nonprofits serving vulnerable groups and also funds individuals. Recent grants support low-income individuals and families, homeless people, students, children with critical illnesses, people needing prosthetic limbs, and homeless animals.
Virginia is the top state by grant count, and 45% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recent recipient list also includes many organizations in North Carolina, especially in the Piedmont and Triangle areas.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| church of divine man | Everett, WA | $20,000 | 2026 | Support Church Activities/Food Pantry |
| Homage Senior Services | Everett, WA | $6,700 | 2026 | support seniors and people with disabilities in Snohomish County. |
| Friends of OCDSS | Hillsborough, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | Meet the immediate needs of individuals and families who are clients of Orange County DSS |
| Durham Academy | Durham, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | Provide funds for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students. |
| world wildlife fund | washington, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | conserve and restore biodiversity |
| Paws4ever | Mebane, NC | $4,000 | 2026 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Independent Animal Rescue | Durham, NC | $4,000 | 2026 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Carolina Tiger Rescue | Pittsboro, NC | $4,000 | 2026 | Protecting wild cats |
| Chatham Animal Rescue | Pittsboro, NC | $4,000 | 2026 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Swing it to End it | Vinton, VA | $2,500 | 2026 | To support research and provide education related to Alzheimer's |
| Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $2,000 | 2026 | Provide education for a sustainable future |
| Carolla Wild Horse Fund | Corolla, NC | $1,200 | 2026 | To provide funding for the care of wild horses |
| Durham Academy | Durham, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Provide funds for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students. |
| Carolla Wild Horse Fund | Corolla, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | To provide funding for the care of wild horses |
| Friends of OCDSS | Hillsborough, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Meet the immediate needs of individuals and families who are clients of Orange County DSS |
| Durham Rescue Mission | Durham, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Provide shelter to those in need |
| Teen Driving Solutions Inc | Willow Spring, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Remove automobile crashes as the number one cause of death for teenagers in America |
| Gods Pit crew | Danville, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | To support local communities from natural disaster |
| Hope to Walk | Blacksburg, VA | $4,000 | 2025 | To offer prosthetic legs and hope to a world in need |
| Paws4ever | Mebane, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| CARE | Pittsboro, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | Provide funds foranimal rescue |
| Independent Animal Rescue | Durham, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Duke Lemur Center | Durham, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | Provide for the care of endangered strepsirrhine primates |
| Carolina Tiger Rescue | Pittsboro, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | Protecting wild cats |
| Free Clinic of the New River Valley | Christiansburg, VA | $3,500 | 2025 | Medical Care for Low Income Individuals |
| Interfaith Council for Social Servi | Carrboro, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | Assist in providing food to those in need |
| Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $2,000 | 2025 | Provide education for a sustainable future |
| Make-A-Wish | Richmond, VA | $2,000 | 2025 | Comfort children with critcial illnesses |
| Empowerment Inc | Chapel Hill, NC | $1,500 | 2025 | Helping to provide individuals with affordable housing solutions |
| Martinsville Cemetery Association I | Martinsville, VA | $1,500 | 2025 | Cemetery Upkeep |
| Friends of OCDSS | Hillsborough, NC | $6,000 | 2024 | Meet the immediate needs of individuals and families who are clients of Orange County DSS |
| Humane Society of Montgomery County | Blacksburg, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Feeding America SW VA | Salem, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | Assist in providing food to those in need |
| New River Community Action | Radford, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | To promote and support the well-being and self-reliance of individuals, families and communities |
| Teen Driving Solutions Inc | Willow Spring, NC | $5,000 | 2024 | Remove automobile crashes as the number one cause of death for teenagers in America |
| Saint Michaels Lutheran Church | Blacksburg, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | Backpack Program for Youth |
| Free Clinic of the New River Valley | Christiansburg, VA | $3,500 | 2024 | Medical Care for Low Income Individuals |
| Swing it to End it | Vinton, VA | $2,500 | 2024 | To support research and provide education related to Alzheimer's |
| Independent Animal Rescue | Durham, NC | $1,500 | 2024 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Carolina Tiger Rescue | Pittsboro, NC | $1,500 | 2024 | Protecting wild cats |
| Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $1,500 | 2024 | Provide education for a sustainable future |
| CARE | Pittsboro, NC | $1,500 | 2024 | Provide funds foranimal rescue |
| Durham Rescue Mission | Durham, NC | $1,500 | 2024 | Provide shelter to those in need |
| Hope to Walk | Blacksburg, VA | $1,500 | 2024 | To offer prosthetic legs and hope to a world in need |
| Paws4ever | Mebane, NC | $1,500 | 2024 | To provide funding for the care of homeless animals |
| Duke Lemur Center | Durham, NC | $1,500 | 2024 | Provide for the care of endangered strepsirrhine primates |
| Durham Academy | Durham, NC | $1,000 | 2024 | Provide funds for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students. |
| Make-A-Wish | Richmond, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | Comfort children with critcial illnesses |
| Empowerment Inc | Chapel Hill, NC | $1,000 | 2024 | Helping to provide individuals with affordable housing solutions |
| Interfaith Council for Social Servi | Carrboro, NC | $1,000 | 2024 | Assist in providing food to those in need |
church of divine man
$20,000Support Church Activities/Food Pantry
Homage Senior Services
$6,700support seniors and people with disabilities in Snohomish County.
Friends of OCDSS
$5,000Meet the immediate needs of individuals and families who are clients of Orange County DSS
Durham Academy
$5,000Provide funds for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students.
Paws4ever
$4,000To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Independent Animal Rescue
$4,000To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Carolina Tiger Rescue
$4,000Protecting wild cats
Chatham Animal Rescue
$4,000To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Swing it to End it
$2,500To support research and provide education related to Alzheimer's
Carolla Wild Horse Fund
$1,200To provide funding for the care of wild horses
Durham Academy
$5,000Provide funds for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students.
Carolla Wild Horse Fund
$5,000To provide funding for the care of wild horses
Friends of OCDSS
$5,000Meet the immediate needs of individuals and families who are clients of Orange County DSS
Teen Driving Solutions Inc
$5,000Remove automobile crashes as the number one cause of death for teenagers in America
Hope to Walk
$4,000To offer prosthetic legs and hope to a world in need
Paws4ever
$4,000To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
CARE
$4,000Provide funds foranimal rescue
Independent Animal Rescue
$4,000To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Carolina Tiger Rescue
$4,000Protecting wild cats
Free Clinic of the New River Valley
$3,500Medical Care for Low Income Individuals
Helping to provide individuals with affordable housing solutions
Martinsville Cemetery Association I
$1,500Cemetery Upkeep
Friends of OCDSS
$6,000Meet the immediate needs of individuals and families who are clients of Orange County DSS
Humane Society of Montgomery County
$5,000To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Feeding America SW VA
$5,000Assist in providing food to those in need
To promote and support the well-being and self-reliance of individuals, families and communities
Teen Driving Solutions Inc
$5,000Remove automobile crashes as the number one cause of death for teenagers in America
Saint Michaels Lutheran Church
$5,000Backpack Program for Youth
Free Clinic of the New River Valley
$3,500Medical Care for Low Income Individuals
Swing it to End it
$2,500To support research and provide education related to Alzheimer's
Independent Animal Rescue
$1,500To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Carolina Tiger Rescue
$1,500Protecting wild cats
CARE
$1,500Provide funds foranimal rescue
Hope to Walk
$1,500To offer prosthetic legs and hope to a world in need
Paws4ever
$1,500To provide funding for the care of homeless animals
Duke Lemur Center
$1,500Provide for the care of endangered strepsirrhine primates
Durham Academy
$1,000Provide funds for the Durham Acadamy Scholarship Fund for needy students.
Make-A-Wish
$1,000Comfort children with critcial illnesses
Helping to provide individuals with affordable housing solutions