About the Foundation | About the Foundation
The Edna Sproull Williams Foundation was established in1976 by Edna Sproull Williams, widow of the late Charles J. Williams Jr. For nearly four decades, the ESWF has supported the non-profit sector, primarily in NE FL, and had a profound impact on the community. For most of those four decades, the leadership provided by Edna’s nephews, Pat and Mike Williams (both deceased), and also by Jim Burke and Ed McCarthy, has been invaluable to ESWF’s growth and influential support.
“The foundation is a little different from many in that Mrs Williams left the guidelines open for future trustees to determine, Jim Burke said. Mrs Williams had strong opinions on many subjects but at the same time was very wise -- she recognized that times change. Consequently, we are not limited in what we support. We have established five primary areas of interest: education, religion, welfare, health and culture."
The foundation does accept new proposals, and word of mouth is how people seem to find out, Burke said. We receive requests throughout the year but our grant-making meeting is just once a year in January.”
Several buildings in Jacksonville carry the Williams name, as a result of generous gifts by the foundation. The Edna Williams Cancer Center at Baptist Medical Center, the Williams YMCA on San Jose Boulevard and the Williams Red Cross on Riverside Avenue are the most prominent.
Outcomes Report
Applications for 2024 grants will be accepted between October 1 and December 15, 2024 @ 5:00 PM.
Charles Williams was a pioneer in the seasoning of lumber and Chairman of the Board of Moore Dry Kiln Company.
Shortly before his death in 1956, the live oak picture above, located on the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, was honored by the American Forests Magazine in its September 1955 issue as "one of the most beautiful live oak trees in the country." Its limbs reachout over a diameter of 153 feet, and the circumference at its trunk measures over 24 feet.
Edna Sproull Williams Foundation is a non profit trust located in Switzerland, Florida. Charitable donations to this organization are deductible. The organization IRS foundation code is 501c3, which is the usual structure for private foundations, particularly families, because it typically does not directly operate any charitable activities. The technical IRS classification for Edna Sproull Williams Foundation is a charitable organization.