The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust is an independent philanthropic trust celebrating it’s 70th year of support for the Victorian community.

State Library Victoria and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust have a long-standing relationship, with the Trust having supported the Library for over 35 years.

In 2022, the Trust generously committed $1 million to State Library Victoria to support the Women Writers Fund. The donation aims to grow the representation of women’s writing, from the past and into the future for all Victorians.

The grant will support in securing acquisitions by women writers for the State Collection, alongside public programming including an annual marquee oration featuring an internationally recognised speaker. It was made alongside a commitment of $250,000 to the Stella Prize, supporting the major literary award celebrating women’s writing.

The donation builds on the work of philanthropists Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Helen Sykes, who established the Women Writers Fund to preserve women’s literary and creative work for future generations.