https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/business/grady-white-boats-charity.html
6 days ago · After his sole heir died, Eddie Smith, the owner of Grady-White Boats, looked for a way to pass on his legacy. He was inspired by Patagonia to pledge future profits to charity.
https://onthewater.com/grady-whites-owner-turned-down-400-million-to-give-the-company-away-instead
5 days ago · Grady-White owner Eddie Smith rejected a $400 million sale, transferring the boat builder to a purpose trust that will send profits to charity for good.
https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/grady-white-boats-owner-chooses-charity-over-400m-payout-8386713/
6 days ago · Eddie Smith Jr., owner of Grady-White Boats, has decided pledge all future company profits to charity rather than sell the company for around $400 million.
https://moneywise.com/news/top-stories/grady-white-boats-eddie-smith-purpose-trust-charity
2 days ago · A wealthy boat builder has declined to sell his company for $400 million — not so he can keep the cash rolling in, but to funnel its profits to charity instead. “I don’t need a 200-foot yacht or to spend the winters in the Mediterranean,” says Eddie Smith Jr., CEO of Grady-White Boats, in an interview with the New York Times.
https://www.boatblurb.com/post/grady-white-owner-transfers-company-trust-nonprofit
Grady-White Boats has transferred ownership of the company into a perpetual purpose trust and an affiliated nonprofit organization, ensuring the company can never be sold while directing its future profits toward charitable causes.
https://fortune.com/2026/07/29/eddie-smith-jr-turned-down-400-million-offer-for-grady-white-boats-instead-giving-profits-away-to-charity-inspired-by-patagonia-founder-philanthropy/
2 days ago · Instead of selling Grady-White Boats for $400 million, Eddie Smith Jr. was inspired by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard to donate profits to charity.
https://www.thewaterwire.com/releases/2026/07/grady-white-boats-owner-eddie-smith-gifts-company-control-to-perpetual-purpose-trust/
3 days ago · Grady-White Boats owner Eddie Smith has transferred company control to a perpetual purpose trust that will donate tens of millions annually to charity, marking the largest such transition in the U.S. marine industry. CEO Kris Carroll will lead operations while Smith assumes an emeritus role.
