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Connecticut · Private foundation

The Rust Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$255k
Granted FY2025(still arriving)
20
Grants FY2025
37
Organizations funded FY2024
46%
First-time grantees FY2024
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2025
$10,000
Largest grant, FY2025
$30,000
Organizations funded a year
19 to 46
FY2018 to FY2024
States reached, FY2025
9
Total assets, FY2025
$5.0M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2024, 46% of the organizations The Rust Family Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 46% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 54% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $118k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationInternationalArts & CultureSocial ScienceHuman ServicesPublic BenefitOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2025still arriving19$245k53%
FY202437$258k46%
FY202331$208k45%
FY202219$152k58%
FY202131$152k65%
FY202026$132k42%
FY201946$253k46%
FY201844$229k43%
98% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$1.1MInternational$173kHealth$119kArts & Culture$107kAnimals$102kScience & Tech$86kEnvironment$47kHuman Services$43kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

AK
ME
NH
WA
MT
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
NV
WY
IA
IN
OH
PA
CT
RI
CA
UT
CO
MO
KY
VA
MD
DE
AZ
NM
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
TX
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2025, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

Show all 105 grantees
All grantees of The Rust Family Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Connecticut Humane Society$46,00080%
New York University$42,98030%
The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund$36,69650%
The University of Texas Foundation Inc$33,31940%
Yale University$30,8753n/a
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc$30,00010%
Connecticut Foodshare Inc$29,00080%
Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University$28,86030%
Vanderbilt University$27,40040%
University of Michigan$26,85334%
Blood Cancer United Inc$25,00050%
World Central Kitchen Inc$25,0001n/a
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals$24,50080%
Cornell University$24,16930%
American Society of the University of Haifa$23,75030%
Save The Children Federation Inc$22,00040%
The Heritage Foundation$21,28030%
Washington University$20,03030%
Institute for Mediterranean Studies$16,99023%
University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc$15,06410%
The George Washington University$13,93510%
Washington State University Foundation$13,51520%
Regents of the University of Michigan$13,5002n/a
Kennebunkport Conservation Trust$13,50031%
The Associates of the University of Toronto Inc$12,95011%
University of Sheffield in America Inc$12,35735%
Cal Poly Pomona Foundation Inc$12,12620%
University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc$12,00020%
Smithsonian Institution$12,00020%
Mercy Ships International$12,00020%
Northern Arizona University Foundation$12,00020%
Baylor University$11,95420%
University of Oregon Foundation$11,72020%
Pequot Library Association$11,50060%
Habitat for Horses Inc$11,00020%
Michigan State University$10,7002n/a
Operation Hope of Fairfield Inc$10,50020%
University of Chicago$10,29520%
March of Dimes Inc$10,0001n/a
Save the Sound$10,00010%
Water for Good$10,0001n/a
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation$10,0001n/a
Wounded Warrior Project Inc$10,00010%
Institute for Field Research$9,90011%
American Veterinary Medical Foundation$9,50040%
University of Colorado Foundation$9,30010%
University of Pittsburgh$8,58220%
Cleveland Museum of Natural History$8,37010%
New Mexico Highlands University Foundation Inc$8,20010%
Friends of Morgantina$8,0001n/a
Friends of Trinidad State Junior College$7,9381n/a
Western Kentucky University Research Foundation Inc$7,82612%
University of Minnesota Foundation$7,71010%
Skidmore College$7,66010%
Carleton College$7,50010%
Centre College$7,40010%
Archaeological Institute of America$7,28510%
THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS Of the University of Cambridge$7,28510%
German University Alliance Inc$7,2251n/a
University of Florida$7,1151n/a
Fund for Armenian Relief Inc$7,11010%
International Institute for Mesopotamian Area Studies$7,05214%
The Amer Research Inst of the South Cauc$7,0001n/a
American Museum of Natural History$6,87010%
State University College at Brockport Foundation Inc$6,80010%
Texas A&M Foundation$6,80010%
James Cook University in America Foundation$6,69114%
Citrus County 4-H Association Inc$6,64513%
Dickinson College$6,63010%
University of South Alabama$6,5791n/a
American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches$6,50030%
Polaris Project$6,50030%
California State University San Marcos Foundation$6,50010%
Field Museum of Natural History$6,45010%
University of Evansville$6,45010%
Americans for Oxford Inc$6,20010%
Nature Forward$6,00010%
University of Wyoming Foundation$6,00010%
Wake Forest University$6,00010%
University of Cape Town Fund Inc$5,80011%
South Carolina Research Foundation$5,68310%
Research Foundation of the City University of New York$5,50010%
Bioregions Program Inc$5,00015%
North Shore Animal League America Inc$5,0001n/a
Americares Foundation Inc$5,00020%
Books for Africa Inc$5,00030%
Trustees of Boston University$5,00010%
Millsaps College$5,00010%
Sacred Heart University Incorporated$4,60010%
Southern Illinois University Alumni Association$4,41610%
Lycoming College$4,35010%
Amazon Conservation Association$4,00020%
American Bird Conservancy$4,00030%
Friends of the Fairfield Public Library$4,00042%
University of Utah$3,9201n/a
Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Inc$3,0002n/a
The St Bernard Project Inc$3,00010%
Water Missions International$2,50010%
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc$2,50010%
Feeding America$2,50010%
Project Hope - the People-To-People Health Foundation Inc$2,50010%
Human Systems Research$2,25013%
Animal Welfare Institute$2,00010%
Cancer Research Institute Inc$2,00010%
Lehigh University$50010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 69 recipients with no EIN on record ($652k), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Each grantee by its size and the share of its budget The Rust Family Foundation supplied at peak.

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetConnecticut Humane Society: $46,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetNew York University: $42,980 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund: $36,696 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetThe University of Texas Foundation Inc: $33,319 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSt Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc: $30,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetConnecticut Foodshare Inc: $29,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetArizona State University Foundation for a New American University: $28,860 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetVanderbilt University: $27,400 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Michigan: $26,853 over 3y, 3.6% of budgetBlood Cancer United Inc: $25,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetThe American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: $24,500 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCornell University: $24,169 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Society of the University of Haifa: $23,750 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSave The Children Federation Inc: $22,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Heritage Foundation: $21,280 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWashington University: $20,030 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetInstitute for Mediterranean Studies: $16,990 over 2y, 3.3% of budgetUniversity of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc: $15,064 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe George Washington University: $13,935 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWashington State University Foundation: $13,515 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetKennebunkport Conservation Trust: $13,500 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetThe Associates of the University of Toronto Inc: $12,950 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetUniversity of Sheffield in America Inc: $12,357 over 3y, 4.6% of budgetCal Poly Pomona Foundation Inc: $12,126 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Georgia Research Foundation Inc: $12,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSmithsonian Institution: $12,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMercy Ships International: $12,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNorthern Arizona University Foundation: $12,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBaylor University: $11,954 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Oregon Foundation: $11,720 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPequot Library Association: $11,500 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetHabitat for Horses Inc: $11,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetOperation Hope of Fairfield Inc: $10,500 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $10,295 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSave the Sound: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWounded Warrior Project Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetInstitute for Field Research: $9,900 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetAmerican Veterinary Medical Foundation: $9,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetUniversity of Colorado Foundation: $9,300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Pittsburgh: $8,582 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCleveland Museum of Natural History: $8,370 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNew Mexico Highlands University Foundation Inc: $8,200 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWestern Kentucky University Research Foundation Inc: $7,826 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetUniversity of Minnesota Foundation: $7,710 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSkidmore College: $7,660 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCarleton College: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCentre College: $7,400 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetArchaeological Institute of America: $7,285 over 1y, 0.1% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 89.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Ibm International FoundationNY14× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Ibm International Foundation · The Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation · The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund · AbbVie Foundation · American Endowment Foundation · The Bessemer Giving Fund · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Charities Aid Foundation America · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · California Community Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare The Rust Family Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Rust Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Rust Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About The Rust Family Foundation

How much does The Rust Family Foundation give?
The Rust Family Foundation reported 20 grants totaling $255,000 in its FY2025 IRS filing. It funded between 19 and 46 organizations a year over FY2018 to FY2024.
What does The Rust Family Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2025, its largest causes are Education (55%), International (9%), Health (6%).
Who are The Rust Family Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2025: Connecticut Humane Society ($46k), New York University ($43k), The Administrators of the Tulane Educational Fund ($37k).
Does The Rust Family Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2024, 46% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does The Rust Family Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as The Rust Family Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Ibm International Foundation, The Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation, The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund.
Where is The Rust Family Foundation based?
The Rust Family Foundation is based in CT.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 182 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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