Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable
The Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. Established in 2007, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$292K
+8.1% YoY
Grant Count
17
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-10.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds:
- Education — including the Urban Scholars Program and Steps to Success Education and Employment Program
- Human Services — with emphasis on family empowerment and support for vulnerable populations
- Skills Training — particularly skills training for the blind to increase employability
- General Operating Support — for selected nonprofit organizations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $25,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Missouri
- Kansas
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $4,773,526
- Total Revenues: $292,205
- Total Expenses: $343,867
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,830,000
- Total Revenues: $168,000
- Total Expenses: $315,000
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Catholic Charities of Kc-st Joseph Inc ($25,000), Levelup Kids Inc ($20,000), Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAM J LEWIS ACADEMY INC BRIDGEPORT, CT | USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES AS THEY SEE FIT | $18,000 |
| CAMP CLAIRE INC OLD LYME, CT | ELECTRICAL CODE UPGRADES/IMPROVEMENTS | $10,000 |
| LEVELUP KIDS INC KANSAS CITY, MO | FREE DENTAL AND VISION CARE FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN | $20,000 |
| METROPOLITAN LUTHERAN MINISTRY KANSAS CITY, MO | FAMILY EMPOWERMENT CONTINUUM | $20,000 |
| PIEDMONT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION PIEDMONT, CA | PIEDMONT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EXCELLENCE | $2,000 |
| STUDENT U DURHAM, NC | USED FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES | $20,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF JEFFERSON CITY JEFFERSON CITY, MO | PROJECT STEAM | $15,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF KC-ST JOSEPH INC KANSAS CITY, MO | EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE | $25,000 |
| CHILDRENS MERCY HOSPITAL KANSAS CITY, MO | SUMMER TRAINING IN ACADEMIC RESEARCH (STAR) 2.0 | $20,000 |
| COLUMBIA CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE COLUMBIA, MO | COLUMBIA CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael B Vaughan is listed as personnel associated with the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMMERCE BANK INVESTMENT | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | $39,627 |
| ADAM RUST | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| COMMERCE BANK CHARITY | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | $10,938 |
Contact Information
Address: Rustcommerce Co-Ttees, 1000 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106
Telephone: 816-234-2568
EIN: 43-6929733
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable fund?
The foundation primarily funds: • **Education** — including the Urban Scholars Program and Steps to Success Education and Employment Program • **Human Services** — with emphasis on family empowerment and support for vulnerable populations • **Skills Training** — particularly skills training for the blind to increase employability • **General Operating Support** — for selected nonprofit organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $25,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 16 grants in 2025. Recent recipients include: • Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry — $20,000 (Family Empowerment Continuum) • Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (IICONN) — $20,000 (Project Rescue) • Levelup Kids — $20,000 (Free Dental and Vision Care for Low-Income Children) • Earth Island Institute Inc. **Total Giving:** $292,000 in 2025
Where does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Missouri • Kansas • Connecticut
What size grants does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable award?
In 2025, Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable awarded 17 grants totaling $292K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's EIN?
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6929733. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.