Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable
The Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable is a private foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. Its 2026 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including literacy, housing and homelessness services, youth support, food assistance, and disaster relief.
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable at a glance
In short: Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable gave $312K across 15 grants in 2026 (avg $21K), top state California. 40% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $312,000
- +6.8% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 15
- -11.8% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $20,800
- +21.1% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $4,600,545
- -3.6% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (6 of 15, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (46% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2025 filing says applications must be submitted online and advises applicants to call for guidelines. It lists Michelle Morris at Commerce Trust as the contact and states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- Proposals must be received one month before the foundation’s meeting.
- Deadline
- Proposals must be received one month before the foundation’s meeting.
- Contact
Application contact: Michelle Morris - Commerce Trust
Mailing address: 1000 Walnut Street Bb16-2, Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 234-8812
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Durham Literacy Center Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $225K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 70 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, California received 46% of grant dollars, Missouri 25%, Connecticut 13%, North Carolina 8%, and Kansas 8%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 6 of 15 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 0% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+9%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $82K (2022) to $312K (2026). In 2026 it made 15 grants totaling $312K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Durham Literacy Center Inc Durham, NC | Durham Literacy Center College and Career Readiness Program | $25,000 |
| First Place for Youth Oakland, CA | My First Place | $25,000 |
| Insight Housing Berkeley, CA | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operations | $25,000 |
| Shawnee Mission Meals on Wheels Overland Park, KS | Used at the discretion of the board of directors or trustees as they see fit for operations | $25,000 |
| American National Red Cross (Greater Kansas City) Kansas City, MO | Disaster Relief | $25,000 |
| East Bay Community Law Center Berkeley, CA | Education Defense and Justice for Youth (Edjy) Program | $20,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City Kansas City, MO | Neighborhood Revitalization and Affordable Housing Project | $20,000 |
| Harvesters-the Community Food Network Kansas City, MO | Feeding Children, Families, and Seniors Across Our Region | $20,000 |
| Inspirica Inc Stamford, CT | Employment, Education, & Financial Empowerment [Eefe] Program | $20,000 |
| Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport Incorporated Bridgeport, CT | Literacy & Life Skills Program for Women | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $4,600,545 | $195,638 | $368,619 | $312,000 | 15 | $323,131 | $155,381 | $330,219 |
| 2025 | $4,773,526 | $292,205 | $343,867 | $292,000 | 17 | $302,938 | $252,574 | $313,543 |
| 2024 | $4,825,189 | $167,515 | $314,652 | $270,000 | 14 | $279,755 | $126,698 | $291,134 |
| 2023 | $4,972,325 | $295,412 | $347,315 | $286,000 | 18 | $295,203 | $263,076 | $282,653 |
| 2022 | $5,024,230 | $879,717 | $122,579 | $82,000 | 6 | $90,523 | $850,083 | $318,347 |
| 2021 | $4,267,092 | $310,426 | $309,248 | $255,000 | 16 | — | $277,859 | $286,083 |
| 2020 | $4,265,915 | $294,904 | $249,499 | $203,750 | 16 | — | $265,158 | $271,665 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable reported a distributable amount of $330K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations addressing education and literacy, housing, food access, youth services, and disaster relief.
The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Insight Housing says its programs include food, emergency and transitional shelter, permanent housing, rapid rehousing, and homelessness prevention. Durham Literacy Center says it works to help Durham County residents improve their literacy skills. Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport describes its work as providing free education to empower women. East Bay Community Law Center says it provides legal services and policy advocacy for low-income communities and trains future attorneys. Inspirica describes itself as a provider of emergency housing, permanent supportive housing, and support services. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2026, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $312,000. Individual grants ranged from $12,000 to $25,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the grants reported for 2026 were $25,000 to Durham Literacy Center for its College and Career Readiness Program; $25,000 to First Place for Youth for My First Place; and $25,000 each to Insight Housing, Shawnee Mission Meals on Wheels, and the American National Red Cross (Greater Kansas City). Other grants included $20,000 to East Bay Community Law Center for its Education Defense and Justice for Youth program, $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City for neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing, and $20,000 to Harvesters–The Community Food Network for regional food assistance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Commerce Bank Investment, Adam Rust, and Commerce Bank Charity as co-trustees.
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's 2026 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Commerce Bank Charity
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $11K (2026)
Commerce Bank Investment
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $40K (2026)
Adam Rust
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $40K, to Commerce Bank Investment (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable
How much does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable give each year?
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable gave $312K across 15 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $292K across 17 grants.
What is Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's typical grant size?
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's median grant in 2026 was $20,000, and its average grant was $20,800, across 15 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable that year got $19K on average.
Where does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable give grants?
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's top state is California, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Missouri (25%) and Connecticut (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (5 grants), Kansas City, MO (4 grants) and Berkeley, CA (2 grants).
Does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's largest grantees?
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's largest 2026 grantees include Durham Literacy Center Inc ($25,000), First Place for Youth ($25,000) and Insight Housing ($25,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable?
Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $323K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $330K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations addressing education and literacy, housing, food access, youth services, and disaster relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable?
The foundation’s 2025 filing says applications must be submitted online and advises applicants to call for guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harry-l-rust-and-helen-m-rust-charitable-morg_9316ad3f09474838897774ecdd7123f0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_436929733_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harry L Rust \& Helen M Rust Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harry-l-rust-and-helen-m-rust-charitable-morg_9316ad3f09474838897774ecdd7123f0},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-01. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Harry L Rust & Helen M Rust Charitable's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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