Margaret Sue Rust Foundation
The Margaret Sue Rust Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockport, Texas. Founded in 1997 by Margaret Sue Rust, it says its mission is to provide grants to nonprofits located in Aransas County.
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation at a glance
In short: Margaret Sue Rust Foundation gave $448K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $28K), mostly in Texas. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $447,500
- +2.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,969
- -3.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $6,673,265
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Margaret Sue Rust Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The website guidelines list quarterly board meetings in March, June, September, and December, with applications due by the first of the meeting month. The 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The website guidelines list quarterly board meetings in March, June, September, and December, with applications due by…
- Contact
Application contact: Susie Bracht Black
Mailing address: PO Box 2659, Rockport, TX 78381
Phone: (361) 729-2321
Website: https://margaretsuerustfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Margaret Sue Rust Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rockport Fulton Education Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $375K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 81 grants of 90 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission refers to nonprofits located in Aransas County, and its published guidelines say funded activities must serve Aransas County. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Margaret Sue Rust Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $39K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $405K (2020) to $485K (2021). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $448K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rockport Fulton Education Foundation Rockport, TX | Fund GeneralScholarships | $100,000 |
| Couastal Bend Community Foundation Corpus Christi, TX | Grant Matching | $50,000 |
| Texas Maritime Museum Rockport, TX | Fund Sea CampSea Camp | $40,000 |
| Rockport Center for the Arts Rockport, TX | Fund GeneralVarious Programs | $40,000 |
| South TX Council Boy Scouts of America Corpus Christi, TX | Fund GeneralCapital Campain | $25,000 |
| Rockport Cultural Arts District Rockport, TX | Art Project | $25,000 |
| Childrens Coalition Aransas County Rockport, TX | Operations | $25,000 |
| Rockport Little Theater Rockport, TX | Capital Campaign | $25,000 |
| Rockport Fulton Good Samaritans Rockport, TX | Operations | $25,000 |
| Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group Sinton, TX | Fund General | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,673,265 | $204,834 | $523,006 | $447,500 | 16 | $447,670 |
| 2023 | $6,673,094 | $204,213 | $507,484 | $436,606 | 15 | $401,148 |
| 2022 | $6,714,298 | $179,623 | $504,633 | $426,275 | 20 | $328,951 |
| 2021 | $6,824,565 | $206,195 | $576,142 | $484,622 | 20 | $900,918 |
| 2020 | $6,322,547 | $137,632 | $471,934 | $404,500 | 19 | $578,505 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide grants to nonprofits located in Aransas County. Its 2024 giving included support for education, maritime history, arts and culture, community services, and disaster recovery.
Among its grantees, Rockport Cultural Arts District says its mission is to promote cultural and economic development in downtown Rockport. Rockport Little Theater describes its purpose as educating and developing people in the performing arts and encouraging community participation. Camp Aranzazu says it creates accessible, empowering camp experiences for people of all ages and abilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $447,500. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $100,000, with a median of $25,000. Notable grants included $100,000 to Rockport Fulton Education Foundation for general scholarships, $50,000 to Coastal Bend Community Foundation for grant matching, and $40,000 each to Texas Maritime Museum for Sea Camp and Rockport Center for the Arts for general and various programs.
The foundation’s website says applications require a cover form and five copies of the grant packet. Materials listed include a budget and timetable when applicable, the applicant’s most recent filed Form 990 and financial statement, its board and executive staff list, and a cover letter summarizing the request and stating what percentage of the operating funds or capital budget it represents. First-time applicants should also include their 501(c)(3) determination letter and a one- or two-page organizational history. The application form says to mail the cover form and an original plus four copies of the packet.
The website guidelines say grants are usually up to $25,000 and normally are not made for more than one year at a time. The board approves grants and meets quarterly; applications must be received by the first of the meeting month for consideration at that meeting. The guidelines limit awards to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and require funded activities to serve Aransas County. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; it lists no specific application requirements, deadlines, or award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susie Black as president; Mindy Durham as secretary; Nicholas Johnson as treasurer; and John P Jackson and Al Johnson as directors.
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation is led by Susie Black, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susie Black
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Al Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John P Jackson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mindy Durham
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Johnson
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Michael Johnson (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Margaret Sue Rust Foundation
How much does Margaret Sue Rust Foundation give each year?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation gave $448K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $437K across 15 grants.
What is Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's typical grant size?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $27,969, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Margaret Sue Rust Foundation that year got $39K on average.
Where does Margaret Sue Rust Foundation give grants?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rockport, TX (12 grants) and Corpus Christi, TX (2 grants).
Does Margaret Sue Rust Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 6% of Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (6 grants).
Who are Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's largest grantees?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Rockport Fulton Education Foundation ($100,000), Couastal Bend Community Foundation ($50,000) and Texas Maritime Museum ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Margaret Sue Rust Foundation?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation reported $6.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $205K.
What does Margaret Sue Rust Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide grants to nonprofits located in Aransas County. Its 2024 giving included support for education, maritime history, arts and culture, community services, and disaster recovery. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Margaret Sue Rust Foundation?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check margaretsuerustfoundation.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's EIN?
Margaret Sue Rust Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2832533. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Margaret Sue Rust Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Margaret Sue Rust Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-sue-rust-foundation-morg_4acc12e8f56149aba9a27fdca5e4ca8d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742832533_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Margaret Sue Rust Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-sue-rust-foundation-morg_4acc12e8f56149aba9a27fdca5e4ca8d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Margaret Sue Rust Foundation'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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