Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation
The Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000 and based in Willis, Texas. The foundation honors the legacy of Albert Nelson "J Bo" Rusche, a prominent Texas businessman, and his wife. Nelson Rusche (1924-2013) founded A.N. Rusche Distributing Company, which grew to become a 250-million-gallon-a-year distributor, and Mister Car Wash. A 1949 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Rusche served on the SFA Board of Regents from 1986 to 1989 and endowed the Nelson Rusche College of Business at his alma mater in 2002. A Purple Heart recipient from his World War II service, Rusche demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education, community service, and supporting Texas institutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.9M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+0.8% YoY
Grant Count
49
+11.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-9.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking demonstrates a focus on:
- Education
- Healthcare and community health
- Human services
- Addiction and substance abuse support
- General support for preselected charitable organizations
- Scholarships and student emergency aid programs
- Operations and building maintenance support
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or funding requests. Grants are made to preselected charitable organizations only. No confirmed application deadlines are provided by the foundation.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $625,000
Review Cycle
are provided by the foundation.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations nationally, with primary focus on Texas, particularly the Austin and Houston areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $38,120,342
- Total giving: $1,985,000
- Total revenues: $747,056
- Total expenses: $2,139,278
- Income: $15,619,434
Classification:
- EIN: 31-1741790
- IRS 501(c)(3) type
- Classified as an operating foundation
- NTEE code: T21 (Corporate Foundations)
- Ranked 793 in the FoundationSearch Top Foundations by Assets for the state of Texas
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,940,506 | $38,120,342 | $39,755,509 |
| Revenue | $1,994,210 | $747,056 | — |
| Expenses | $2,174,046 | $2,139,278 | $2,580,215 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,049,699 | $2,026,801 | $2,465,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,819,500 | $634,579 | $1,499,169 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,155,093 | $2,035,661 | $2,087,237 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include SFASU Foundation ($525,000), The Seton Fund ($125,000), Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | General Support | $5,000 |
| American Red Cross Houston, TX | General Support | $15,000 |
| Any Baby Can Austin, TX | General Support | $30,000 |
| Austin Angels Austin, TX | General Support | $20,000 |
| Austin Child Guidance Center Austin, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
| Austin Christian Educational Foundation Austin, TX | St. Francis School Annual Fund | $10,000 |
| Austin Community College Foundation Austin, TX | "Make It" Center | $25,000 |
| Austin Community Foundation Austin, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| Austin Ed Fund Austin, TX | Austin ISD Family and Community Engagement, Martin Middle School Student Leadership Programs | $30,000 |
| Austin Sunshine Camps Austin, TX | General Support | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Suzanne R Jefferys — President/Treasurer/Director
- Holly Michele Rosas — Executive Director/Vice President/Secretary/Director
- Jordan Brooke Jefferys — Director
The foundation is identified as a family foundation of the Jefferys family.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne R Jefferys | President/Treasurer | — | — |
| Holly Michele Rosas | Exec Director/VP/Sec/Director | 15 | $47,164 |
| Jordan Brooke Jefferys | Vice President/Director | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 9582 Escondido Dr Willis, TX 77318-6618
Phone: (936) 228-2226
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking demonstrates a focus on: • Education • Healthcare and community health • Human services • Addiction and substance abuse support • General support for preselected charitable organizations • Scholarships and student emergency aid programs • Operations and building maintenance support
How do I apply for a grant from Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $2,000,000 • Grant range: $5,000 to $625,000 • Grant median: $23,000 • Number of grants (2023): 44 grants totaling $1,985,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Aldine First United Methodist Church of Houston Texas: $150,000 (Operations & Building Maintenance at Downtown Campus) • Battleship Texas Foundation: $100,000 (Ship Restoration Capital Campaign) • Snowdrop Foundation: $100,000 (General Support) **Application Process:** The foundation d…
Where does Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations nationally, with primary focus on Texas, particularly the Austin and Houston areas.
What size grants does Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation award?
In 2024, Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation's EIN?
Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1741790. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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