The Rust Family Foundation
The Rust Family Foundation is a private, tax-exempt (501(c)(3)) charitable foundation established in Virginia in 1998 (with some sources indicating 1999). The foundation maintains its office in Fairfield, Connecticut, and operates as a family foundation focused on grantmaking activities.
Key facts about The Rust Family Foundation
- EIN
- 54-1925955
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $280,299
- Grants made (2024)
- 39
- Average grant
- $7,187
- Median grant
- $7,316
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (22 of 39, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,050,141
- Primary geography
- New York (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Rust Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Rust Family Foundation's 39 itemized 2024 grants were New York (19%), Connecticut (16%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Fairfield, CT (3 grants). None of its 39 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Work" (39 grants).
Is The Rust Family Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 22 of 39 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 28% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 60% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Rust Family Foundation
- How to evaluate The Rust Family Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.1M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$280K
+21.6% YoY
Grant Count
39
+14.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+6.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rust Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $302K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education — including support for universities and educational institutions
- Archaeology — through a dedicated Archaeology Grants Program
- Science and STEM Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
The Archaeology Grants Program emphasizes funding the development and dissemination of direct archaeological evidence gained through field and laboratory work. The program prioritizes:
- Initial explorations in regions and/or chronological periods where archaeological data has been previously lacking
- Research pertaining to basic questions of human origins or human cultural development (including development of agriculture, origins of complex society, migrations, and trade)
- Projects that advance understanding of cultural prehistory and development
Grantmaking
For the Archaeology Grants Program, proposals should be:
Ready to take the next step with The Rust Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds work in:
- New York
- Florida
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 39 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $5,094,928
- Total revenues: $238,616
- Total expenses: $243,876
- Investment income and dividends: $222,596
- Number of employees: 0
Year-over-year changes (2023 vs. 2022):
- Total grants and contributions decreased 99.2% (from $1,631,342 to $13,015)
- Investment income increased 5.6%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,050,141 | $5,094,928 | $5,100,188 |
| Revenue | $258,337 | $238,616 | $1,847,239 |
| Expenses | $303,124 | $243,876 | $188,911 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $280,299 | $230,539 | $159,181 |
| Net Investment Income | $235,975 | $225,601 | $200,368 |
| Distributable Amount | $301,544 | $272,137 | $207,712 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
157 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include American Society Un of Haifa ($15,900), Regents of the University of CA ($15,360), Ucl Friends & Alumni Assoc ($14,412).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN SOCIETY UN OF HAIFA New York, NY | SUPPORT WORK | $15,900 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CA Santa Barbara, CA | SUPPORT WORK | $15,360 |
| UCL FRIENDS & ALUMNI ASSOC New York, NY | SUPPORT WORK | $14,412 |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Hanover, NH | SUPPORT WORK | $14,115 |
| TULANE UNIVERSITY New Orleans, LA | SUPPORT WORK | $13,820 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY New Haven, CT | SUPPORT WORK | $11,575 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALGORY Fairfield, CT | SUPPORT WORK | $8,775 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT | SUPPORT WORK | $8,652 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN Madison, WI | SUPPORT WORK | $8,630 |
| INSTITUTE FOR MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES Cncinnati, OH | SUPPORT WORK | $8,400 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randi Rust | President | 2 | — |
| Jeffrey D Mitchell | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 3244 Bronson Road Fairfield, CT 06824-2003 United States
Phone: 203-259-4576
Email: rfamfo1@aol.com
Website: www.rfamfound1.org
EIN: 54-1925955
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Rust Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • **Education** — including support for universities and educational institutions • **Archaeology** — through a dedicated Archaeology Grants Program • **Science and STEM Education** • **Human Services** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** The Archaeology Grants Program emphasizes funding the development and dissemination of direct archaeological evidence gained through field and laboratory work. The program prioritizes: • Initial exp…
How do I apply for a grant from The Rust Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total grants awarded: $230,539 • Number of grants: 34 • Typical award range: $500–$15,064 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • University of Colorado Foundation: $9,300 • Cornell University: $8,000 • Sigma Chi Fraternity Tau Tau Chapter: $7,530 **Application Requirements:** For the Archaeology Grants Program, proposals should be: • Clear and concise (5-10 numbered pages, not including bibliography, figures, and CVs) • Focused on specific goals and methodological de…
Where does The Rust Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds work in: • New York • Florida • Connecticut
What size grants does The Rust Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Rust Family Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $280K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Rust Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Rust Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $302K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Rust Family Foundation's EIN?
The Rust Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1925955. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.