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.
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
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:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds work in:
- New York
- Florida
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
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 |
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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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