Truist Foundation

Truist Foundation is a US private foundation based in Orlando, FL.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Truist Foundation makes grants to innovative nonprofit organisations working with adults, aligned with its two main pillars: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Its career-pathways work aims to help job seekers enter middle-skill careers and improve financial security, through career navigation, career pipeline programmes, wraparound services and stronger regional workforce systems. Its small-business work helps entrepreneurs start and grow businesses through access to capital, education, markets and networks, with support for technical assistance and ecosystem development. It supports sustainable, specific programmes and initiatives, including launches, capacity building and capital needs rather than recurring expenditure. It also makes some invited grants in areas such as community growth, education, and disaster relief and recovery.

Themes

• Career pathways
• Small businesses
• Education
• Disaster relief and recovery

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in District of Columbia, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and the United States.

What They Don't Fund

• Recurring expenditures
• Annual grants for general operations (except for United Way chapters)
• Conferences
• Documentaries or films without a charitable purpose
• Medical or scientific research
• Membership dues
• Scholarships
• Sponsorships
• Fundraising events
• Travel-related events, including student trips or tour
• Requests related to pledges or legally-binding financial obligations made by Foundation donors, board members, officers or family members of any such person
• Requests seeking support for deficit reduction
• Requests for non-charitable purposes
• Any organization that does not qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or is not a public charity under Section 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3)
• Non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations described in Code section 509(a)(3)
• Organizations that are described in a different subsection of IRC Section 501(c) (other than 501(c)(3)), such as a social welfare organization described in Section 501(c)(4) or a trade association described in Section 501(c)(6)
• Political candidate committees, political parties, political action committees, political campaigns, organizations that conduct lobbying activities, ballot measure committees, and other political organizations
• Private elementary and secondary schools as listed by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center For Education Statistics (NCES), unless the majority of students represent low- to moderate-income households or otherwise vulnerable children
• Private foundations, personal trusts, endowments, individuals or families, including assistance with scholarships, humanitarian efforts, bills, or to assist specific persons following a catastrophic event, accident, or injury
• Organizations providing grants, loans, compensation, or similar payments to Foundation donors, fund advisors, or related parties
• Organizations that do not comply with our nondiscrimination policy
• Organizations that attack or malign individuals or groups of individuals based on their demographic or other immutable characteristics or act based on other prejudices
• A policy of discrimination on the based on race, creed, national origin, color, religion, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law
• Any organization on the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) watch list, or that has board or staff members or volunteers who are on the OFAC watch list, or that do not comply with OFAC’s established guidelines
• Any organization that Truist Foundation, in its sole discretion, considers noncompliant with applicable law, or otherwise incompatible with its mission and core values
• Requests that provide Truist Financial Corporation teammates, Foundation officers or directors (or their family members), or Truist Financial Corporation a direct or indirect material benefit
• Building Career Pathways to Economic Mobility only: primary education programs focused on kindergarten through twelfth grade students or anyone under the age of eighteen; programs for adults who are already in a stable, well paying job with a four year degree or another advanced degree; leadership programs for individuals who have been through a traditional college track to advance in their career; a standard higher education class or building at an undergraduate or postgraduate program
• Strengthening Small Businesses only: a local chamber of commerce for general operating support; initiatives that do not provide direct service to small business owners; those that do not support all types of entrepreneurs; funding directly to small businesses; a local economic development agency or a community development corporation for general operating support

For open grant applications, organisations submit through the online portal, complete the eligibility quiz and provide their EIN; they must be in good standing with the IRS.

Deadlines: Applications are due 31 March, 31 July and 30 November each year.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 59% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,752 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• The foundation assesses the merit of the application by evaluating the programme, its budget and the organisation.
• It considers other supporters and their investments, sustainability, and does not want to be a project's sole supporter.
• Capital campaigns must align with its priorities and have at least 60% of their fundraising goal secured; it likes to see grassroots supporters contributing.
• Grant decisions consider programme strength, the number of people impacted, and alignment with its pillars and mission.
• Applicants whose work fits both focus areas are asked to choose the one that is the best fit.
• For most organisations, it asks for a final report fifteen months after grant approval.