Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Its stated focus on education, including universities and student scholarships, alongside food banks, churches, family services, homelessness and health groups, means a request tied to learning or to these broader community needs can fit.
- It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is not the route in.
- Its typical grant runs from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000 and half of its grants at $20,000 or less, so a modest request in that range suits it best; its largest grant was $525,000, but that is not typical.
- In the filing, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, so relationships appear to matter more than new applicants.
- No geographic focus is stated, though most recorded grants went to Texas recipients, which is a pattern rather than a rule.
Overview
Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation is a US private foundation based in Willis, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (breakthroughctx.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Education is a cornerstone of the Foundation’s philanthropic vision, grounded in the belief that opportunity begins with access to learning and support. Its grant record includes support for universities and student scholarships, alongside a broad mix of charitable organisations, including food banks, churches, child- and family-service providers, homelessness services and health organisations. Most recorded grants went to Texas recipients. Grants supported general operations as well as scholarships, student support, campaigns, facilities and community programmes.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 81% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 155 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 62 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Breakthrough Central Texas · Pathways to Opportunity Campaign$250,0002025 tax year
- Seton Fund · Women First Campaign & Dell Seton$225,0002025 tax year
- Stephen F. Austin State University · Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series$225,0002025 tax year
- SAFE Alliance · General Support and The Sasha$120,0002025 tax year
- Snowdrop Foundation · General Support$100,0002025 tax year
- Sustainable Food Center · General Support$100,0002025 tax year
- Creative Action · Community Arts Collaborative$100,0002025 tax year
- First United Methodist Church of Houston · Downtown Campus Maintenance$75,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jordan Jefferys Hatfield — Vice President / Director
- Holly Michele Rosas — Executive Director / Vice President / Secretary / Director
- Suzanne R Jefferys — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $2,139,278 | $1,985,000 | $43,222,534 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,174,046 | $2,001,000 | $44,357,052 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $2,395,110 | $2,214,250 | $48,773,977 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Willis, TX
Applying to Mr and Mrs Nelson Rusche Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Willis, TX