Trellis Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5,395,130 (2023 tax year)
Success Rate: Highly competitive - only a small percentage of qualified applicants funded
Decision Time: Varies by RFP; decisions announced after board meetings
Grant Range: $8,000 - $1,270,000 (historical range; average grant size has grown since inception)
Geographic Focus: Texas (primarily), with occasional other geographic priorities per RFP
Application Method: Invitation only via Request for Proposals (RFP)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.trellisfoundation.org
Email: info@trellisfoundation.org
Phone: 877-255-6656
Address: Round Rock, TX
Newsletter: Sign up at https://www.trellisfoundation.org/grant-information/ for RFP announcements

Overview

Trellis Foundation is a grant-making public charitable organisation established in 2017 by Trellis Company (formerly TG), a Texas-based nonprofit leader in student debt administration and repayment. The foundation focuses on improving postsecondary attainment for low-income students and students of colour in Texas. Their approach is highly collaborative and prioritises catalytic investments aimed at changing or informing policy, practice, and systems. The foundation has grown significantly, expanding from 3 to 7 staff members and maintaining active grants across all focus areas. As TG, from 2006 to 2016, the organisation awarded more than $400 million through its philanthropic programme, including nearly $50 million in competitive grants supporting 395 projects nationwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation awards grants through periodic Request for Proposals (RFPs) rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Recent grant programmes include:

General Operating Support Initiative: Serving nonprofit grantee partners
Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants: Supporting mental health at Texas colleges and universities
Community-Based Organisations RFP: Awards to Texas CBOs providing direct impact services for college completion
Multiple RFP cycles annually: The foundation conducts several RFP cycles throughout the year

Grant amounts have ranged from $100,000 to $1.27 million, with the foundation's average grant size growing and showing increased commitment to multi-year funding since inception.

Priority Areas

The foundation organises its work around three strategic focus areas:

1. Holistic Student Supports

Mental health and wellbeing services
Basic needs support (food security, housing, financial assistance)
Comprehensive wraparound services for persistence and completion
Postsecondary Mental Health Learning Community with Texas institutions
Annual Higher Education Policy Summit

2. Streamlined Student Pathways

Clear, navigable routes into, through, and beyond postsecondary education
Key momentum points and transitions
Dual enrolment and early college programmes
Career pathways and workforce development
Partnership with Texas Association of Community Colleges on HB 8 implementation

3. Reconnection for Returning Learners

Dropout recovery programmes (ages 18-26)
Support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students
Prison-to-university pathways
Opportunity Youth programmes
Removing barriers for students with educational gaps

Cross-Focus Commitments

Four Strategic Approaches

Localised Direct Impact: Support tailored to local contexts, particularly for historically underinvested organisations
Scaling Proven Practices: Expand programmes successfully narrowing educational disparities across larger scales and new geographies
Structural & Policy Change: Address systemic barriers through advocacy and funding for Texas-wide and broader change
Convening & Collaboration: Unify cross-sector actors toward shared goals through leading convenings and collaborative initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation will not fund:

Annual fundraising events or general sustaining campaigns
Performances or competition expenses
Building infrastructure, physical plant, or brick-and-mortar construction
Motor vehicles
Endowments
Debt retirement
Lobbying efforts
Individual applicants or for-profit organisations

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Dora Ann Verde, CPA – Board Chair Certified Public Accountant with private practice serving nonprofits in San Antonio. Former chief of internal audit for San Antonio Water System. Holds BBA in accounting from UT San Antonio. On the foundation's collaborative approach: "Our best work happens in community with those who believe our destinies are bound together."

Alma Garcia – Vice Chair Former bilingual education teacher and principal in Brownsville ISD. Specialist in dual enrolment and Early College High Schools at Educate Texas. Holds bachelor's in education from UT-Pan American and master's in educational administration from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Mark Milliron, Ph.D. – Immediate Past Chair President and CEO of National University. Former board chair. Co-founder of Civitas Learning. Holds doctorate in education administration from UT Austin.

Josh Hunt – Board Member Executive Vice President of Hunt Companies, Inc. (El Paso). President of Hunt Family Foundation. Serves on Texas State History Museum Foundation and WestStar Bank boards.

Richard Rhodes, Ph.D. – Board Member President of Texas A&M University-Central Texas. Former chancellor of Austin Community College District. Chair of American Association of Community Colleges. Holds doctorate from UT Austin.

Suzanne Walsh, J.D. – Board Member President of City University of Seattle. Former President of Bennett College. Previously Deputy Director of Postsecondary Success at Gates Foundation. Holds J.D. and MSW from Case Western Reserve University.

Welcome W. Wilson, Jr. – Board Member President and CEO of Welcome Group, LLC. Chairman of Alamo Trust. Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Key Staff

Kristin J. Boyer – President & CEO Leads foundation's equitable postsecondary outcomes initiatives. Advisory committee member for Pell Institute. On partnership: "We approach our grantmaking with strong doses of curiosity and humility, unified by a sense of shared purpose." On impact: "We want to cultivate partnership, acknowledging our dependence on the insight and wisdom that our grant partners generously share."

Erica Villarreal Ekwurzel, MPAff, CAP® – Chief of Staff Over two decades in organisational change and philanthropic leadership. First-generation college graduate. Grantmakers for Effective Organisation's Change Leaders fellow.

Sara Reeves – Senior Manager for Grants & Operations Former United Way for Greater Austin grantmaking manager. Peace Corps volunteer. Holds master's in public affairs from Indiana University.

Jenny Achilles – Senior Programme Officer Nearly a decade in higher education. Vice Chair, City of Austin Community Development Commission. Serves on steering committees including Advance Together.

Dr. Jay L. McCullar, Ed.D. – Programme Officer Distinguished educator and equity advocate. Created Louise's Kids scholarship initiative. Board member of LatinX Leaders Austin.

Jesus Perales – Programme Officer Over ten years in policy and advocacy. Former Immigration Policy Coordinator at Texas AFL-CIO. Legislative staff experience at Texas Senate.

Mia Ibarra – Strategic Learning Officer 14+ years in nonprofit and philanthropic service. Former advocate at Every Texan. Managed Udall Foundation scholarship programme.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Trellis Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. All funding opportunities are announced through periodic Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

To learn about funding opportunities:

Subscribe to the foundation's quarterly newsletter at https://www.trellisfoundation.org/grant-information/
Monitor the Grant Information page on their website for RFP announcements
When RFPs open, detailed submission requirements and deadlines are provided

When invited to apply:

Online application system generates automatic confirmation within 24 hours
Applications must include letters of support or memoranda of understanding for proposed partners
Site visits may be conducted for selected applicants (advance notice provided)

Eligibility requirements:

501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisations
Public charities under section 509(a)
Entities designated under section 170(c)
Individuals and for-profit organisations are not eligible

Decision Timeline

Funding decisions are announced after Trellis Foundation Board meetings
Each RFP specifies when funding decisions will be announced
Timeline varies by grant cycle
Organisations not selected for funding are contacted
Unsuccessful applicants can request written feedback on their applications

Success Rates

The foundation has limited financial resources and can fund "only a small percentage of qualified applicants." Many excellent projects, even those within their areas of interest, may not be funded. Declining to fund a proposal does not mean the project lacks merit.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation discourages resubmitting previously rejected projects in subsequent years. However, organisations are not permanently barred from applying to future RFPs with different projects.

Application Success Factors

What Trellis Foundation Looks For

Based on their published evaluation criteria and recent grants, successful proposals demonstrate:

1. Clear Measurable Outcomes "Goals and objectives are clearly and directly tied to measurable deliverables, outcomes, and expectations." Applications must articulate specific, achievable targets with concrete metrics.

2. Strategic Collaborative Partnerships Evidence of existing or proposed partnerships that enhance grant impact and "promote improved coordination among organisations and institutions within the community." Include letters of support or MOUs for partners.

3. Sustainability Beyond Grant Period Applicants must "ensure sufficient institutional, organisational, or other support for the efforts to continue" after funding ends. Show organisational investment beyond the requested grant.

4. Broader Knowledge Transfer Projects should have "potential to increase knowledge across the postsecondary community or to inform practices or policy development that could be adapted by other organisations or institutions."

5. Equity-Centred Design President & CEO Kristin Boyer emphasises: "Centering equity in our work is key to our mission." Successful applications explicitly address how they serve low-income students and students of colour and reduce disparities.

Recent Funding Examples Demonstrate Priorities

Mental health integration with basic needs: "In attempting to address mental health concerns, we acknowledge the interconnectedness of students' basic needs and mental health and wellbeing, and the role that mental health plays in ensuring students get to and through college." - Kristin Boyer

No-wrong-door approaches: "Ensuring a talent-strong Texas requires that we support a no-wrong-door approach to education, training, and workforce preparation – particularly for students who have stopped out of our formal education systems." - Kristin Boyer

Prison education pathways: Supporting incarcerated students through statewide convening on prison education

Rural access: Partnership between rural school districts and community colleges

Career pathways for vulnerable populations: Opportunity Youth support programmes

What Successful Proposals Excel At

According to the foundation: "The proposals that are successful often excel in presenting compelling, clearly defined goals tied to measurable outcomes and indicating evidence of partnerships."

Additional success factors:

Innovative solutions or replicable models with plans for disseminating best practices
Strong community buy-in beyond a single champion
Multi-year impact vision even if requesting single-year funding
Alignment with foundation's strategic approaches: localised impact, scaling, policy change, or convening

Partnership Philosophy Matters

From Kristin Boyer's values letter: "We approach our grantmaking with strong doses of curiosity and humility, unified by a sense of shared purpose...We want to cultivate partnership, acknowledging our dependence on the insight and wisdom that our grant partners generously share."

The foundation seeks partners who:

Embrace collaborative learning
Share insights from implementation
Contribute to systemic change conversations
Value trust and relationship-building

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Don't submit unsolicited proposals - Only apply when RFPs are announced; subscribe to quarterly newsletter for notifications
Texas focus is paramount - While other geographies may occasionally be included per RFP, programmes serving Texas students are prioritised
Equity must be explicit - Clearly articulate how your project centres low-income students and students of colour and addresses systemic disparities
Partnerships strengthen applications - Collaborative approaches with documented partner support significantly enhance competitiveness
Think beyond project grants - The foundation offers general operating support and multi-year funding; average grant size is growing
Show systemic potential - Demonstrate how your work can inform policy, practice, or be scaled/replicated beyond your organisation
Emphasise sustainability - Even for time-limited projects, show organisational commitment and plans for continuation
Competition is intense - Only a small percentage of qualified applicants receive funding; excellence alone doesn't guarantee an award
Align with strategic focus areas - Proposals fitting holistic supports, streamlined pathways, or reconnection priorities are most competitive
Feedback is available - If unsuccessful, request written feedback to strengthen future applications

References

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