Trusler Foundation Grant 2025

The Trusler Foundation, established in 1957 by Harold and Irene Trusler, is a respected philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting charitable, religious, scientific, literary, and educational initiatives. The Foundation focuses its efforts geographically within Lyon, Chase, and Coffey counties in Kansas, with a primary emphasis on economic development. Priority is specifically given in the following order of consideration: Emporia, Lyon County, Chase County, and Coffey County. Grants from the Trusler Foundation are administered through the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF), which serves as a collaborative community partner managing a variety of grant committees. These committees, composed of board members and community representatives, are responsible for assessing community needs and evaluating grant proposals. Membership is rotated regularly to encourage diverse perspectives. The ECF has distributed over $13.8 million through donor and other funds since its inception, and it also facilitates funding matches between projects and specific donor-advised funds. The Trusler Foundation has designated three grant cycles in 2025, with application deadlines set at 5 p.m. on March 3, August 1, and November 3. Only one application per organization is allowed each year. The minimum grant request is $10,000. Applicants must submit a complete application, including a cover sheet, narrative responses to specific questions, and several required attachments. On-site tours may be requested by the Advisory Committee as part of the review process. Applications must detail the economic development issue addressed, target population, project timeline, description, financial history, sustainability, and anticipated outcomes. Responses are capped by character limits and must follow the format provided. The application must also include a proposed recognition plan for the Foundation’s support and a discussion of the project's potential to attract future funding. Required documents include proof of nonprofit status, recent financials or Form 990, a list of board members, a one-page project budget, and information about any partner organizations. Completed applications should be submitted via email to Linda Kehres-Schmidt or delivered in person to the Emporia Community Foundation office.