Trull Foundation

The Trull Foundation operates from a deeply values-rooted giving philosophy. Founded to "share God's bounty in Texas and beyond," the foundation is embedded in the small coastal community of Palacios, Texas (population approximately 4,700) in Matagorda County, and its giving reflects the concerns of that context: vulnerable children in rural communities, families devastated by substance abuse, the immediate needs of Palacios-area residents, and the fragile ecology of the Texas Gulf Coast.

The foundation explicitly favors established organizations launching new programs or expanding existing ones — not startups or research-stage initiatives. Challenge grants and multi-foundation cooperative funding are actively welcomed, positioning the Trull Foundation as a catalytic co-funder rather than a sole benefactor. Conversely, it will not fund buildings, endowments, research projects, past events, or long-term multi-year commitments — a clear signal that the foundation wants direct-service, time-bound, measurable program delivery.

First-time applicants should expect a highly personal, accessible process. With a two-person staff (Executive Director Nellie Lee and Administrative Assistant Nieves Jimenez), this is a high-touch relationship environment. Pre-application contact with Nellie Lee is functionally required — she will confirm whether your project fits the foundation's priorities and serves as the primary relationship holder throughout the grant lifecycle. Her direct line is (361) 972-5241 and she is available Monday through Thursday, 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM Central.

There is no letter of intent step. Applications are submitted directly through the GrantInterface online portal with required budget templates provided by the foundation. Once submitted, review timelines depend on the completeness of application materials and the board's meeting schedule — the foundation does not publish specific board meeting dates.

The board is small and family-rooted, including Trull family members and long-term community trustees. Organizations that successfully deliver on their grants and submit the required evaluation report become eligible for renewal — and prior grantees who demonstrate measurable impact are among the strongest candidates for continued investment.

The Trull Foundation holds approximately $24.2M in total assets as of fiscal year 2024, up from $18.5M in 2015, representing consistent endowment growth over the decade. The foundation is entirely self-sustaining — it received no outside contributions in FY2019 through FY2023 and funds its grantmaking solely from net investment income, which has ranged from $539,000 in the market-down year of FY2022 to $7.5M in the strong-return year of FY2021.

Annual grants paid by fiscal year: - FY2023: $1,680,040 - FY2022: $1,865,650 - FY2021: $1,458,741 - FY2020: $1,365,900 - FY2019: $1,221,105 - FY2015: $2,526,677 (decade high) - FY2014: $2,228,320 - FY2013: $2,221,295

The three-year average (FY2021–2023) is approximately $1.67M per year in grants paid, with total giving (which includes program-related expenses) running 10–30% higher — between $2.1M and $2.4M in recent years. The effective payout rate on the $24M asset base is approximately 7–8%, meaningfully above the 5% minimum required for private foundations.

Individual grantee-level data is not publicly itemized: the 990 Schedule I lists all recipients under "See Attached Schedule," and the full schedule is not available in standard databases. Based on total distribution volumes and the foundation's multi-program structure, individual grants likely range from a few thousand dollars for local Palacios community sponsorships (referenced in a dedicated Local Sponsorships section on the website) up to an estimated $75,000–$150,000 for larger substance abuse recovery or rural children's programs. A first-time applicant should calibrate a request in the $25,000–$75,000 range as the most defensible entry point.

Geographically, 100% of giving is directed to Texas, with the Palacios and Matagorda County area receiving dedicated funding as an explicit focus. The coastal Texas environmental priority reaches more broadly across the Gulf Coast. Rural communities statewide are eligible for children's and substance abuse programming.

Among comparable Texas funders, the Trull Foundation occupies a distinctive and accessible niche. It is smaller in scale but more mission-specific than community foundations like Coastal Bend CF, and far more directly accessible than invitation-only or LOI-gated major family foundations like Summerlee or Meadows. Its no-LOI, rolling online application makes it one of the most straightforward private foundations in the rural Texas philanthropic landscape for qualified organizations.

Critically, the Trull Foundation's simultaneous focus on substance abuse recovery and coastal environmental conservation is rare among Texas funders of any size — most address one or the other, not both. Organizations whose programs span rural Gulf Coast communities, or that can credibly claim alignment with both a human-services and environmental focus area, have a particularly compelling case to make to this funder.

No press releases, grant announcements, or major news items from the Trull Foundation were found in public sources for 2025–2026. The foundation maintains a deliberately low external profile consistent with its small-town roots in Palacios and its family-governed structure — it does not appear to maintain social media accounts or issue formal press releases.

Based on available financial and website data, the following recent developments are notable:

• Asset growth in FY2024: Total assets reached $24.2M, up from $23.3M in FY2023, on FY2024 revenue of $2.88M — indicating positive investment returns and continued endowment health.
• Stable executive leadership: Nellie Lee's compensation rose consistently from $58,000 (FY2020) to $82,647 (FY2023), signaling long-term retention and organizational stability at the executive level.
• Board leadership transition: The current website lists Kristan Olfers as Chairman, while recent IRS filings (FY2022–2023) still named R. Scott Trull in that role. R. Scott Trull remains a Trustee. This indicates a generational transition within the Trull family's governance of the foundation.
• Environmental Roundtable initiative: The foundation website references this convening program under its coastal Texas environment priority, suggesting an active engagement model that goes beyond pure grantmaking in that focus area.
• GrantInterface portal active: The online application system remains operational and is confirmed as the sole submission channel.

Applicants are advised to check trullfoundation.org directly for any in-cycle program updates, as the foundation does not issue public announcements through other channels.

Call before submitting — this is the most important step. The foundation explicitly instructs prospective applicants to contact Executive Director Nellie Lee before beginning a full application, to confirm alignment with funding priorities. At (361) 972-5241 or nlee@trullfoundation.org (Monday–Thursday, 8:15 AM–4:00 PM Central), this pre-call is the first relationship touchpoint at a family foundation where personal connection matters. For technical or portal questions, Nieves Jimenez handles administrative support at the same number.

Lead with focus-area language from the foundation's own vocabulary. The four priority areas are: children in rural Texas (abuse, neglect, hunger, poverty); individuals and families affected by substance abuse; the Palacios/Matagorda County community; and the coastal Texas environment (water, estuaries, birds, agriculture, aquaculture). Open your proposal by naming the specific area your project addresses and use this language explicitly — generic "community benefit" framing will not resonate with this funder.

Submit 4–5 months before funding is needed. With no fixed deadline, the review clock starts when your complete application is received. Organizations seeking spring program funding should submit by the prior fall.

Use the foundation's Excel templates exactly. The Project Budget Information and Financial Information (Operating) templates are downloadable from the grant applications page. Grant funds must be used strictly in accordance with submitted budgets, and unexpended funds must be returned — so match narrative line items to budget entries precisely.

Frame challenge grants or matching requests prominently. The guidelines explicitly state that challenge grants and multi-foundation cooperative funding are supported. A $50,000 request that unlocks $50,000 in confirmed matching funds signals leverage and partnership strength.

Demonstrate measurable outcomes from the start. The foundation requires a completed evaluation report before any prior grantee can reapply. First-time applicants who proactively define measurable outputs — number of children served, program completion rates, acres of coastal habitat protected — communicate a results orientation that builds long-term relationship potential.

Know the hard disqualifiers. Buildings, endowments, research projects, scholarships to individuals, past events, and long-term multi-year commitments are all ineligible. Single-year, direct-service, program-delivery proposals are the winning format for this funder.