Truist Foundation Grant

The Truist Foundation is a philanthropic entity affiliated with Truist Financial Corporation, a leading financial services organization in the United States. With a mission to build better lives and communities, the Truist Foundation strategically supports nonprofit organizations that advance economic mobility and strengthen small businesses. Its efforts are grounded in a commitment to sustainable community development, with a preference for funding projects that drive long-term impact over recurring operational expenses. Truist Foundation grants are targeted toward nonprofit initiatives that benefit adults and align with the Foundation’s two principal funding pillars: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. They prioritize requests that are innovative and sustainable, supporting activities such as launching new programs, enhancing or expanding existing curricula, procuring essential equipment, and capital expenditures. Notably, capital campaign requests may be eligible for support if they are at least 60% complete in terms of fundraising and align with the Foundation’s focus areas, demonstrating both viability and community backing. Organizations seeking funding must be classified under Sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) as public charities, including secular programs administered by churches, educational institutions, hospitals, and publicly supported nonprofits. All applicant organizations must be U.S.-based and in compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act. The Foundation explicitly excludes organizations with tax-exempt status outside Section 501(c)(3), non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations, political and religious entities primarily focused on faith-based missions, private schools not serving primarily low-to-moderate income populations, and organizations that do not comply with nondiscrimination policies or appear on any governmental watchlists. Funding requests deemed ineligible include those that provide direct or indirect benefits to Truist Financial or its affiliates, general operations (except for United Way chapters), conferences lacking a charitable focus, and scholarships or travel-based programs. Additionally, the Foundation will not consider support for deficit reduction, pledges, or personal financial aid. Applications must be submitted online through the Foundation’s dedicated grants portal. The process includes completing an eligibility quiz, providing the organization’s EIN, verifying IRS standing, and submitting documents such as a board of directors list, annual operating budget, and program-specific budget. Applicants do not need to submit IRS determination letters unless they are a 509(a)(3) supporting organization, in which case additional verification letters are required. Truist Foundation operates on three fixed annual grant cycles, with application deadlines on March 31, July 31, and November 30. Applicants are notified of decisions in July, November, and April, respectively, following each cycle. Award recipients must sign a grant agreement via DocuSign and submit payment information through the Benevity platform. Depending on the size of the grant, recipients may also need to submit Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) reports quarterly, biannually, or annually. For questions or further assistance, prospective applicants can contact the Foundation via email at truistfoundation@truist.com or call 833.307.2351. Additional guidance, including post-award steps and reporting instructions, is available in the Grantee Guidebook hosted on their website.

Grants are prioritized based on impact, alignment with Truist pillars, and sustainability. Preference given to innovative programs with strong community backing.