Introduction

Since 2007, the Robert J. Trulaske, Jr. Family Foundation has provided generous financial support to a number of non-profit organizations committed to “protecting the natural environment for generations to come through conservation and the preservation of open spaces.” It has focused its grant-making on efforts to protect wilderness areas, natural resources and biodiversity as well as preserving buildings of important cultural and historical nature. Rob’s family members who serve as Voting Trustees of the Foundation, as well as its Non-Voting Members, fully embrace and honor Rob’s vision and commitment to environmental concerns.

 

History

The Robert J. Trulaske, Jr. Family Foundation was created to continue the philanthropic vision of Robert J. Trulaske, Jr.  He was the visionary founder of St Louis Life, a residential program for young adults with developmental disabilities and a major supporter of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at the University of Missouri.  St. Louis Life, a major innovation in life care, is up and running. Rob Trulaske, Jr., in addition to St. Louis Life and the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at the University of Missouri, supported a wide range of St Louis non-profits all his life.  Through his Foundation, he decided to intensify his focus on St. Louis Life and to make grants to United States non-profit organizations that focus on the environment.  His love of the outdoors and his great commitment to preserving open space and biodiversity will be reflected in most of the grants given.  He also wanted to help preserve the beautiful historical buildings that are an important legacy of St. Louis.

 

Mission Statement

The Robert J. Trulaske, Jr. Family Foundation is dedicated to protecting the natural environment for generations to come through conservation and the preservation of open spaces.  The Foundation supports efforts to protect wilderness areas, natural resources and biodiversity.  The Foundation also seeks to preserve what is beautiful in our cultural heritage.  The Foundation makes grants to United States non-profits that:

• Secure, preserve, and maintain land of conservation importance

• Ensure that ecosystems are adequately restored, protected, and managed and efforts are made to reduce waste

• Support conservation and protection of endangered cultural heritage sites of historical significance in St. Louis and ensure the long-term sustainability
of these efforts

 

The regional focus of the Robert J. Trulaske, Jr. Family Foundation is the State of Missouri (particularly the City of St. Louis and surrounding counties), with additional emphasis being given to the Leelanau County, Michigan, South Florida (including the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee), the state of Oregon and other areas in which a Trustee resides.

 

Additionally, it will support, preserve and enhance St. Louis Life, a residential life care organization, for the benefit of its residents, their families and the larger community, and sustain it as a high-quality, highly effective and innovative human service organization.

 

 

Vision Statement

The Foundation will be a major leader in supporting environmental conservation, protection, management and restoration within the State of Missouri. It will focus its financial human and intellectual resources on identifying and funding “best in class”  organizations and evidence-based  projects, both proven and pilot, to fulfill its mission. It will work to forge coalitions of funders, organizations, governmental bodies and individuals to work together for collaborative and collective environmental impact.

 

Additionally, it will support, preserve and enhance St. Louis Life, for the benefit of its residents, their families and the larger community, and sustain it as a high-quality, highly effective and innovative human service organization.