Private foundation · EIN 46-4327372

The Rail Heritage Trust First Option Bank Trustee

Accepts applications

Paola, KS

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Tax year 2025 (period ending 2026-04-30) · Filed with IRS 2026 · Data as of 2026-10-24 · View filing on ProPublica · Source: IRS e-file object 202641959349100614
Total assets (EOY)$6,804,420
Grants paid$250,000
Typical (median) grant$10,000
Grants listed20
Giving in home state (KS)0%

Grant size distribution

RangeGrants
Under $5K2
$5K–$25K15
$25K–$100K3
$100K+0

Smallest $1,000 · Largest $45,000

Geographic focus

TN
24%
PA
18%
OR
15%
MN
8%
MI
6%
NY
4%
FL
4%
CA
4%

Common purposes

locomotiveworkpaintingrestorationcarseectricalcomponentsornspullmanwoodlandheatingsystempassengermodernizationwatx

Giving history

Tax yearContributions paidTotal assetsGrants listed
2023$250,000$6,394,81718
2024$250,000$6,553,38618
2025$250,000$6,804,42020

Years shown are the filings ingested so far; more years are added as additional IRS batches are processed.

How to apply

ContactCHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS FIRST OPTION
Address702 BAPTISTE DRIVE, PAOLA, KS, 66071
Phone9132949222
EmailAPPLICATION@EMERYRAILHERITAGETRUST.ORG
Form & materialsAPPLICATION IS AVAILABLE AT: FIRSTOPTIONBANK.COM/ABOUT-US/ FOUNDATIONS-AND-SCHOLARSHIPS/ SUBMIT ONLINE TO: APPLICATION@EMERYRAILHERITAGETRUST.ORG. EMAIL QUESTIONS TO QUESTIONS@EMERYRAILHERITAGETRUST.ORG.
DeadlinesAPPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED UNTIL 11:59 PM CST FEB 1 OF EACH YEAR.
RestrictionsFUNDS WILL ONLY BE DISTRIBUTED TO SEC 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE OF TRAVEL BY RAIL DURING THE GOLDEN AGE. FUNDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO SUPPORT THE RECREATION, RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF ACTUAL RAIL TRAVEL DURING THE "GOLDEN AGE" OF U.S. RAIL PASSENGER SERVICE - 1920 THROUGH 1960.

Source: 990-PF Part XV line 2, tax year 2025.

Top recipients (tax year 2025)

RecipientLocationPurposeAmount
Nashville Steam Preservation SocietyNASHVILLE, TNLOCOMOTIVE 576 EECTRICAL COMPONENTS$45,000
Oregon Rail Heritage FoundationPORTLAND, ORWORK ON ORNS 197 LOCOMOTIVE$27,000
Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation TrustBOYERTOWN, PAPULLMAN WOODLAND HEATING SYSTEM$25,000
Minnesota Transportation Museum IncST PAUL, MNPASSENGER CAR 1213 MODERNIZATION$20,000
Watauga Valley Rr Hist Society & Museum IncJONESBOROUGH, TNWORK ON CAR WATX 100$15,550
Western Michigan Society For Industrial HeritageCOOPERSVILLE, MIPAINTING TWO CN COACHES$15,000
Adirondack Railway Preservation SocietyUTICA, NYRETURN NYC RS3 8223 TO SERVICE$11,100
Railroad Museum Golden GateMIAMI, FLRESTORATION OF FEC COACH #136$11,000
Anthracite Railroads Historical Society IncFORT WASHINGTON, PAB-UNIT GENERATOR REBUILD$10,000
Friends Of The Sp4449 IncPORTLAND, ORPAINT DLMX DINING CAR$10,000
Pacific Southwest Railway MuseumLA MESA, CARESTORATION SP 3709$10,000
Smoky Hill Railway & Hist Society IncBELTON, MOREPAINT ENGINE & CABOOSE$10,000
Tri-State Railway Historical Society IncBOONTON, NJREWIRE OF F3A LOCOMOTIVE$10,000
Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Soc IncCHESTERTON, INHOLLINS COLLEGE WINDOWS$7,000
Fox River Trolley Association IncSOUTH ELGIN, ILTWO PROJECTS$5,000
North Carolina Transportation Museum FoundationSPENCER, NCRESTORE N&W COMBINE 1506$5,000
Railways To Yesterday IncROCKHILL FURNACE, PAREDO SEATS FOR AE&C CAR 315$5,000
West Chester Railroad Heritage AssocWEST CHESTER, PAMAINTENANCE ON EX-READING MU CARS$5,000
Connecticut Electric Rwy Assn IncEAST WINDSOR, CTRELETTERING & PAINTING CA&E 303$2,350
El Dorado Western Railway FoundationPLACERVILLE, CAWORK ON RAILROAD CARS$1,000
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