Trellis Foundation
Trellis Foundation is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) public charity that provides grants, learning communities, and strategic partnerships to improve postsecondary education access, persistence, and outcomes for low-income and non-traditional students across Texas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersRound Rock, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Trellis Foundation does
Trellis Foundation is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) public charitable organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, that operates exclusively as a grantmaker focused on improving postsecondary education access, persistence, and outcomes for Texas students — particularly low-income students, students of color, and non-traditional learners balancing work and family responsibilities. The Foundation does not build or sell technology products; instead, it deploys catalytic philanthropic capital alongside convenings, learning communities, technical assistance partnerships, and a public learning agenda aimed at policy, practice, and systems change. Programmatic activity is organized around three strategic focus areas: Holistic Student Support, Streamlined Student Pathways, and Reconnection for Returning Learners.
The Foundation awards project grants and general operating support grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and fiscally sponsored organizations. Grant sizes range from expedited awards of $50,000 or less, to standard awards up to $200,000, to major grants exceeding $200,000 approved at one of four quarterly board meetings (March, June, September, December), with an average grant size of approximately $200,000. The go-to-market approach is community-led and relationship-based: Trellis builds relationships with organizations in the Texas postsecondary space and invites proposals based on those relationships, supplemented by targeted Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in specific focus areas; unsolicited proposals are not accepted. Under Board Chair Dora Ann Verde's tenure (January 2024–December 2025), the Foundation provided $32.7 million across 180 grants to 122 grant partners, indicating a material expansion in grantmaking scale.
The Foundation is staffed by 11 personnel led by President & CEO Kristin J. Boyer, with a board comprising leaders from Texas-based and national organizations including Hunt Companies, National University, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Bennett College, and Educate Texas. Competitive positioning is reinforced by externally validated effectiveness: a Center for Effective Philanthropy Grantee Perception Survey achieved a 73% response rate, placing Trellis in the top 15% of CEP's dataset of more than 350 foundations and 60,000+ grantee responses. Strategic partnerships extend programmatic reach into nursing workforce pathways (UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute), mental health (Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute with JED Foundation, Steve Fund, and Active Minds), regional reskilling (BHEF, Children at Risk, Up Partnership), research (RAND, CEP), and prison education (Alliance for Higher Education in Prison). Trellis Strategies operates as a sibling organization and co-hosts events such as the inaugural Modern Learner Summit (September 2025).
Trellis Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trellis Foundation
- Legal name
- Trellis Foundation
- Website
- https://trellisfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Trellis Foundation is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) public charity that provides grants, learning communities, and strategic partnerships to improve postsecondary education access, persistence, and outcomes for low-income and non-traditional students across Texas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trellis Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)
Keywords
Where Trellis Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Round Rock
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Trellis Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Grantmaking: Trellis Foundation operates as a grantmaking organization, providing catalytic investments focused on improving practices, policies, and systems for postsecondary education in Texas. They make project grants and general operating support grants to eligible organizations including 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and organizations with fiscal sponsors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Expedited grants for smaller awards |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard grants with full proposal |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Major grants approved at quarterly board meetings |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Trellis Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trellis Foundation is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation that provides project grants and general operating support grants to eligible nonprofits, public institutions, and workforce boards working to improve postsecondary education outcomes. Grants range from expedited awards of $50,000 or less, to standard grants up to $200,000, to major grants over $200,000 approved at quarterly board meetings, with an average grant size of $200,000. The Foundation also operates cohort learning communities, policy summits, and learning publications to advance systems-level change in Texas higher education.
Product overview
Trellis Foundation is a Texas-based grantmaking foundation that provides financial support and programs to improve postsecondary education outcomes. The Foundation operates as a unified grantmaking organization offering project grants and general operating support through three strategic focus areas: Holistic Student Support, Streamlined Student Pathways, and Reconnection for Returning Learners. Key programs include learning communities (Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing, Regional Ecosystem Innovation for Reskilling and Upskilling), policy summits (Higher Education Policy Summit, Modern Learner Summit), and resource publications. The Foundation also provides a Grantee Portal for grant management and publishes a quarterly newsletter. Trellis Foundation does not offer a technology product, API, or software platform—the organization focuses on grantmaking, convenings, and field learning rather than technology development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Streamlining Success in Nursing Programs initiative in Texas: An initiative launched alongside UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute to address nursing workforce challenges through apprenticeship models, work-based learning, and employer partnerships.
- Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Community
- Regional Ecosystem Innovation for Reskilling and Upskilling Cohort
Products and services
- Grant Programs Trellis Foundation's core offering: project grants (time-bound work with specific deliverables) and general operating support grants awarded to eligible Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public institutions, and organizations with fiscal sponsors that are improving postsecondary outcomes. Grants range from expedited awards of $50,000 or less, to standard grants up to $200,000, to major grants over $200,000 approved at quarterly board meetings.
- General Operating Support Grants for College Completion Nonprofits (CBO) RFP A standing program area providing general operating support grants (rather than restricted project grants) to college completion and access nonprofits in Texas. Organized through an RFP process launched under the Supporting Communities initiative.
- Streamlining Success in Nursing Programs in Texas A cohort-based initiative partnered with UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute that convenes eight Texas colleges, universities, and workforce boards to address nursing workforce challenges through apprenticeship models, paid clinical employment, and work-based learning partnerships.
- Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Community A learning community supporting a cohort of grantees working on mental health initiatives at Texas colleges and universities, in partnership with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and with technical assistance from the JED Foundation, the Steve Fund, and Active Minds.
- Regional Ecosystem Innovation for Reskilling and Upskilling Cohort A cohort of nine regional partners across Texas focused on encouraging, expanding, and learning about regional collaborative efforts that create greater opportunities for displaced workers and students.
- Higher Education Policy Summit A biennial convening hosted by Trellis Foundation that brings together higher education leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss Texas postsecondary education policy. Previous summits held in 2018, 2022, and 2024.
- Modern Learner Summit An annual summit co-hosted with Trellis Strategies, focused on supporting non-traditional and modern learners in higher education. The inaugural event in September 2025 brought together over 200 education, workforce, and policy leaders.
Quantifiable outcome
- $32.7 million provided across 180 grants to 122 grant partners under Dora Ann Verde's chairmanship (2024-2025)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Trellis Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Trellis Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Trellis Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- UpSkill America at the Aspen InstitutecorePartnership for Streamlining Success in Nursing Programs initiative in Texas. The initiative addresses challenges nursing students face in completing unpaid clinical practicum hours while working and managing family responsibilities. The cohort includes eight colleges, universities, and workforce boards working on innovative solutions like nursing apprenticeships, paid clinical employment, and work-based learning partnerships.
- Meadows Mental Health Policy InstitutecorePartnership supporting the Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Community with 10 grantee institutions. The partnership includes technical assistance from the JED Foundation, the Steve Fund, and Active Minds. Jointly producing research briefs and learning resources on mental health services at Texas community colleges.
- Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP)corePartnership to conduct Grantee Perception Survey, measuring foundation effectiveness, impact, and processes. CEP provided analysis showing Trellis Foundation ratings in top 15% of their dataset of over 350 foundations.
- Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF)majorMajor expansion of workforce partnership initiative in Texas. Collaboration focused on improving connections between higher education and workforce development.
- Alliance for Higher Education in PrisonmajorCo-hosted Higher Education in Texas Prisons: A Collective Conversation & Networking event in June 2024, bringing together the Texas higher education in prison community to connect, learn, and collaborate.
- Trellis StrategiescoreSibling organization and key partner for co-hosting events including the inaugural Modern Learner Summit in September 2025. Trellis Strategies supports the foundation's mission through complementary programming and consulting.
- RAND CorporationcoreResearch partnership with RAND and University of Texas at Dallas to study how Texas community college campuses are supporting student mental health. Produced descriptive study of ten community colleges documenting strategies and recommendations.
- Children at RiskmajorPartnership focused on expanding support for opportunity youth and young adults in Texas. Joint initiative to address educational and career pathways for underserved populations.
- Up Partnership / Future ReadymajorInvestment in Bexar County to strengthen college and career advising through the Up Partnership Future Ready initiative. Focus on improving postsecondary outcomes in the San Antonio region.
- JED FoundationsupportingTechnical assistance partner for the Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Community, providing expertise on student mental health programs.
- Steve FundsupportingTechnical assistance partner for the Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Community, focusing on support for students of color.
- Active MindssupportingTechnical assistance partner for the Postsecondary Mental Health and Wellbeing Learning Community, supporting student mental health advocacy.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Trellis Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Greater Texas Foundation: Texas-focused education grantmaker supporting postsecondary access and success; directly comparable geography, mission, and grantmaking approach to Trellis Foundation.
- Houston Endowment: Major Texas-based private foundation that funds education, including postsecondary attainment; comparable geographic focus and similar scale of grantmaking in Texas.
- Communities Foundation of Texas: Large Texas-based community foundation supporting education and other causes statewide; similar operating geography and grantmaking model, though broader thematic scope than Trellis.
- Educate Texas: Texas-focused public-private initiative supporting postsecondary readiness and completion; comparable state-focused mission and overlapping grantee ecosystem (Trellis board chair Alma García is a former Educate Texas leader).
- St. David's Foundation: Texas-based foundation investing in health, education, and equity; comparable geography and overlapping grantee base in Central Texas.
- Dallas Foundation: Texas-based community foundation supporting education and equity across the region; similar geographic scope and grantmaking model, with strong education focus.
Broad incumbents
- Michael & Susan Dell Foundation: Austin-based foundation with significant education grantmaking in Texas, including postsecondary initiatives; larger portfolio and budget than Trellis but overlapping Texas focus and education priorities.
- Lumina Foundation: National foundation exclusively focused on postsecondary attainment and equity; highly comparable mission to Trellis but operates nationally and at much larger scale (Trellis board member Suzanne Walsh previously served at Lumina).
- The Kresge Foundation: National foundation with significant education and postsecondary programming; broader thematic portfolio but operates in adjacent space with comparable systems-change approach.
Others
- Trellis Strategies: Sibling organization to Trellis Foundation offering consulting and programming to higher-ed institutions; not a direct competitor but a closely affiliated peer in the same ecosystem, co-hosting events like the Modern Learner Summit.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Trellis Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceTrellis Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trellis Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Trellis Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Trellis Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trellis Foundation
What does Trellis Foundation do?
Trellis Foundation is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation that provides project grants and general operating support grants to eligible nonprofits, public institutions, and workforce boards working to improve postsecondary education outcomes. Grants range from expedited awards of $50,000 or less, to standard grants up to $200,000, to major grants over $200,000 approved at quarterly board meetings, with an average grant size of $200,000. The Foundation also operates cohort learning communities, policy summits, and learning publications to advance systems-level change in Texas higher education.
Is Trellis Foundation a public or private company?
Trellis Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Trellis Foundation founded?
Trellis Foundation was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Trellis Foundation based?
Trellis Foundation is headquartered in Round Rock, United States, in the North America region.
How does Trellis Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: grantmaking.
Who are Trellis Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Greater Texas Foundation, Houston Endowment, Communities Foundation of Texas, Educate Texas, St. David's Foundation and Dallas Foundation. Broad incumbents are Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Lumina Foundation and The Kresge Foundation. Trellis Strategies is listed as an others.
Does Trellis Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trellis Foundation.
What industry is Trellis Foundation in?
Trellis Foundation's product category is Higher Education Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of EDADAHAD, Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.