How to apply
Application is available at: Firstoptionbank.com/about-US/ foundations-and-scholarships/ submit online to: Application@emeryrailheritagetrust.org. Email questions to questions@emeryrailheritagetrust.org. Contact: Charitable Foundations FIRST Option, 702 Baptiste Drive, Paola, Ks, 9132949222, APPLICATION@EMERYRAILHERITAGETRUST.ORG Deadlines: Applications are accepted until 11:59 pm cst feb 1 of each year. Restrictions: Funds 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.
Quoted from Part XV of the foundation's 2025 Form 990-PF; the full text is in the filing. Confirm on the foundation's website before you write.
Grants paid in 2025
20 grants, all shown · from Form 990-PF Part XV
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Steam Preservation SocietyNashville, TN | Locomotive 576 eectrical components | $45K |
| Oregon Rail Heritage FoundationPortland, OR | Work on orns 197 locomotive | $27K |
| Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation TrustBoyertown, PA | Pullman woodland heating system | $25K |
| Minnesota Transportation Museum IncSt Paul, MN | Passenger car 1213 modernization | $20K |
| Watauga Valley Rr Hist Society & Museum IncJonesborough, TN | Work on car watx 100 | $16K |
| Western Michigan Society for Industrial HeritageCoopersville, MI | Painting two cn coaches | $15K |
| Adirondack Railway Preservation SocietyUtica, NY | Return nyc rs3 8223 to service | $11K |
| Railroad Museum Golden GateMiami, FL | Restoration of fec coach #136 | $11K |
| Anthracite Railroads Historical Society IncFort Washington, PA | B-unit generator rebuild | $10K |
| Friends of the Sp4449 IncPortland, OR | Paint dlmx dining car | $10K |
| Pacific Southwest Railway MuseumLA Mesa, CA | Restoration sp 3709 | $10K |
| Smoky Hill Railway & Hist Society IncBelton, MO | Repaint engine & caboose | $10K |
| Tri-State Railway Historical Society IncBoonton, NJ | Rewire of f3a locomotive | $10K |
| Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Soc IncChesterton, IN | Hollins college windows | $7,000 |
| Fox River Trolley Association IncSouth Elgin, IL | Two projects | $5,000 |
| North Carolina Transportation Museum FoundationSpencer, NC | Restore n&w combine 1506 | $5,000 |
| Railways to Yesterday IncRockhill Furnace, PA | Redo seats for ae&c car 315 | $5,000 |
| West Chester Railroad Heritage AssocWest Chester, PA | Maintenance on ex-reading mu cars | $5,000 |
| Connecticut Electric Rwy Assn IncEast Windsor, CT | Relettering & painting ca&e 303 | $2,350 |
| El Dorado Western Railway FoundationPlacerville, CA | Work on railroad cars | $1,000 |
By state: Tennessee 2 · Pennsylvania 4 · Oregon 2 · Minnesota 1 · Michigan 1 · New York 1
About this foundation
Rail Heritage Trust is a private grantmaking foundation in Paola, Kansas, administered in care of First Option Bank Trustee, tax-exempt since 2014. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.
Does Rail Heritage Trust accept grant applications?
Yes. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation indicates it accepts applications. org. org. Deadlines: Applications are accepted until 11:59 pm cst feb 1 of each year..
How much does Rail Heritage Trust give each year?
In tax year 2025 it paid $250K across 20 grants, a median of $10K.
Where does Rail Heritage Trust give?
Tennessee (2 grants), Pennsylvania (4 grants), Oregon (2 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.
More foundations near Paola that accept applications
All in Kansas| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis W Baehr & Dolpha Baehr Foundationsince 1967 | Paola, KS | $247K21 grants · 2025 | $7,500 | Yes | $6.1M |
| Knaebel Family Foundationsince 2023 | Paola, KS | $256K17 grants · 2025 | $10K | Yes | $5.3M |
| Mary Agnes Scherman and Harold E Scherman Charitable Trustsince 2022 | Paola, KS | $175K7 grants · 2025 | $15K | Yes | $3.9M |
| Block Family Scholarshipsince 2022 | Paola, KS | $137K11 grants · 2025 | $10K | Yes | $2.9M |
| Allen W and Gladys a Hawkins Charitable Foundationsince 2016 | Paola, KS | $114K4 grants · 2024 | $29K | Yes | $2.8M |
| Kid Vanvlack Foundationsince 2023 | Paola, KS | $120K1 grants · 2025 | $120K | Yes | $2.6M |
| Roman Foundationsince 2003 | Paola, KS | $71K5 grants · 2025 | $4,300 | Yes | $2.1M |
| Kelly Charitable Trustsince 2009 | Paola, KS | $53K4 grants · 2025 | $7,028 | Yes | $1.4M |