TRF Foundation
About Us

The Transportation Research Forum (TRF) Foundation grew in 1992 from the Distinguished Transportation Research (DTR) Library of the Washington Chapter, TRF. The most significant collections of the DTR Library, the complete series of Official Railroad Guides covering over 100 years and a complete series of the Proceedings of the TRF, had been given to the St. Louis, MO, Mercantile Library to form the TRF collection within its John Barriger III National Railroad Library.

The Foundation is a corporation organized and domiciled in Washington, DC. Its directors are members of the TRF and are elected by the membership of the TRF. The corporation has been designated as a 501C(3) not-for-profit organization under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service. Gifts to the Foundation are tax exempt and are applied to the endowment fund.

Finances

The directors of the Foundation are conscious of their fiduciary responsibilities and efficient management of the organization's endowment, earnings and expenditures. At the time of its organization, the Foundation received cash and investments from the former DTR Library of $23,257 which yielded an income of $2,597. Through diligent attention to use of budget, gifts and income and management of assets, the endowment has grown in the 13 years to $101,349 as of the end of February, 2006. Annual income in this period has risen to $4,504. Funds are maintained in an account at Morgan Stanley which only acts on the authority of the directors and treasurer.

The directors' primary goals in asset management are for growth in principal and earnings. They insist on a tight and balanced budget each year that supports project expenses. The directors seek substantial increases in the endowment to support its growing projects. Also, large grants to fund specific projects in the transport field will be entertained.

The Directors