About Us
Following the sale of their family-owned business in 2024, Kenneth and Lisa Rust continued their lifetime of community giving and service by establishing the Rust Family Foundation.
RFF exists to:
Support organizations that are meeting the spiritual, physical, behavioral, and educational needs of people in southeastern North Carolina and beyond.
Help people of all vocations engage work as a God-given means to serve the common good.
Coach leaders who are helping people live secure, whole lives that strengthen the well-being of their communities.
Our Mission
The Rust Family Foundation supports non-profit and faith-based organizations that are addressing the needs of their community, region and world through innovative, collaborative, and sustainable endeavors.
Our Story
Kenneth and Lisa Rust are businesspeople and philanthropists. Raised in families that emphasized deep faith, love of family, and service to others, each uses their gifts and skills to work toward transformation in their individual callings and their community.
Adhering to their life verse, 2 Corinthians 9:11, the Rusts believe that all should be “generous on every occasion . . . ”, as opportunities for generosity are for the purpose of glorifying God and blessing others. To this end, they formed the Rust Family Foundation to reflect their hope of a more caring and compassionate world by serving the needs of non-profits and faith-based community organizations.
Kenneth, an engineer, and Lisa, a communications specialist and ordained minister, owned and operated McDonald’s restaurants in southeastern North Carolina for over 30 years before retiring in 2024. They were recognized as leaders in the quick service industry, having received the highest awards presented by the McDonald’s system. Kenneth’s analytical eye and delight in innovation not only contributed to the Rusts’ restaurants but to the larger McDonald’s system.
The Rusts viewed their family business as a “people” business, specializing in hospitality to both customers and employees. Throughout their career, they were proud to champion employment benefits not standard in their industry: competitive wages, insurance, a 401-K plan, tuition scholarships to local colleges and universities, a full-time chaplain and life coach, and mental health initiatives to encourage their team to live their best lives.
Kenneth and Lisa consider the ongoing success of the many young people who chose to work with their organization, learned a great work ethic and leadership skills, continued their career in McDonald’s or their chosen field, and created a fulfilling life to be one of their greatest joys as franchisees.
Kenneth and Lisa believe in the inherent dignity of all persons and have always advocated for the marginalized in society. Desiring to “Be generous on every occasion . . . “ — even in retirement — Kenneth and Lisa, along with their sons, formed the Rust Family Foundation to support non-profit and faith-based organizations that are addressing needs of the greater community through innovative, collaborative, and sustainable endeavors. The Foundation also advocates for the integration of faith and work, helping individuals, congregations, and businesses create a seamless connection between faith and profession.
Our Founders
Kenneth Rust
Director and Chief Financial Officer
Kenneth earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer engineering from North Carolina State University. Kenneth combined his engineering and business experience to establish Rust Enterprises as a leader among McDonald’s franchisees and to improve efficiency in the larger McDonald’s system. Kenneth serves on numerous boards including the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina and UNC Health Southeastern.
Lisa Rust
Director and Grant Facilitator
Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Furman University and a Master of Arts in Faith and Leadership Formation from Campbell University. As a McDonald’s franchisee for over 30 years, Lisa led Rust Enterprises to strive for excellence in hospitality to customers and employees and was proud to offer chaplaincy care, scholarships to local colleges and universities, and employment benefits not standard to the industry. Lisa is a past moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina and currently serves on the Furman University Board of Trustees and the Campbell University Divinity School Advisory Board.
Our Leadership
David Elks
Executive Director
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David earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a Master of Arts in Faith and Leadership Formation from Campbell University, a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.
David has worked in pastoral ministry in congregational and corporate settings and continues to serve as a spiritual guide and professional certified coach for church and health-care leaders.
James Rust
Director
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James is originally from Lumberton, North Carolina. He graduated in 2011 from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and obtained a Juris Doctor in 2014 from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, District of Columbia. He resides in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Sarah.
Jordan Rust
Director
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Jordan is originally from Lumberton, North Carolina. He graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Furman University. He is a software engineer residing in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Casey, and their two children.