An educational trust specifies that trust funds are to be used for education. In the trust document, the grantor names a trustee and beneficiaries, and also states how trust money is to be used. If the trust will become operational immediately (see below about this), then the grantor “funds” the trust by transferring property into it. If the trust becomes operational upon the grantor’s death, then the trust is funded when the grantor dies. When the trust becomes operational, the trustee controls trust property – and pays for the beneficiary’s education -- according to the terms of the trust.