Ascension Foundation
Ascension Foundation is a public charity based in St. Louis, Missouri, formed in 2021. It supports work addressing non-medical needs that affect health, with particular attention to people and communities facing vulnerability. The Foundation describes its approach as partnering with nonprofits that understand local needs and investing in solutions intended to have lasting impact.
Ascension Foundation at a glance
In short: Ascension Foundation gave $2.1M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $121K), top state Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,052,058
- +26.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $120,709
- +26.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $97,062,518
- +7.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Indiana (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Ascension Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: C/O Tax Department PO Box 45998, St Louis, MO 63145-5998
Phone: (314) 733-8000
Website: https://theascensionfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ascension Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Notre Dame Du Lac ($632K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 50 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its work as national. Its October 2024 Catalyst Grant round covered 10 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Tennessee.
In the 2025 filing, grant dollars were distributed across multiple states. The largest reported state shares were Indiana (32%), Alabama (18%), Tennessee (9%), Texas (7%), and Maryland (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ascension Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $940K (2022) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame Du Lac Notre Dame, IN | General Support | $632,015 |
| Fathers of Saint Edmund Selma, AL | General Support | $270,000 |
| Center for Urban Families Inc Baltimore, MD | General Support | $100,000 |
| La Posada Home Inc El Paso, TX | General Support | $100,000 |
| Renewal House Inc Nashville, TN | General Support | $100,000 |
| Women & Children First Little Rock, AR | General Support | $100,000 |
| Kid One Transport System Inc Birmingham, AL | General Support | $100,000 |
| Mamatoto Village Inc Washington, DC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Wichita Childrens Home Wichita, KS | General Support | $100,000 |
| Meharry Medical College Nashville, TN | General Support | $93,532 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $97,062,518 | $9,031,580 | $7,403,072 | $2,052,058 | 17 | $6,010,761 |
| 2024 | $90,184,707 | $3,231,124 | $6,607,108 | $1,627,774 | 17 | $2,994,692 |
| 2023 | $85,305,046 | $-1,976,829 | $4,965,904 | $1,223,804 | 13 | $-2,376,829 |
| 2022 | $82,847,856 | $98,235,012 | $2,351,374 | $939,720 | 3 | $-1,764,988 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to improve the health of the most vulnerable by addressing pressing non-medical needs and making lasting change through partnerships, programming, and philanthropic support. Its website describes two principal areas of work: supporting postpartum mothers and their families, and building a healthcare workforce that better reflects the country’s diversity. Its work includes community partnerships focused on postpartum support, activities for middle school students, and scholarships for medical students. It also says that a portion of its endowment is directed to impact investing.
Grantees in the 2025 filing illustrate the range of organizations supported. Center for Urban Families describes its mission as strengthening urban communities by helping fathers and families achieve stability and economic success. Mamatoto Village says it serves Black women through maternal-health career pathways and perinatal support. Kid One Transport System says it transports children and expectant mothers with limited transportation to medical care. Renewal House describes its work as treating and supporting women and children affected by substance-use disorders, while La Posada Home provides services and housing assistance to people in crisis due to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Meharry Medical College describes its work as improving health and healthcare in minority and underserved communities through education, services, and research.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 17 grants totaling $2,052,058. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $632,015, with a median of $100,000.
The largest 2025 grants included $632,015 to the University of Notre Dame du Lac and $270,000 to Fathers of Saint Edmund, both for general support. Other reported grants included $100,000 each to Center for Urban Families, La Posada Home, Renewal House, Women & Children First, Kid One Transport System, Mamatoto Village, and Wichita Children’s Home. Meharry Medical College received $93,532; Southeastern Michigan Health Association and Hotel Hope each received $75,000. The filing lists general support as the purpose for these grants.
In October 2024, the Foundation announced a completed Catalyst Grant distribution of over $1 million to 14 nonprofits across 10 states, focused on postpartum mothers and their families. The announced recipients included the Alabama Prison Birth Project, the Arkansas Birthing Project, Center for Urban Families, Detroit Health Department SisterFriends Detroit, Edmundite Missions, and Emergency Infant Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robyn Brenza Kress as director and senior vice president, Teresa C. Loftis as chair, Peter M. Leibold as director, and Stacy Garrett-Ray, MD, as director. The Foundation’s website identifies Robyn Kress as president and lists Kristen Brown as vice president of communications; Kim Jassem as AVP, strategic operations and grants strategy; Francesca Overwater as vice president of strategic philanthropy; and Pam Mitchell-Boyd as senior director, grants management and strategy.
Ascension Foundation is led by Teresa C. Loftis, Chair on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Teresa C. Loftis
Chair
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Robyn Brenza Kress
Director & Senior Vice President
Ex-Officio & Senior Vice President → Director & Senior Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Stacy Garrett-Ray MD
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Peter M. Leibold
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ascension Foundation
How much does Ascension Foundation give each year?
Ascension Foundation gave $2.1M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 17 grants.
What is Ascension Foundation's typical grant size?
Ascension Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $120,709, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Ascension Foundation give grants?
Ascension Foundation's top state is Indiana, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Alabama (18%) and Tennessee (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (2 grants) and St. Louis, MO (2 grants).
Does Ascension Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ascension Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Ascension Foundation's largest grantees?
Ascension Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Notre Dame Du Lac ($632,015), Fathers of Saint Edmund ($270,000) and Center for Urban Families Inc ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ascension Foundation?
Ascension Foundation reported $97.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.0M.
What does Ascension Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to improve the health of the most vulnerable by addressing pressing non-medical needs and making lasting change through partnerships, programming, and philanthropic support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ascension Foundation?
Ascension Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check theascensionfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ascension Foundation's EIN?
Ascension Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2197504. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ascension Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ascension Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ascension-foundation-morg_a6d5607bb47e40029e8dc0c99d0a52f2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_862197504_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ascension Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ascension-foundation-morg_a6d5607bb47e40029e8dc0c99d0a52f2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Ascension Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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