Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
The Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Paducah, Kentucky. It makes grants supporting five stated core values: Catholic/faith-based causes, human needs, education, families, and vibrant communities.
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust gave $22.8M across 183 grants in 2024 (avg $125K), top state Kentucky. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,849,935
- +14.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 183
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $124,863
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $457,357,889
- +4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (31 of 183, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (25% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
Submit requests online through the Trust’s grant portal. Applicants first complete and submit a pre-qualification request; if approved for consideration, they are invited to complete the online application. Requests should address at least one stated core value.
- Review Cycle
- Application deadlines and related timelines are posted on the Trust’s website. The Trust generally notifies organizations of decisions after March 10, June 10, September 10, and December 10.
- Deadline
- Application deadlines and related timelines are posted on the Trust’s website.
- Contact
Application contact: Applications Must Be Submitted Onli
Mailing address: Wwwecksteincharityorg, Paducah, KY 42001
Phone: (270) 534-8930
Email: info@ecksteincharity.org
Website: https://ecksteincharity.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lifeline Recovery Center Inc ($2.5M). Together the top 10 received $10.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
794 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 465 grants of 794 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust is based in Paducah, Kentucky. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Kentucky (25%), Wisconsin (12%), Florida (12%), Louisiana (11%), and Maryland (9%). Grants also went to organizations in other states, including Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 183 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 183 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $173K; repeat grants $115K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 144% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.4M (2020) to $22.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 183 grants totaling $22.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lifeline Recovery Center Inc Paducah, KY | Capital Support | $2,500,500 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater No New Orleans, LA | Capital & Programming Support | $1,500,000 |
| God's Pit Crew Danville, VA | Capital & Programming Support | $1,300,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Inc Baltimore, MD | Programming Support | $1,000,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Capital Support | $1,000,000 |
| Support Our Aging Religious Inc Silver Spring, MD | Programming Support | $1,000,000 |
| Regional Food Bank of Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FL | General Operating Support | $770,000 |
| Seton Catholic Schools St Francis, WI | Capital Support | $750,000 |
| Bayou Community Foundation Houma, LA | Project Support | $500,000 |
| Gift of Adoption Northbrook, IL | Programming Support | $500,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $457,357,889 | $26,934,025 | $25,445,072 | $22,849,935 | 183 | $23,483,683 | $25,755,553 | $21,883,162 |
| 2023 | $436,642,374 | $14,667,434 | $22,212,794 | $19,901,171 | 169 | $20,486,193 | $14,255,051 | $20,380,734 |
| 2022 | $405,548,481 | $100,767,401 | $17,879,689 | $15,737,156 | 157 | $16,273,670 | $15,383,063 | $16,706,234 |
| 2021 | $358,796,277 | $128,951,866 | $11,593,715 | $9,379,018 | 144 | $9,874,240 | $35,481,102 | $14,932,401 |
| 2020 | $213,293,284 | $40,003,755 | $8,746,910 | $7,398,610 | 141 | — | $2,028,848 | $8,526,748 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $21.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust identifies Catholic/faith-based causes, human needs, education, families, and vibrant communities as its core values. It states that grant requests should support at least one of these areas and that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including recovery, disaster response, food assistance, health, religious communities, and community development. For example, Lifeline Recovery Center describes its mission as providing a Christian-based recovery program for people with substance-abuse problems. The Regional Food Bank of Northeast Florida says it works to end hunger through food and essential goods, education, empowerment, and advocacy. Bayou Community Foundation describes its work as strengthening communities in three Louisiana parishes and Grand Isle. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Trust’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust made 183 grants totaling $22,849,935. Awards ranged from $200 to $2,500,500, with a median grant of $50,000. Its largest listed awards included $2,500,500 to Lifeline Recovery Center for capital support; $1,500,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans for capital and programming support; and $1,300,000 to God’s Pit Crew for capital and programming support. Other notable grants included $1,000,000 each to Catholic Relief Services for programming support, Mayo Clinic for capital support, and Support Our Aging Religious for programming support.
The Trust’s filing states that its 2025 commitments used all available grant funds and invites requests for 2026 funding. The Trust’s website describes an online process beginning with a pre-qualification request, also called a letter of inquiry. After eligibility review and trustee approval for consideration, an application is made available in the applicant’s online dashboard. The Trust may request clarification or additional information during review. Its filing says to include an IRS determination letter; the website cautions that omitting requested documentation could negatively affect an application. The Trust says applications submitted early in each funding cycle receive additional consideration.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cynthia L. Erickson-Zaninovich, Susan F. Homra, Teresa R. Eckstein, John P. Eckstein, and Joseph P. Eckstein as trustees. The Trust’s website identifies Laurie Latham as executive director, Heather Jackson as grants manager, Gina Leeper as program officer, and Susan Gibson as administrative coordinator.
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cynthia L. Erickson-Zaninovich
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John P. Eckstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph P. Eckstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan F. Homra
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teresa R. Eckstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
How much does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust give each year?
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust gave $22.8M across 183 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $19.9M across 169 grants.
What is Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $124,863, across 183 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust that year got $173K on average.
Where does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust give grants?
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's top state is Kentucky, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Wisconsin (12%) and Florida (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Paducah, KY (31 grants), New Orleans, LA (10 grants), Jacksonville, FL (9 grants) and Milwaukee, WI (9 grants).
Does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (64 of 183) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Programming Support" (98 grants), "Project Support" (10 grants) and "Capital Support" (5 grants).
Who are Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Lifeline Recovery Center Inc ($2,500,500), Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater No ($1,500,000) and God's Pit Crew ($1,300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust?
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust reported $457.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $21.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust identifies Catholic/faith-based causes, human needs, education, families, and vibrant communities as its core values. It states that grant requests should support at least one of these areas and that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust?
Submit requests online through the Trust’s grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's EIN?
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6786592. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ray-and-kay-eckstein-charitable-trust-morg_67357f47605d43bd9cca453bf936cf7b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396786592_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ray \& Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ray-and-kay-eckstein-charitable-trust-morg_67357f47605d43bd9cca453bf936cf7b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust'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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