The Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust is a private family foundation established in 2005 and based in Paducah, Kentucky. The trust was created by Ray and Kay Eckstein to support charitable, educational, scientific, religious, and literary purposes through grants to public charities and Catholic-affiliated organizations. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is governed by five officers and trustees.
Key facts about Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
- EIN
- 39-6786592
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,849,935
- Grants made (2024)
- 183
- Average grant
- $124,863
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (25% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts applications at any time.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. 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
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust's 183 itemized 2024 grants were Kentucky (25%), 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). 35% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Programming Support" (98 grants), "Project Support" (10 grants) and "Capital Support" (5 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$22.8M
+14.8% YoY
Grant Count
183
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$125K
+6.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission reflects the personal values and interests of Ray and Kay Eckstein. The trust supports faith, human needs, family, education, and vibrant communities.
Primary funding areas include:
- Catholic and faith-based initiatives — Giving primarily to Roman Catholic Church-affiliated organizations and religious programs
- Human needs — Supporting organizations that help "those that are not able to help themselves," including housing and services for homeless and vulnerable people, and those struggling with addiction
- Education — Educational programs and institutions
- Family-strengthening programs — Initiatives that support families
- Community development — Efforts to build vibrant communities
The foundation accepts applications from nonprofits working in its areas of interest at any time, with trustees meeting quarterly to review proposals.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $3,250,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts applications at any time. Trustees meet quarterly to review proposals.
Ready to take the next step with Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes giving in specific geographic regions:
- Kentucky — Primary focus, especially the Paducah area
- Northeast Florida
- Southwest Wisconsin
- Southeast Louisiana
Recent giving has extended beyond these designated areas, possibly reflecting the geographic interests of the Ecksteins' children, who now direct the foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 183 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $457,357,889
- Total Revenues: $26,934,025
- Total Expenses: $25,445,072
- Number of Employees: 3
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $48.8 million in 2011 to $457.4 million in 2024.
Historical Financials (2023):
- Revenue: $14.7 million
- Expenses: $22.2 million
- Total Assets: $437 million
- Total Liabilities: $26,100
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
794 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Lifeline Recovery Center Inc ($2,500,500), Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater No ($1,500,000), God's Pit Crew ($1,300,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Staff:
- Laurie Latham — Executive Director
- Heather L Jackson — Grants Manager
Principal Officer: Quarles & Brady LLP
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYNTHIA L ERICKSON-ZANINOVICH | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| SUSAN F HOMRA | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| TERESA R ECKSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| JOHN P ECKSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
| JOSEPH P ECKSTEIN | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 4965 Village Square Drive, Suite A, Paducah, KY 42001-8007
- Phone: 270-534-8930
- Website: ecksteincharity.org
- EIN: 39-6786592
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust fund?
The foundation's mission reflects the personal values and interests of Ray and Kay Eckstein. The trust supports faith, human needs, family, education, and vibrant communities. **Primary funding areas include:** • **Catholic and faith-based initiatives** — Giving primarily to Roman Catholic Church-affiliated organizations and religious programs • **Human needs** — Supporting organizations that help "those that are not able to help themselves," including housing and services for homeless and vuln…
How do I apply for a grant from Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust?
**Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $3,250,000 **Grant Types:** The foundation funds flexibly for general operations, projects, capital projects, and occasionally endowment support. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Lifeline Recovery Center: $2,500,500 (Capital Support) • God's Pit Crew: $1,300,000 (Capital & Programming Support) • Catholic Relief Services: $1,000,000 (Programming Support) **Total giving in 2024:** $22,849,935 across 134+ grants **Application Process:** The f…
Where does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation prioritizes giving in specific geographic regions: • **Kentucky** — Primary focus, especially the Paducah area • **Northeast Florida** • **Southwest Wisconsin** • **Southeast Louisiana** Recent giving has extended beyond these designated areas, possibly reflecting the geographic interests of the Ecksteins' children, who now direct the foundation.
What size grants does Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust awarded 183 grants totaling $22.8M — an average of about $125K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.