Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern
The Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri is a 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. Established in 2013, the Foundation operates independently from the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The organization inspires planned giving and connects donors to Catholic ministries, with a focus on sustaining parishes, schools, and ministries throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis for future generations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$79.6M
+17.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+11.1% YoY
Grant Count
92
+1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
+9.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Inspiring giving and connecting donors to Catholic ministries, sustaining the local Church for future generations.
Core Values: The Foundation operates as mission-driven, donor-focused, accountable, transparent, and committed to good stewardship.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Building endowment funds to sustain the local Catholic Church for generations
- Managing distributions according to donor intent
- Investing funds responsibly according to Catholic values
- Assisting Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries in meeting long-term financial needs
- Helping Catholic donors achieve their charitable and financial goals
- Strengthening Catholic schools' academic capacity and management systems through the Beyond Sunday Education Initiatives program
Grantmaking
The Foundation operates as a donor-advised fund platform, distributing grants based on donor recommendations and intent.
Grant Range
$5,050–$255,490
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds organizations within the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri, with documented grant activity also extending to Pennsylvania and Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets Under Management (as of March 2023): $54.3 million
Current Financial Position (2024):
- Total Assets: $79,626,618
- Total Revenues: $10,478,204
- Total Expenses: $7,094,471
Historical Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $67.9 million
- Total Revenues: $9.16 million
- Total Expenses: $6.58 million
- Total Liabilities: $9.11 million
Cumulative Impact: The Foundation has raised $142 million to benefit parishes, schools, and ministries since its establishment.
Fund Portfolio: The Foundation manages 251 funds and planned gifts.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $79,626,618 | $67,874,003 | $58,459,218 |
| Revenue | $10,478,204 | $9,163,484 | $3,518,361 |
| Expenses | $7,094,471 | $6,581,930 | $5,762,410 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,086,407 | $1,689,558 | $-49,668 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Augustine Institute ($282,200), Incarnate Word Academy ($148,256), Archdiocese of Saint Louis ($142,268).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED BROOKLYN, NY | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $5,100 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT LOUIS SAINT LOUIS, MO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $142,268 |
| ART OF LIVING MINISTRY - RETHINK LAFAYETTE, LA | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $10,000 |
| ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH- MATTESE SAINT LOUIS, MO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $26,100 |
| AUGUSTINE INSTITUTE ENGLEWOOD, CO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $282,200 |
| BACKSTOPPERS INC ST LOUIS, MO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $12,700 |
| BECKET FUND WASHINGTON, DC | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $12,000 |
| BISHOP DUBOURG HIGH SCHOOL SAINT LOUIS, MO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $16,524 |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE RICHMOND HTS, MO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $5,500 |
| CARMEL OF SAINT JOSEPH SAINT LOUIS, MO | DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS | $8,750 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President/CEO/Secretary: Joseph Bestgen
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASTOR ARMESTO | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| MICHELLE ARMESTO | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| DAN CHARLES | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| MARY CHARLES | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| GRANT DINO | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| TIFFANY DINO | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| LOUIS ECKELKAMP III | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| TINA ECKELKAMP | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| NIALL J GANNON | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| CONNIE NOTESTINE | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| STEPHEN M NOTESTINE | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| NANCY A ROSS | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| DONALD L ROSS | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| SUSAN L SANSONE | TRUSTEE (TERM END 11/24) | 0.2 | — |
| TIMOTHY G SANSONE | TRUSTEE (TERM END 11/24) | 0.2 | — |
| KAREN SHAUGHNESSY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| JIM SHAUGHNESSY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| DIANE SNIVELY | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| DAVID F SNIVELY | TRUSTEE/VICE-PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 0.2 | — |
| MIKE WALSH | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| MATT WITTE | TRUSTEE (TERM END 11/24) | 0.2 | — |
| GINA WITTE | TRUSTEE (TERM END 11/24) | 0.2 | — |
| MARK J GUYOL | CO-CHAIRPERSON | 0.4 | — |
| BISHOP MARK S RIVITUSO | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| ARCHBISHOP MITCHELL ROZANSKI | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| GERARD HEMPSTEAD | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| JENNIFER HEMPSTEAD | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| FATHER CHRISTOPHER MARTIN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| JOSEPH BESTGEN | PRESIDENT/CEO/SECRETARY | 50 | $173,390 |
| JERRY KEEVEN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| LESA KEEVEN | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| MIKE CONOYER | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| CAROL CONOYER | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| JOAN GUYOL | CO-CHAIRPERSON | 0.4 | — |
| JANICE SURDYKE | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| TIM SURDYKE | TRUSTEE | 0.2 | — |
| JOHN MODDER | VICE PRESIDENT/CFO | 50 | $136,087 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Scholarship Awards:** The Foundation awarded $1.5 million in scholarships to students
Foundations in Faith Approves $1 Million in General Operating Support Grants**Four-Star Rating:** The Foundation maintains a 100% four-star rating, reflecting strong accountability and financial management
**St. Martha Giving Circle:** The Foundation operates the St. Martha Giving Circle, a donor engagement initiative
St. Martha Giving CircleContact Information
Address: 425 North New Ballas Road, Suite 200, Saint Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 314.918.2890
Email: info@rcfstl.org
Website: rcfstl.org
Tax ID (EIN): 46-3309222
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern fund?
**Mission Statement:** Inspiring giving and connecting donors to Catholic ministries, sustaining the local Church for future generations. **Core Values:** The Foundation operates as mission-driven, donor-focused, accountable, transparent, and committed to good stewardship. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Building endowment funds to sustain the local Catholic Church for generations • Managing distributions according to donor intent • Investing funds responsibly according to Catholic values • Assistin…
How do I apply for a grant from Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern?
The Foundation operates as a donor-advised fund platform, distributing grants based on donor recommendations and intent. **Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $3,206,684+ (84 grants documented) • Typical grant range: $5,050–$255,490 • Recent grantees include Augustine Institute ($282,200), St Joseph Catholic Church Imperial ($275,000), and St Agatha Catholic Church ($220,140) **Grant Distribution Method:** Grants are distributed as "Donor Recommended Grants," reflecting the donor-advised f…
Where does Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds organizations within the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Missouri, with documented grant activity also extending to Pennsylvania and Nebraska.
What size grants does Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern award?
In 2024, Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern awarded 92 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern's EIN?
Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3309222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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