The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis
The mission of the backstoppers is to ensure stability and quality of life for the families of police officers, firefighters and publicly-funded paramedics and emts killed in the line of duty or suffering a catastrophic injury in a defined coverage area in Missouri and Illinois by providing financial and emotional support. In this way, the backstoppers and our members honor those who give their lives protecting our communities.
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis at a glance
In short: The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis gave $20K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- Average grant
- $20,000
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $73,993,936
- +12.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Louis County Police Welfare Association ($20K).
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Louis County Police Welfare Association St. Louis, MO | Law Enforcement Assistance | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $73,993,936 | $8,597,220 | $5,272,705 | $20,000 | 1 | $2,249,621 |
| 2023 | $65,635,607 | $8,780,268 | $4,523,017 | — | — | $1,500,025 |
| 2022 | $54,878,857 | $7,925,868 | $4,455,984 | — | — | $863,284 |
| 2021 | $58,482,364 | $10,650,014 | $3,781,794 | — | — | $800,418 |
| 2020 | $45,601,352 | $5,789,874 | $3,887,181 | — | — | $549,452 |
About The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis
Based on IRS filings
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis is a public charity, based in Saint Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $74.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $20K. Net investment income was $2.2M.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis is led by Col Ron Battelle, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 4 of 31 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Col Ron Battelle
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$181K (2020) → $219K (2024)
Col Lawrence M. O'Toole
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$53K (2024)
John Capps
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
August Busch IV
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chrissy Nardini
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Col Steven C. Roberts Sr.
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel A. Raniere
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David M. Stokes
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward L. Dowd Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Flint W. Fowler PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Grewe
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Fox
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Potthoff
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Hofman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Souers
Director
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Schicker
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Sondag
Director
Immediate Past President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark J. Bade
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael F. Shanahan Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Barrett
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert P. McCulloch
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susie Schulte
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thom Sehnert
Director
President → Immediate Past President, 2021
Immediate Past President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Hanaway
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Schnuck
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Bettale
Operations Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$130K (2024)
Jim Noonan
Finance Manager
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2024)
Honorable Mary Russell
Vice President
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Behan Jr.
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Schnuck
Immediate Past President
Treasurer → President, 2021
President → Immediate Past President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Gaertner
Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Arthur S. Margulis (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mary E. Nelson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Honorable Gary M. Gaertner Sr. (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Timothy E. Reagan (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Allan D. Ivie IV (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Scott Engelbrecht (2020–2021) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $219K, to Col Ron Battelle (Executive Director (Thru 9/24)). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis
How much does The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis give each year?
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis gave $20K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990.
How large is The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis?
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis reported $74.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.6M.
Where does The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis operate?
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis has awarded grants in Missouri.
What is The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis's EIN?
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6032561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Missouri
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Greater Horizons
Kansas City, MO
Greater Horizons distributes donor-advised fund grants to eligible U.S. charities and institutions across a wide range of causes; international organizations may also be supported after additional due diligence. In 2024, its grants had a median of $15,000, though amounts varied widely. Grants are requested by fund holders, and no general application process for organizations seeking funding is described.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
3,282
Total Given
$212.2M
St Louis Community Foundation Inc
St. Louis, MO
The foundation supports nonprofits through its own community priorities and funds it administers for private and family foundations, including economic mobility, youth connections, and a range of other donor-directed causes. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,050 to $4 million, with a median of $20,000; community-impact funding focuses mainly on high-need ZIP codes in Missouri and Illinois, though grants also go elsewhere. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests; applicants should check each funder’s criteria and deadlines.
Assets
$494.4M
Grants
839
Total Given
$63.9M
Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations and community projects, with 2024 grants typically small (median $1,500) but ranging from $200 to $60,500. Most funding went to Missouri, followed by Kansas and Illinois, with smaller amounts elsewhere; it says applicants should contact the program director and provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$35.0M
Grants
645
Total Given
$2.0M
Patterson Family Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The Patterson Family Foundation supported economic opportunity, education, and healthcare in rural communities, primarily in Kansas and western Missouri counties with fewer than 50,000 residents. In 2021, it made 607 grants, with a median award of $6,300 and grants ranging from $144 to $2.5 million. Its 2021 filing says it funded only preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests; no later filing is on record.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
607
Total Given
$22.3M
Midway USA Foundation Inc
Columbia, MO
The foundation funds youth shooting sports and related firearms-safety, hunting, and outdoor education programs in the United States, primarily through annual grants to eligible teams and organizations with an endowment of at least $2,000. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $11,000 (ranging from $5,002 to $404,253); team cash grants can be up to 5% of an eligible endowment balance.
Assets
$359.7M
Grants
497
Total Given
$10.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Missouri
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis'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.
The Backstoppers Inc FKA Policemen & Firemen Fund of St Louis down — hundreds of funders to go?