Roman Catholic Foundation Of Eastern Missouri

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2.5-3.5 million (estimated from $69M assets)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program (2-3 months typical)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000+
• Geographic Focus: Archdiocese of St. Louis (Eastern Missouri only)

Contact Details

Website: https://rcfstl.org/
Phone: 314-918-2890
Email: info@rcfstl.org
Address: 425 North New Ballas Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63141
Scholarships/Grants Page: https://rcfstl.org/scholarships-and-grants/

Overview

The Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri (established 2013) is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity that manages $69 million in assets across 224 endowment funds, inspiring giving and connecting donors to Catholic parishes, schools and ministries throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis. With a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and 87% program expense ratio, the Foundation has distributed over $56.5 million through its flagship Beyond Sunday Campaign alone, benefiting more than 180 Catholic organizations. The Foundation operates both as an asset manager for Catholic endowments and as a competitive grant maker, providing scholarships, innovation grants, and parish support to sustain the local Church for future generations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Beyond Sunday Education Fund Scholarships: $10.2+ million distributed - Supporting low and middle-income families with Catholic school tuition (ongoing)
• Parish Distribution Program: $2.37 million per major distribution - Direct support to 45+ local parishes twice annually
• Endowment Fund Distributions: $130,000+ annually - Perpetual income distributions to 23+ Catholic organizations
• St. Martha Giving Circle: Member-funded grants to qualifying charitable organizations (minimum $100 member contribution, collective decision-making)
• Innovation Grants (ended 2020): $526,000+ distributed for STREAM curricula and school improvements

Priority Areas

• Catholic education accessibility through scholarships
• Parish infrastructure and facility improvements
• Faith formation and religious education programs
• Parish ministry support and development
• Long-term sustainability through endowment building
• Catholic school innovation and curriculum development

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis
• Non-Catholic organizations or those not aligned with Catholic teaching
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
• Organizations not in good standing with the IRS
• St. Martha Giving Circle excludes previous year's grant recipients

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Joe Bestgen (succeeded founding CEO Mark Guyol)
Senior Adviser: Mark Guyol (founding president)
VP and CFO: John Modder
Gift Planning Officer: Michael W. Weisbrod
Board Chair: Steve Notestine (Partner, Quadrant Properties)
Board Member: Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis

The Board includes executives from Northwestern Mutual, BSI Constructors, and former leaders from Monsanto and Enterprise Holdings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

• Visit https://rcfstl.org/scholarships-and-grants/ for current opportunities
• Contact directly at 314-918-2890 or info@rcfstl.org for guidance
• Technical assistance sessions offered for applicants
• Required forms available online: Grant Activity Budget, Grant Progress Report, Final Grant Report

Decision Timeline

• St. Martha Giving Circle: Annual voting cycle
• Beyond Sunday Education Fund: Specific application periods (check website)
• Endowment distributions: Twice annually (typically July and December)
• Parish distributions: Twice annually

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed, but the Beyond Sunday Campaign had over 25,500 participating families with 180+ beneficiary organizations.

Reapplication Policy

• St. Martha Giving Circle: Must wait one year after receiving a grant before reapplying
• Other programs: No stated restrictions on reapplication

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's grant-making patterns and stated priorities:

• Catholic Identity: Must clearly demonstrate alignment with Catholic teaching and serve the Catholic community within the Archdiocese
• Educational Focus: Programs supporting Catholic school accessibility receive priority, particularly those serving low and middle-income families
• Endowment Partnership: Organizations with existing endowment funds at the Foundation have established relationships and receive regular distributions
• Innovation in Education: When school grants were active, they favored STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) curricula
• Proper Documentation: Must verify 501(c)(3) status through GuideStar Charity Check and maintain IRS good standing
• Geographic Compliance: Must exclusively serve communities within the Archdiocese of St. Louis boundaries
• Sustainability Planning: Projects demonstrating long-term viability and potential for endowment building are favored

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Foundation operates multiple grant streams - identify which program best fits your organization's needs
• Catholic alignment is non-negotiable - clearly articulate how your work supports Catholic teaching and mission
• Geographic restriction to Archdiocese of St. Louis is strictly enforced - no exceptions
• Education-related requests have the strongest track record of funding, particularly scholarships
• Consider establishing an endowment fund with the Foundation for ongoing support rather than just seeking one-time grants
• The St. Martha Giving Circle offers a unique opportunity for smaller grants through collective giving
• Contact the Foundation directly for technical assistance - they provide support to help applicants succeed

References

• Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri Official Website: https://rcfstl.org/ (accessed March 2026)
• RCFSTL Scholarships and Grants Page: https://rcfstl.org/scholarships-and-grants/ (accessed March 2026)
• Charity Navigator Profile for Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri (EIN: 46-3309222)
• GuideStar Profile for Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri
• IRS Form 990 filings for EIN: 46-3309222
• Archdiocese of St. Louis news releases regarding Beyond Sunday Campaign distributions
• Foundation annual reports and financial statements available at https://rcfstl.org/financials/