Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8,334,500 (with assets of $195,461,097)
Success Rate: 20-25% (approximately 1 in 4-5 applications)
Decision Time: 16-18 weeks
Grant Range: $1,000 - $100,000
Geographic Focus: International and US-based Catholic organizations

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 4019, Wilmington, DE 19807

Phone: (302) 655-4440

Email: appdocs@rfca.org

Website: www.rfca.org

Application Portal: https://rfcagrants.powerappsportals.com/

Overview

Founded in 1945 by John J. Raskob and Helena S. Raskob, the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities is an independent, private, non-profit family foundation now in its fifth generation with 136 family members involved in its governance. John Raskob was a financial executive at DuPont and General Motors who later helped build the Empire State Building. Since its founding, the foundation has distributed over $200 million worldwide to support Catholic institutions and organizations. With current assets of $195 million and annual giving of approximately $8.3 million, the foundation awards 344-355 grants annually. The foundation focuses on grant-making and philanthropic activity in service to the Catholic Church and institutions identified with it, with particular emphasis on programs addressing corporal and spiritual works of mercy and Catholic Social Teachings, especially those serving marginalized communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Domestic Program (US & territories)

Average Awards: $15,000-$35,000 (range: $1,000-$100,000)
Cycles: Two annually - Spring (January 1-15) and Fall (June 1-15)
Application Method: Online portal, no Letter of Intent required
Decisions: Spring cycle decisions by mid-May; Fall cycle decisions by mid-December

International Program (Outside US)

Average Awards: $30,000-$60,000 (range: $1,000-$100,000)
Cycle: One annually with two-phase process
Application Method: Letter of Intent (May 1-15), then invitation-only full application (October 1-15)
Decisions: LOI decisions by October 1; final decisions by end of March

Priority Areas

The foundation supports programs addressing corporal and spiritual works of mercy including:

Welcoming the vulnerable: Supporting refugees, immigrants, and marginalized populations
Education access: Catholic schools, faith formation programs, educational initiatives
Social needs assistance: Feeding programs, medical aid, income generation activities
Youth development: Leadership programs, peacebuilding initiatives
Women's empowerment: Programs supporting women and mothers
Basic necessities: Water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter
Infrastructure/construction: With restrictions (must demonstrate 50% funding secured, signed contract, and construction underway for projects over $200,000)
Program development and expansion: New initiatives and ministry support
Community services: Faith-based initiatives serving those on the margins

Recent grant examples (2022):

Global Solidarity Fund: $100,000 for Grant Manager Position in Geneva
Medicines for Humanity: $96,000 for Maternal and Child Health Services in Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Diocese of Manchester Department of Education: $85,000 for Special Education Inclusion Pilot Program

International project examples: Youth leadership and peacebuilding in Ecuador, income generation in Ethiopia, feeding programs in Haiti, women empowerment in India, medical aid in Gaza, childhood education in Jordan, ending child labor in Malawi, programs for disabled mothers in Palestine, water and sanitation improvements in South Sudan

What They Don't Fund

Individual requests (tuition, scholarships, fellowships, research)
Endowments
Debt reduction
Completed or already purchased projects
Political advocacy or election influence
Projects not completed before Board meetings
Non-English submissions
Same project to same organization on a continuing basis

Governance and Leadership

The Raskob Foundation operates with a unique family governance model comprising over 100 "members"—all direct descendants of founders John and Helena Raskob. The foundation's membership is split roughly 50/50 between women and men with an average age of 40. The third and fourth generations of the Raskob family are actively involved in funding decisions.

Board of Trustees: Elected from and by the membership-at-large, with assets managed by the board. Younger members are encouraged to chair committees, participate in policy discussions, and initiate new programs.

Known Board Members (affiliated with FADICA):

Patrick W. McGrory
William F. Raskob III
Kerry A. Robinson
Maria Robinson, M.D.

Decision-Making Process: Family members are responsible for reviewing every application, conducting site visits and telephone interviews, and determining which applications are most deserving of support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the foundation's online grant portal at: https://rfcagrants.powerappsportals.com/

Applicants can register at any time but can only submit applications during open submission windows.

Three-step submission process:

Complete application questions
Upload required documents
Final submission during open cycle

Domestic Program Application Requirements:

Must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt with public charity status
Must be listed in P.J. Kenedy Official Catholic Directory (with Edition & Page Number)
Complete W-9 form
Recent audited financial statement (or Form 990)
Detailed project budget
Letter from Bishop/Archbishop on official letterhead

International Program Letter of Intent Requirements:

Must have non-profit, non-governmental status equivalent to US public charity
Catholic status verified by Ordinary of Diocese
Verification form from Diocese Ordinary
Fiscal Agent form (must be US organization listed in Official Catholic Directory)
Affidavit from applying organization
NGO status documentation
All documents translated to English

International Full Application (if invited):

Detailed project budget
Optional: narrative, photos, supporting documents

Decision Timeline

Domestic Program:

Spring: Submit January 1-15 → Decisions by mid-May (approximately 16-18 weeks)
Fall: Submit June 1-15 → Decisions by mid-December (approximately 22-24 weeks)

International Program:

LOI: Submit May 1-15 → Decisions by October 1 (approximately 18-20 weeks)
Full Application: Submit October 1-15 → Decisions by end of March (approximately 20-22 weeks)

Notification Method: Decisions sent via email to application contact. The foundation advises applicants to check email frequently during decision periods.

Success Rates

The foundation has an approval rate of approximately 20-25% (1 in 4-5 applications). In recent years:

2023: 344 awards made
2022: 355 awards made

Reapplication Policy

Important restriction: If the foundation does not grant funding for an organization's program/project/need, the Board will not accept nor review the same application during the next (successive) board meeting. This means unsuccessful applicants cannot immediately reapply with the same project at the next board meeting.

The foundation will not provide grants for the same project, nor to the same organization on a continuing basis, though multi-year grants (typically 2-3 years maximum) are available but uncommon. Multi-year grants should demonstrate how funding supports sustainability of new initiatives.

Multiple applications: Organizations may submit multiple applications per cycle if for distinctly different programs.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance:

Clear alignment with mission: The foundation specifically looks for programs addressing "corporal and spiritual works of mercy" and Catholic Social Teachings, with focus on "supporting those on the margins, such as welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, accompanying the vulnerable, providing access to education, or aiding in faith formation."
Application formatting: The foundation explicitly warns: "Avoid cutting and pasting into the question fields, as this will affect readability and your answers may appear illegible, which could result in your application being deemed ineligible." Type responses directly into the portal.
Rationale and specificity: "Provide a clear rationale for what you're doing and why you're doing it. Create specific aims and well-defined criteria to quantify success and keep it concise."
Catholic verification is mandatory: Domestic organizations must provide their Edition and Page Number from the P.J. Kenedy Official Catholic Directory. International organizations must provide verification from the local Bishop (Ordinary of Diocese).
Complete all fields: Fill all required fields before saving. Use "Not Applicable," "No," or "None" rather than leaving sections blank.
English-only submissions: All applications and supporting materials must be submitted in English.
Construction project requirements: For projects over $200,000, you must demonstrate 50% funding already secured, a signed construction contract, and construction already underway.
Financial documentation: Provide complete financial statements—audited statements are preferred, but Form 990 or in-house financials are acceptable for domestic applicants.
Family engagement: Remember that family members review every application. Applications undergo site visits and telephone interviews, so be prepared for direct engagement during the review process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Catholic verification is non-negotiable: Ensure you have your Official Catholic Directory listing (domestic) or Bishop verification (international) before starting the application—this is a hard eligibility requirement
Timing matters for construction: Don't apply for construction projects over $200,000 unless you already have 50% funding secured and construction underway
One shot per cycle: If rejected, you cannot reapply with the same project at the next board meeting—wait at least two cycles or develop a distinctly different project
Format carefully: Type directly into the portal rather than cutting and pasting to ensure readability—illegible applications may be deemed ineligible
International applicants start early: The two-phase process (LOI then full application) takes nearly a full year from initial submission to final decision
Focus on the margins: Applications that clearly demonstrate service to marginalized, vulnerable populations aligned with Catholic Social Teachings and corporal/spiritual works of mercy have the strongest alignment
Success rate context: With only a 20-25% approval rate, ensure your application is highly competitive, specific, and well-documented

References

All sources accessed December 2025.