The Edward L Rispone Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,426,504 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 32 awards (2023)
• Average Grant Size: ~$263,000
• Geographic Focus: Louisiana, with emphasis on Baton Rouge area
• Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation
• Established: 2000
• Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 18250 S Mission Hills Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70810-7974

Telephone: 225-756-8001

EIN: 72-1474941

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or maintain a website for public applications.

Overview

The Edward L Rispone Family Foundation was established in 2000 by Edward L. Rispone, a successful Louisiana businessman and founder of ISC Constructors, and his late wife Phyllis. The foundation has distributed approximately $8 million in grants from 2012 to 2017, with annual giving reaching $8.4 million in 2023 across 32 awards. The foundation is managed personally by Edward Rispone and his current wife Linda, with no staff. According to Rispone, the foundation was structured so that 80% of its funding goes to religious organizations, with the remainder supporting education and social services. The foundation had assets of approximately $15.4 million as of 2017 and operates as a private independent foundation making grants to preselected charitable organizations throughout Louisiana.

Funding Priorities

Primary Focus Areas

Roman Catholic Ministries (80% of giving)

• Catholic educational institutions
• Religious education and theology programs
• Catholic schools and scholarship programs
• Organizations that continue the mission of Catholic education

Education (20% of giving)

• Theology education programs preparing future Catholic school teachers
• Scholarships for students pursuing religious education careers
• Educational institutions with Catholic foundations

Social Services

• Organizations aligned with Catholic social teaching
• Community service organizations

Notable Grant Example

• Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU): $100,000 endowed scholarship fund dedicated to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, supporting theology students who desire to teach religion in Catholic schools

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Louisiana (limited geographic scope)
• Non-religious or secular programs (given 80% allocation to religious causes)
• Unsolicited requests from organizations not already on their radar

Governance and Leadership

Edward L. Rispone - Founder and Manager

• Chairman of ISC Constructors, a Gulf South engineering and construction company with $350 million in annual revenues
• Co-founded ISC Constructors with his brother Jerry in 1989
• Former national chairman of Associated Builders & Contractors (2003)
• Former chairman of Louisiana Workforce Investment Council (appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal in 2008)
• Educated by School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Gerard Majella and Redemptorist High School (1945-1985)
• 2019 Republican candidate for Louisiana Governor

Linda Rispone - Co-Manager

• Current wife of Edward Rispone (married 2007)
• Co-manages the foundation alongside her husband

Foundation Structure: The foundation operates without staff, managed entirely by Edward and Linda Rispone, allowing for personal involvement in all grant decisions.

Quote from Edward Rispone (regarding the FranU scholarship): "Graduates of the Theology program will go on to teach the Catholic faith to the next generation of students in our diocese and our community."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Edward L Rispone Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of Edward and Linda Rispone, who personally manage the foundation.

Organizations receive funding through:

• Pre-existing relationships with the Rispone family
• Personal knowledge and connections within Louisiana's Catholic community
• Invitation from the foundation managers
• Alignment with causes personally meaningful to the Rispone family, particularly those connected to their Catholic education background

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded to preselected organizations on the foundation managers' timeline.

Getting on Their Radar

Personal Connection to Catholic Education: The foundation has a strong connection to the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Catholic educational institutions in Louisiana, particularly those in the Baton Rouge area. Edward Rispone was educated at St. Gerard Majella and Redemptorist High School, which influences his philanthropic priorities.

Catholic Community Involvement: Organizations that are active in Louisiana's Roman Catholic community, particularly in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention through shared networks and Catholic institutional connections.

Business and Civic Networks: Edward Rispone's extensive business background (ISC Constructors, Associated Builders & Contractors, Louisiana Workforce Investment Council) means organizations connected to Louisiana's business community and workforce development may intersect with his sphere of influence.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with preselected organizations, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations determine if they might eventually come onto the foundation's radar:

Strong Catholic Identity: With 80% of funding directed to Roman Catholic ministries, organizations must have a clear Catholic mission and identity to be considered.

Educational Mission: The foundation shows particular interest in theology education and preparing future Catholic school teachers, honoring the legacy of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who educated Eddie Rispone.

Louisiana Roots: The foundation focuses on Louisiana organizations, particularly those in the Baton Rouge area and surrounding diocese.

Generational Impact: The FranU scholarship demonstrates interest in creating long-term, sustained impact through endowments that will benefit multiple generations of students.

Alignment with Rispone Family Values: Personal connection to causes matters - the School Sisters of Notre Dame scholarship directly honored those who educated Eddie Rispone, showing that personal gratitude and family history influence grant decisions.

No Unsolicited Requests: The foundation has explicitly stated it does not accept unsolicited funding requests, so organizations should not attempt to submit applications or proposals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not Open to Applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and only funds preselected organizations, making it unsuitable for traditional grant seeking efforts.

• Invitation-Only Model: The Rispone family personally selects all grant recipients based on their own knowledge, relationships, and priorities.

• Catholic Focus Dominates: 80% of giving goes to Roman Catholic ministries, with a particular emphasis on Catholic education and theology programs.

• Personal Management: With no staff and direct management by Edward and Linda Rispone, all decisions are highly personal and relationship-based.

• Louisiana-Centric: Geographic focus is Louisiana, particularly the Baton Rouge area and Catholic Diocese.

• Educational Legacy: Strong interest in continuing the educational mission of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and supporting future Catholic school educators.

• Relationship-Based Philanthropy: Success in receiving funding requires pre-existing relationships within Louisiana's Catholic community or business networks connected to the Rispone family.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: The Edward L Rispone Family Foundation (EIN: 721474941). Accessed March 2, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/721474941

• Candid Foundation Directory: The Edward L Rispone Family Foundation. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=RISP001

• Nola.com (May 18, 2019): "From humble beginnings to enormous wealth, Eddie Rispone may be facing his biggest test yet." https://www.nola.com/news/from-humble-beginnings-to-enormous-wealth-eddie-rispone-may-be-facing-his-biggest-test-yet/article_e2087a15-9dba-549d-8fdc-7262615ec503.html

• Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University: "FranU Received $100,000 Gift Dedicated to School Sisters of Notre Dame." Accessed March 2, 2026. https://franu.edu/news/franu-received-100-000-gift-dedicated-to-school-sisters-of-notre-dame

• The Advocate (February 25, 2021): "Community: FranU receives scholarship donation from Rispone Foundation." https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/community-franu-receives-scholarship-donation-from-rispone-foundation/article_4801c5d2-7b7e-11eb-a1ad-afa473d64151.html

• Cause IQ: The Edward L Rispone Family Foundation. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-edward-l-rispone-family-foundation,721474941/

• Wikipedia: Eddie Rispone. Accessed March 2, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rispone