Decoster Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $21,753,369 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $23,000 - $20,000,000
Geographic Focus: National (primarily Baptist churches and missions across multiple states)
EIN: 92-1861278

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
PO Box 609
Turner, ME 04282

Note: No website, email, or phone number publicly available.

Overview

Founded in 2024, the Decoster Family Charitable Foundation is a Maine-based private foundation with assets of $232,494 but significant annual grantmaking activity exceeding $21.7 million. Led by the DeCoster family—Austin J. DeCoster, Patricia DeCoster, and Peter DeCoster, with Clifford S. Gibbs serving as Secretary/Treasurer—the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting Baptist churches and religious missions. The foundation operates with zero overhead, distributing 100% of its expenses as charitable disbursements. Austin "Jack" DeCoster is a born-again Baptist with a long history of philanthropy in Maine communities, having previously funded the construction of Calvary Baptist Church in Turner and donated to various community projects. The foundation made 7 awards in 2023, ranging from $23,000 to $20 million, demonstrating a willingness to provide both substantial and moderate-level grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specified application windows. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the directors.

Priority Areas

Religious Organizations - Baptist Focus:

Baptist churches (local and national)
Baptist international missions
Baptist world missions organizations
Religious ministries and outreach programs

Geographic Distribution: The foundation supports organizations across multiple states including Maine, Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, and Iowa.

Recent Grant Examples (2023)

Mount Zion Baptist World Missions (San Antonio, TX): $20,000,000
Baptist International Missions Inc (Tennessee): $1,000,000
Marion Ave Baptist Church: $500,000
Calvary Baptist Church (Turner, ME): $91,000
Faith Baptist Church (Illinois): $80,000
Roundup Ministries (Stockton, MO): $60,000
Victory Baptist Church (Winthrop, ME): $23,000

What They Don't Fund

Based on available grant history, the foundation exclusively funds Baptist religious organizations and does not appear to fund:

Secular nonprofits
Non-Baptist religious organizations
Educational institutions (unless religiously affiliated)
Arts and culture organizations
Environmental causes
Healthcare organizations
Social services (unless faith-based)

Governance and Leadership

Directors:

Austin J. DeCoster - Director (no compensation)
Patricia DeCoster - Director (no compensation)
Peter DeCoster - Director (no compensation)

Officers:

Clifford S. Gibbs - Secretary/Treasurer (no compensation)

Austin "Jack" DeCoster has deep roots in Maine, starting in the poultry business in Turner at age 12 or 13. He is described by friends and colleagues as a community benefactor who shares his wealth and has a particular commitment to Baptist Christian causes. According to reporting, DeCoster "helped pay for the construction of Calvary Baptist Church in Turner and furnished the church with buses."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with grants awarded at the discretion of the DeCoster family directors. There is no public website, application portal, or formal application guidelines.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

Pre-existing relationships with the family and directors
Personal knowledge of the organization's work
Alignment with the family's Baptist Christian values

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's giving pattern suggests a highly personal, relationship-driven approach focused on Baptist churches and missions. Based on the grant recipients:

Local Maine Connection: The foundation has supported churches in Turner (where the family is based) and nearby Winthrop, ME. Organizations with a presence in or connection to the Turner/Lewiston-Auburn area of Maine may have better access through local Baptist church networks.

Baptist Church Networks: Multiple grants to Baptist International Missions Inc and various Baptist churches suggest the family may identify grant opportunities through Baptist denominational networks and missionary organizations. Leaders of Baptist organizations connected to these broader networks may have opportunities to build awareness.

Personal Relationships: Given the family's history of community involvement in Turner and their direct involvement with Calvary Baptist Church in Turner, personal connections to the DeCoster family members or their close associates appear to be the primary pathway to funding.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates without a public application process, success factors are based on observable patterns:

Strong Baptist Identity: 100% of identified grants support Baptist churches or missions. Organizations must have a clear Baptist affiliation and mission aligned with evangelical Christian values.

Relationship with the DeCoster Family: The foundation's giving appears highly personal and relationship-driven. Austin DeCoster has a history of supporting causes he knows personally and communities where he has business or personal ties.

Range of Grant Sizes: The foundation has demonstrated capacity to make both transformational gifts ($20 million) and smaller operational grants ($23,000-$91,000), suggesting they support both major initiatives and local church operations.

Geographic Flexibility: While based in Maine, the foundation supports Baptist organizations across the United States, indicating they are not limited to local giving but maintain the Baptist focus nationally.

Mission-Driven Giving: The foundation funds international missions (Mount Zion Baptist World Missions, Baptist International Missions Inc) as well as local church operations, suggesting interest in both evangelism and community ministry.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is an invitation-only funder - There is no public application process; grants are awarded based on the directors' personal knowledge and relationships
Baptist affiliation is non-negotiable - All documented grants support Baptist churches or missions; organizations outside this faith tradition should not pursue funding
Extraordinary range in grant sizes - The foundation has made grants from $23,000 to $20 million, showing capacity for both major transformational gifts and smaller operational support
Relationship is everything - Personal connections to the DeCoster family or their close associates appear essential for consideration
Local Maine opportunities exist - The foundation supports churches in Turner and surrounding Maine communities where the family has roots
Zero administrative overhead - The foundation distributes 100% of expenses as grants with no compensation to directors, reflecting a highly committed family philanthropy model
National scope for Baptist missions - While local to Maine, the foundation supports Baptist missionary work and churches across multiple states

References

Information compiled from IRS Form 990-PF filings and publicly available sources. Accessed December 27, 2025.