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Ascension Seton Foundation

EIN 74-2212968 · Saint Louis, MO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROOTED IN THE LOVING MINISTRY OF JESUS AS HEALER, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO SERVING ALL PERSONS WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO ARE POOR AND VULNERABLE. OUR CATHOLIC HEALTH MINISTRY IS DEDICATED TO SPIRITUALLY-CENTERED, HOLISTIC CARE WHICH SUSTAINS AND IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ADVOCATES FOR A COMPASSIONATE AND JUST SOCIETY THROUGH OUR ACTIONS AND OUR WORDS.

Income
$17.2 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
37.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
0
Volunteers
123
Highest pay
$1.8 million, former officer (end 8/2022)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 37.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $6.9 million spent. THE FILING ORGANIZATION IS A PART OF THE ASCENSION CATHOLIC HEALTH MINISTRY. ASCENSION IS A FAITH-BASED HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION THAT DELIVERS PERSONALIZED, COMPASSIONATE CARE TO ALL, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. ASCENSION SETON FOUNDATION WORKS WITH OUR PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT SETON'S CENTRAL AUSTIN ADULT FACILITIES, INCLUDING DELL SETON MEDICAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, SETON MEDICAL CENTER AUSTIN, SETON SHOAL CREEK HOSPITAL, SETON MCCARTHY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, AS WELL AS THE SETON COVE AND THE NURSE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT. ESTABLISHED IN 1981, ASCENSION SETON FOUNDATION WAS THE FIRST FUNDRAISING FOUNDATION OF THE SETON HEALTHCARE FAMILY. ASCENSION SETON FOUNDATION'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION AND WORK OF THE SETON HEALTHCARE FAMILY. THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY, IT HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE EXPANSION OF SETON MEDICAL CENTER AUSTIN, SUPPORT OF THE SETON CLINICS AND THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR DELL SETON MEDICAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.