The idea for the Sainte Marie Foundation came from a former resident, Patricia Reis, a Chicago resident who had grown up in the Ste. Marie area and whose mother lived there for over 96 years. Concerned about some of the challenges she knew the village was facing, she met with a group of Ste. Marie leaders in late August 2007 to discuss her idea for forming a charitable organization to help "prevent community deterioration" and preserve the history of the village. She felt that many people who had left Ste. Marie would be happy to provide support for the little town they still loved. Encouraged by the support she received, she formed a working committee and by late October, the Sainte Marie Foundation was officially recognized by the State of Illinois as a charitable organization. In late December, 2007, the Foundation received tax deductible 501(c)(3) status from the IRS.

In May 2008, Don Albers, owner of DCA Construction Company of Breese, IL, donated the Lena Kirts home, 113 S. Washington Street, to the Foundation. Volunteers have spent hours cleaning, scraping, painting and renovating the 125-year-old house. It will be the "home" of the Foundation as well as a museum and a place for former residents and friends of Sainte Marie to stay while they are visiting the Village. In November 2009, the Foundation received a $2000 grant from the Mary Heath Foundation, Robinson, IL, to copy and restore old pictures and documents displayed in the Foundation House. See more on the Foundation House below.

For more historical information, read the quarterly newsletters that have been sent to over 400 former Sainte Marie residents since the early days of the Foundation.