Believers Stewardship Services Inc
Believers Stewardship Services Inc, operating under the name Legacy Ministry Services, is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Dubuque, Iowa. The organization was granted tax-exempt status in October 2001. It functions as a community foundation providing financial and estate planning services, donor-advised fund management, and governance support primarily to Christian believers, churches, and ministries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.4M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
-8.3% YoY
Grant Count
51
-29.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$63K
+29.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization's mission is to glorify God in fulfilling biblical stewardship by assisting Christians to accomplish their financial and estate planning goals and by supporting local New Testament churches and associated ministries with financial and governance-related matters.
Primary service areas include:
- Rendering donor-advised fund and other fund management services to individuals, trusts/estates, and active or dissolved churches/ministries
- Providing estate planning services, including assistance with wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and estate and trust tax returns
- Administering planned giving programs, including charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts
- Offering tax preparation services to individuals (including missionaries and ministers), trusts, estates, and charitable organizations
- Providing corporate governance support to churches and other ministries
- Assisting churches with asset dissolution
Grantmaking
The organization does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$6,000 to $924,000
Ready to take the next step with Believers Stewardship Services Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary grantmaking activity occurs in Florida, Tennessee, and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $23,409,163
- Total revenues: $4,776,002
- Total expenses: $4,583,491
- Total liabilities: $3,780,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,409,163 | $22,648,425 | $15,426,767 |
| Revenue | $4,776,002 | $11,717,584 | $5,402,636 |
| Expenses | $4,583,491 | $4,461,332 | $5,557,491 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,135,990 | $1,762,149 | $913,727 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
243 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Christian Missions in Many Lands Inc ($924,101), Emmaus Bible College ($584,363), Veritas Church of Cedar Rapids ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Missions in Many Lands Inc Spring Lake, NJ | General Support | $924,101 |
| Emmaus Bible College Dubuque, IA | General Support | $584,363 |
| Veritas Church of Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA | General Support | $200,000 |
| Christian Workers Fellowship Fund Inc Kansas City, KS | General Support | $181,262 |
| Immanuel Mission Teec Nos Pos, AZ | General Support | $146,151 |
| School Ministries Inc Columbia, SC | General Support | $134,158 |
| Believers Gospel Chapel - GA Augusta, GA | General Support | $102,800 |
| Arbor Oaks Bible Chapel Dubuque, IA | General Support | $56,446 |
| Believers' Chapel Murfreesboro, TN | General Support | $54,200 |
| Crossroads Bible Chapel Dartmouth, MA | General Support | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The organization operates with a staff of 5 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Keller | Risk Officer | 1 | — |
| Robert Sullivan | President & CEO | 40 | $115,507 |
| Samuel Thorpe Jr | Vice Chairman | 0.2 | — |
| Walkter Skip Elliott | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| William Coyle | Chairman & Assistant Secretary | 2 | — |
| John Peasland | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Paul Bonner | Director | 0.2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2250 Chaney Road Dubuque, Iowa 52001-2913
Phone: (888) 338-7810
Email: info@bssmatters.com
Website: www.legacyministryservices.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Believers Stewardship Services Inc fund?
The organization's mission is to glorify God in fulfilling biblical stewardship by assisting Christians to accomplish their financial and estate planning goals and by supporting local New Testament churches and associated ministries with financial and governance-related matters. Primary service areas include: • Rendering donor-advised fund and other fund management services to individuals, trusts/estates, and active or dissolved churches/ministries • Providing estate planning services, includin…
How do I apply for a grant from Believers Stewardship Services Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $3,669,299 (2024) • Number of grants: 51 (2024) • Median grant amount: $20,000 • Grant range: $6,000 to $924,000 • Giving rate: 13.8% of assets **Application Policy:** The organization does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Funding Focus:** Grant-making priorities include Education, Philanthropy/Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Where does Believers Stewardship Services Inc make grants?
Primary grantmaking activity occurs in Florida, Tennessee, and Washington.
What size grants does Believers Stewardship Services Inc award?
In 2024, Believers Stewardship Services Inc awarded 51 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $63K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Believers Stewardship Services Inc's EIN?
Believers Stewardship Services Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1782614. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Believers Stewardship Services Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Main Street Fort Dodge Inc
FORT DODGE, IA
Assets
$315K
Grants
1
Total Given
$25K
John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust
VINTON, IA
Assets
—
Grants
18
Total Given
$22K
Daniel J & Ann L Krumm Charitable Trus
AMES, IA
Assets
—
Grants
21
Total Given
$228K
Barbara Jean Couturier Charitable T
DAVENPORT, IA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Change Happens Foundation
URBANDALE, IA
Assets
$17.8M
Grants
12
Total Given
$255K
The Joseph Andres Family Foundation
OKOBOJI, IA
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$7K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Believers Stewardship Services Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Believers Stewardship Services Inc to a real strategy.