Big Step Inc
To train technical skills and develop skills for adults and youth to acquire careers in the construction and building trades.
Big Step Inc at a glance
In short: Big Step Inc gave $255K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $255K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $255,200
- -27.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $255,200
- -27.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $255,200
- Total assets
- $1,180,204
- +39.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Big Step Inc
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Big Step Inc
Ascendium Education Group Grant - Apprenticeship Pathway Expansion
Big Step Inc
Amount
$10 million
Deadline
Deadline not published
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Training Grant
Big Step Inc
Amount
$1.6 million
Deadline
Deadline not published
Great Lakes ReNEW - NSF Regional Innovation Engine (Workforce Development Component)
Big Step Inc
Amount
Portion of $160 million NSF award over 10 years
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Big Step Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was WRTP Inc ($255K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Big Step Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $223K (2020) to $382K (2019). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $255K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WRTP Inc Milwaukee, WI | Employment and Training | $255,200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,180,204 | $737,070 | $696,300 | $255,200 | 1 | $23,803 |
| 2023 | $847,736 | $607,857 | $355,079 | $351,237 | 1 | $5,524 |
| 2022 | $541,666 | $451,288 | $342,114 | $338,202 | 1 | $1,246 |
| 2021 | $432,492 | $326,658 | $257,528 | $256,379 | 1 | $29 |
| 2020 | $363,362 | $351,681 | $227,522 | $222,504 | 1 | $243 |
| 2019 | $255,145 | $387,686 | $386,301 | $381,549 | 1 | $1,624 |
About Big Step Inc
Based on IRS filings
Big Step Inc is a public charity, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $255K. Net investment income was $24K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Big Step Inc is led by Lindsay Blumer, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lindsay Blumer
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Kowalski
Chairman
Director → Co-Chair, 2023
Co-Chair → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Breitlow
Chairman
Director → Co-Chair, 2023
Co-Chair → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Bukiewicz
Director
Co-Chair → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Hurt
Director
Director → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kessenich
Director
President & CEO → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Neira
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannie Lauret
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kilah Engelke
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dajen Bohacek
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Toni White
COO
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Robert Rayburn (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Scott Bartz (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Matthew Waltz (2019–2021) — CFO & COO
- Former: Nathan Jurowski (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sheila Cochran (2020–2021) — Interim President & CEO
- Former: Anthony Rainey (2021) — Co-Chair
- Former: Pat Stiff (2021) — Co-Chair
- Former: Ross Winklbauer (2021) — Officer Liason
- Former: Stephanie Bloomingdale (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Big Step Inc
How much does Big Step Inc give each year?
Big Step Inc gave $255K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $351K across 1 grant.
How large is Big Step Inc?
Big Step Inc reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $737K.
Where does Big Step Inc operate?
Big Step Inc has awarded grants in Wisconsin.
What is Big Step Inc's EIN?
Big Step Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0137037. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Wisconsin
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