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Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Fort Lauderdale, FL EIN: 31-1706311 Website

The Festus & Helen Stacy Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, established in 1980. It partners with Christian organizations worldwide through collaborative, strategic, and relational giving, with stated geographic investment areas of South Florida—with an emphasis on Broward County—national work, and international work, primarily in emerging nations.

Key facts about Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc

In short: Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc gave $2.5M across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $73K), mostly in Florida. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
31-1706311
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$2,497,757
Grants made (2024)
34
Average grant
$73,463
Median grant
$50,000
New grantees (estimate)
32% first-time grantees (11 of 34, 2024)
Total assets
$57,892,337
Primary geography
Florida (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its stated application policy. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$57.9M

+8.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.5M

+43.9% YoY

Grant Count

34

+21.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$73K

+18.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc open to new grantees?

32%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 11 of 34 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $92K; repeat grants $65K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $34K repeat.

  • 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s mission is to partner with Christian organizations worldwide that have demonstrated the ability to make a lasting impact by helping others and extending the love, mercy, and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Its grants typically support ministries working in evangelism and church planting, leadership development, holistic ministries, media and technology, stewardship, and children and youth. The foundation describes holistic ministries as serving people’s physical and spiritual needs, including people who are imprisoned, enslaved, orphaned, widowed, homeless, or disabled.

Examples of grantees’ work include Hope South Florida, whose stated mission is to provide hope for homeless and hurting people through housing, case management, support services, and strategic alliances; Asian Partners International, which says it supports church-planting movements in limited- and restricted-access countries; and Strategic Global Assistance, which says it supports leader development in various countries. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 34 grants totaling $2,497,757. Grant amounts ranged from $1,225 to $433,333, with a median grant of $50,000. Among the largest awards were $433,333 to Hope South Florida, $333,744 to Compassion International, $333,333 to First Baptist Fort Lauderdale, $191,000 to Cross International, and $182,000 to National Christian Foundation of South Florida. The filing listed each of these grants as being for the recipient’s qualified purposes.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation identifies South Florida, with an emphasis on Broward County; national work with national impact; and international work, primarily in emerging nations, as its geographic investment areas. In 2024, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida, followed by Colorado (13%), Georgia (6%), North Carolina (5%), and Michigan (4%).

Grant Distribution by State

20states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.

Cities

Fort LauderdaleMiamiDaviePompano BeachColorado SpringsDeerfield BeachCarol StreamNew OrleansAlpharettaBoca RatonBooneDania BeachElkhartGrand RapidsLubbockMariettaMechanicsburgOrlandoParklandPhoenix

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M36 grants2021 37 grants2022 28 grants2023 34 grants2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2023) to $2.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $2.5M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Hope South Florida Inc: $433KHope South Florida Inc$433KCompassion International: $334KCompassion International$334KFirst Baptist Fort Lauderdale: $333KFirst Baptist Fort Lauderdale$333KCross International Inc: $191KCross International Inc$191KNational Christian Foundation of South Florida: $182KNational Christian Foundationof South Florida$182KEvery Mother's Advocate: $100KEvery Mother's Advocate$100KOur Daily Bread Ministries Foundation: $100KOur Daily Bread MinistriesFoundation$100KHaggai International Institute for Advanced Leadership Training Inc: $98KHaggai International Institutefor Advanced Leadership…$98KNational World War II Museum Inc: $83KNational World War II MuseumInc$83KEmbracing God Ministries Inc: $64KEmbracing God Ministries Inc$64K

The largest 2024 recipient was Hope South Florida Inc ($433K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.

Grant Size Distribution

135 grants across all recorded years

74<$50K34$50–100K20$100–250K6$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 135 (55%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Hope South Florida Inc Fort Lauderdale, FLTo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$433,333
Compassion International Colorado Springs, COTo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$333,744
First Baptist Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FLTo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$333,333
Cross International Inc Pompano Beach, FLTo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$191,000
National Christian Foundation of South Florida Fort Lauderdale, FLTo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$182,000
Every Mother's Advocate North Lauderdale, FLTo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$100,000
Our Daily Bread Ministries Foundation Grand Rapids, MITo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$100,000
Haggai International Institute for Advanced Leadership Training Inc Peachtree Corners, GATo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$98,000
National World War II Museum Inc New Orleans, LATo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$83,333
Embracing God Ministries Inc Virginia Beach, VATo be used for qualified purposes of the organization.$64,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $57,892,337 $1,983,454 $4,378,074 $2,497,757
2023 $53,475,807 $2,148,616 $3,306,050 $1,735,190
2022 $54,026,289 $2,620,036 $3,558,632 $2,074,764
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$57,892,337$53,475,807$54,026,289
Revenue$1,983,454$2,148,616$2,620,036
Expenses$4,378,074$3,306,050$3,558,632
Qualifying Distributions$3,285,638$2,491,879$2,758,544
Net Investment Income$1,570,579$1,654,193$2,077,719
Distributable Amount$2,666,930$2,608,612$2,752,320

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Douglas A. Stepelton as president; Virlee S. Stepelton as secretary/treasurer; and Sean D. Stepelton and Brett S. Stepelton as directors and vice presidents.

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc is led by Douglas A. Stepelton, President on every filing since 2021; all 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Douglas A. Stepelton

    President

    On filings since 2021

    30 hrs/week

    $63K (2021) → $78K (2024)

  • Brett S. Stepelton

    Director & Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    45 hrs/week

    $210K (2021) → $244K (2024)

  • Sean D. Stepelton

    Director & Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    45 hrs/week

    $210K (2021) → $246K (2024)

  • Virlee S. Stepelton

    Sec'y & Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    $18K (2023) → $64K (2024)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Sean D Stepelton — DIRECTOR,VP: $246KSean D StepeltonDIRECTOR,VP$246KBrett S Stepelton — DIRECTOR,VP: $244KBrett S StepeltonDIRECTOR,VP$244KDouglas a Stepelton — President: $78KDouglas a StepeltonPresident$78KVirlee S Stepelton — Sec'y/Treas.: $64KVirlee S StepeltonSec'y/Treas.$64K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $246K, to Sean D Stepelton (DIRECTOR,VP). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 5110 N Federal Highway 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Phone: (954) 776-3386
Website: https://stacy.cc

Frequently asked questions about Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc

How much does Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc give each year?

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc gave $2.5M across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 28 grants.

What is Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's typical grant size?

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $73,463, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc that year got $92K on average.

Where does Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc give grants?

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc gives mostly in Florida: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (13%) and Georgia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Lauderdale, FL (10 grants), Davie, FL (2 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants).

Does Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Be Used for Qualified Purposes of the Organization." (34 grants).

Who are Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's largest grantees?

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's largest 2024 grantees include Hope South Florida Inc ($433,333), Compassion International ($333,744) and First Baptist Fort Lauderdale ($333,333), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc?

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc reported $57.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc fund?

The foundation’s mission is to partner with Christian organizations worldwide that have demonstrated the ability to make a lasting impact by helping others and extending the love, mercy, and teachings of Jesus Christ. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, according to its stated application policy. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's EIN?

Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1706311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Does Festus & Helen Stacy Foundationinc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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