In His Steps Foundation
In His Steps Foundation is a Christian community foundation headquartered in Independence, Ohio. Founded in 1998, the organization empowers charitable givers, equips nonprofit fundraisers, and supports financial advisors through biblically responsible investing practices. The foundation serves as a repository for capital invested for distribution to ministries proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and other charitable causes.
Key facts about In His Steps Foundation
- EIN
- 31-1512682
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Total assets
- $45,389,579
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Is In His Steps Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 37 of 97 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $17K repeat.
- 49% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2022). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with In His Steps Foundation
- How to evaluate In His Steps Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to In His Steps Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.4M
+2.8% YoY
Revenue
$7.9M
-5.3% YoY
Net Investment Income
$2.9M
+121.8% YoY
Expenses
$8.5M
-57.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To encourage and teach Christlike stewardship which becomes the basis for personal giving and estate planning; to also provide a prudently managed repository for capital, invested for the purpose of distribution to ministries proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Religion-related fund raising and fund distribution
- Helping individuals discover God's plan of stewardship for their wealth
- Assisting families in starting and using family foundation funds for Christian philanthropy
- Supporting churches and ministries in starting and growing endowments
- Teaching biblical stewardship through public meetings and private counseling
- Administering planned future gifts that provide tax-wise benefits to donors
- Making grants to carefully selected Christian ministries, particularly in northeastern Ohio
Grantmaking
In His Steps Foundation distributes approximately $7,000,000 annually to nonprofit organizations, churches, and ministries. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
** $5,003 to $1,941,131
Ready to take the next step with In His Steps Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in northeastern Ohio, though grantmaking also extends to Florida and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $45,389,579
- Total revenues: $7,875,353
- Total expenses: $8,515,378
- Annual distributions: Approximately $7,000,000
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $44,200,000
- Total revenues: $8,320,000
- Total expenses: $19,800,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,389,579 | $44,171,063 | $51,823,951 |
| Revenue | $7,875,353 | $8,319,605 | $16,754,413 |
| Expenses | $8,515,378 | $19,846,145 | $9,868,047 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,910,505 | $1,312,408 | $187,129 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
337 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ben Lee - President
The organization employs 3 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Alder | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Carolyn Beckett | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Robert Davis | Trustee | 1 | — |
| John Duross | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Tim Geisse | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jerry Petek | Trustee | 1 | — |
| John Warner | Board Chair | 1 | — |
| Benjamin Lee | President | 40 | $140,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does In His Steps Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** To encourage and teach Christlike stewardship which becomes the basis for personal giving and estate planning; to also provide a prudently managed repository for capital, invested for the purpose of distribution to ministries proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Religion-related fund raising and fund distribution • Helping individuals discover God's plan of stewardship for their wealth • Assisting families in starting and using family foundat…
How do I apply for a grant from In His Steps Foundation?
In His Steps Foundation distributes approximately $7,000,000 annually to nonprofit organizations, churches, and ministries. Recent grant activity shows: • **Total giving (2024):** $7,892,184 • **Typical grant range:** $5,003 to $1,941,131 • **Recent grants:** $40,000 to Streams International Foundation (2023) The foundation partners with legal, Christian foundations, and other collaborative resources to support its grantmaking efforts.
Where does In His Steps Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in northeastern Ohio, though grantmaking also extends to Florida and California.
What is In His Steps Foundation's EIN?
In His Steps Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1512682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in In His Steps Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Assets
$939.7M
Grants
2,565
Total Given
$84.6M
Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral
Columbus, OH
Assets
$12.8M
Grants
5,308
Total Given
$279.7M
Columbus Foundation
Columbus, OH
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
1,747
Total Given
$242.7M
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
The Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland, OH
Assets
$3.3B
Grants
1,016
Total Given
$184.2M
The Scripps Howard Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
Assets
$69.4M
Grants
819
Total Given
$7.4M
Nisource Charitable Foundation
Columbus, OH
Assets
$43.0M
Grants
683
Total Given
$7.5M
Dayton Foundation Depository
Dayton, OH
Assets
$43.0M
Grants
633
Total Given
$20.5M
The Dayton Foundation
Dayton, OH
Assets
$649.6M
Grants
497
Total Given
$34.0M
Premier Bank Foundation
Canfield, OH
Assets
$10.6M
Grants
461
Total Given
$1.4M
The Wm M & a Cafaro Family Foundation
Niles, OH
Assets
—
Grants
432
Total Given
$1.4M
More Funders in Ohio
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.