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.
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
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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 | — | — | — |
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
150 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 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
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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