Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awards grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits in communities where Steel Dynamics, Inc. and its subsidiaries have employees, with the stated goal of enhancing quality of life and improving local economies.
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc gave $2.5M across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $119K), mostly in Indiana. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,492,500
- +22.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $118,690
- -12.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $11,398,214
- -10.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (4 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website directs organizations to complete its eligibility questionnaire. Its filing states that applicants must be qualified exempt organizations under IRC Section 501(c)(3) in communities where Steel Dynamics, Inc. or its subsidiaries have employees. The application form instructs organizations to send a request with their 501(c)(3) letter to a local Steel Dynamics facility. Local facility management reviews requests and may forward them to the foundation; if the facility supports a request, the foundation emails an application, which the organization completes and returns with financial information. The website says local facility managers recommend organizations and may refer requests to Steel Dynamics, Inc. if they are better suited to a company donation.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the foundation’s 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the foundation’s 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Polly Workman
Mailing address: 7575 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 969-3500
Website: https://steeldynamicsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc
Who Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Trine University ($1.4M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 98 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it serves communities where its employees live and work. In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to Indiana recipients, 4% to Tennessee, 1% to West Virginia, and 1% to Pennsylvania. Examples include grants to Fort Wayne and Angola, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Huntington, West Virginia; and Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 19 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $103K; repeat grants $139K. How we count
Medians: $81K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 86% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 413% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2022) to $2.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trine University Angola, IN | College of Health Professions | $1,000,000 |
| Trine University Angola, IN | New Engineering Wing | $300,000 |
| Fort Wayne Zoo Fort Wayne, IN | Bamboo Adventure | $200,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club Fort Wayne, IN | New Busses | $150,000 |
| Junior Achievement Fort Wayne, IN | Ja Next/ Legacy Park | $100,000 |
| National Ornamental Metal Museum Memphis, TN | Spark Expansion Campaign | $100,000 |
| Trine University Angola, IN | Scholarships | $85,000 |
| Arts United Fort Wayne, IN | Actor's House & Green Room | $62,500 |
| Turnstone Fort Wayne, IN | Sustainability for the Future | $60,000 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne, IN | Patriotic Pops Concert Series | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,398,214 | $1,532,916 | $2,116,287 | $2,492,500 | 21 | $2,492,500 | $1,482,485 | $603,555 |
| 2023 | $12,668,761 | $900,926 | $663,016 | $2,035,000 | 15 | $2,035,000 | $858,709 | $610,701 |
| 2022 | $12,738,537 | $270,451 | $4,234,509 | $1,181,406 | 18 | $1,181,406 | $211,377 | $687,325 |
| 2021 | $15,235,262 | $10,714,086 | $436,406 | $1,342,500 | 21 | $1,342,500 | $430,395 | $455,119 |
| 2020 | $5,789,464 | $1,374,447 | $1,563,418 | $1,810,000 | 23 | — | $585,586 | $297,532 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $604K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s primary goal is to enhance quality of life and improve local economies where its employees live and work. Its stated priorities are higher education; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); finance and business; economic and community development; and human services. It connects post-secondary education and economic development with a better-educated workforce, stronger economies, and improved living standards. For human services, it considers organizations with significant community impact, broad reach, and access to people with substantial needs.
Its 2024 grants illustrate support for education, community facilities, arts, and human services. For example, Science Central describes its mission as providing hands-on science education for people of all ages. IRIS Family Support Center says it works to protect children, prepare parents, strengthen families, and educate the community to prevent child abuse and neglect. The Fort Wayne Museum of Art says it collects, preserves, and presents American and related art to engage and educate regional audiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $2,492,500. Grant amounts ranged from $20,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $50,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $1,000,000 to Trine University for its College of Health Professions, $300,000 to Trine University for a new engineering wing, $200,000 to Fort Wayne Zoo for Bamboo Adventure, and $150,000 to Boys and Girls Club for new buses. Other awards included $100,000 to Junior Achievement for JA Next/Legacy Park and $100,000 to the National Ornamental Metal Museum for its Spark Expansion Campaign. Trine University also received $85,000 for scholarships.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Theresa E Wagler as President/SE, Richard A Poinsatte as FND Admin/TR, and Mark D Millett and James Marcuccilli as directors.
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc is led by Theresa E. Wagler, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Theresa E. Wagler
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James Marcuccilli
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mark D. Millett
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard A. Poinsatte
Fnd Administrator
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Keith E. Busse (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc
How much does Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc give each year?
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc gave $2.5M across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 15 grants.
What is Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $118,690, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc that year got $103K on average.
Where does Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc give grants?
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (14 grants) and Angola, IN (3 grants).
Does Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Trine University ($1,385,000 across 3 grants), Fort Wayne Zoo ($200,000) and Boys and Girls Club ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc?
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc reported $11.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $604K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s primary goal is to enhance quality of life and improve local economies where its employees live and work. Its stated priorities are higher education; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); finance and business; economic and community development; and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website directs organizations to complete its eligibility questionnaire. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's EIN?
Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3012038. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/steel-dynamics-foundation-inc-morg_b226448c0f304d0fbfd1fccfe18bc8e8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263012038_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/steel-dynamics-foundation-inc-morg_b226448c0f304d0fbfd1fccfe18bc8e8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Steel Dynamics Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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