Steele Foundation for Hope
Steele Foundation for Hope is a private foundation, based in Nashua, NH. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $422.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $1.6M.
Steele Foundation for Hope at a glance
In short: Steele Foundation for Hope gave $1.6M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $312K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,558,503
- -59.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -37.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $311,701
- -35.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $421,990,330
- +16.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Steele Foundation for Hope funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Project Life International ($1.0M). Together the top 5 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 12 grants of 34 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Steele Foundation for Hope gives
- Giving fell 79% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 448% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2025) to $9.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Project Life International Boston, MA | Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| Akirachix | Program Support | $250,000 |
| Kickstart International San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $250,000 |
| Zenysis Technologies Inc San Francisco, CA | Program Support | $33,467 |
| Mafami PTY Ltd (Vulva Medical) | Program Support | $25,036 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $421,990,330 | $24,132,436 | $8,028,714 | $1,558,503 | 5 | $39,668,058 | — | $8,857,560 |
| 2024 | $363,001,219 | $6,934,229 | $5,811,478 | $3,854,265 | 8 | $46,439,350 | — | $5,665,434 |
| 2023 | $243,336,912 | $4,958,109 | $10,057,590 | $9,137,415 | 9 | $44,491,083 | — | $5,413,770 |
| 2022 | $146,060,422 | $37,541,151 | $16,956,903 | $7,394,775 | 12 | $56,615,925 | — | $6,765,882 |
| 2021 | $180,038,268 | $175,922,229 | $84,610 | — | — | $58,538 | $69 | $438,891 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steele Foundation for Hope reported a distributable amount of $8.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Steele Foundation for Hope is led by Joe Exner, CEO & Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joe Exner
CEO & Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$50K (2021) → $1M (2025)
Stuart Steele
Founding Director & President
Director → Founding Director & President, 2022
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Art Desaulnier
Director
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chad Gifford
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erinn Steele
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Brodsky
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Steele
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Simone
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Emond
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Curran
Director
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Emond
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Steele
Founding Director
Director → Founding Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Warren
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Exner
Secretary & Treasurer
Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $1.0M, to Joe Exner (CEO and Director).
Frequently asked questions about Steele Foundation for Hope
How much does Steele Foundation for Hope give each year?
Steele Foundation for Hope gave $1.6M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.9M across 8 grants.
What is Steele Foundation for Hope's typical grant size?
Steele Foundation for Hope's median grant in 2025 was $250,000, and its average grant was $311,701, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Steele Foundation for Hope give grants?
Steele Foundation for Hope gives mostly in Massachusetts: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Steele Foundation for Hope give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Steele Foundation for Hope's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (5 grants).
Who are Steele Foundation for Hope's largest grantees?
Steele Foundation for Hope's largest 2025 grantees include Project Life International ($1,000,000), Akirachix ($250,000) and Kickstart International ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Steele Foundation for Hope?
Steele Foundation for Hope reported $422.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $39.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Steele Foundation for Hope's EIN?
Steele Foundation for Hope's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3862042. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Steele Foundation for Hope's focus areas in our free grants database
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