Steffens Foundation
Steffens Foundation is a private foundation based in Pullman, Washington. In 2024, it reported 46 grants totaling $1,580,000 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, humanitarian response, social services, and other areas.
Steffens Foundation at a glance
In short: Steffens Foundation gave $1.6M across 46 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), top state Florida. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,580,000
- -4.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 46
- -8.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,348
- +4.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,000
- Total assets
- $4,051,792
- -20.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (5 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Florida (27% 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 Steffens Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 455, Pullman, WA 99163
Phone: (312) 557-3212
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Steffens Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cross International ($227K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $907K.
Grant Size Distribution
232 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 182 grants of 232 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (27%), Washington (25%), Idaho (13%), New York (10%), and Colorado (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Steffens Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 43 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 641% 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 $412K (2020) to $1.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 46 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Catholic Outreach Boca Raton, FL | General Operating | $200,000 |
| Cross International Pompano Beach, FL | General Operating | $127,000 |
| Cross International Pompano Beach, FL | Emergency Relief Fund | $100,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Operating | $75,000 |
| Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery Spokane, WA | General Operating | $75,000 |
| Walla Walla Community College Foundation Walla Walla, WA | General Operating | $60,000 |
| Alternatives to Violence Moscow, ID | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Lewis Clark Valley Lewiston, ID | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington Spokane, WA | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Fort Hays State University Hays, KS | Science and Math Summer Camps | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Steffens Foundation?
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 | $4,051,792 | $603,102 | $1,632,618 | $1,580,000 | 46 | $1,580,000 | $565,101 | $246,334 |
| 2023 | $5,099,781 | $1,868,732 | $1,732,310 | $1,645,000 | 50 | $1,645,000 | $2,120,359 | $258,098 |
| 2022 | $4,949,956 | $511,263 | $1,143,655 | $1,079,333 | 40 | $1,079,333 | $462,412 | $347,526 |
| 2021 | $5,582,348 | $781,488 | $1,756,070 | $1,683,000 | 60 | $1,683,000 | $782,451 | $436,919 |
| 2020 | $6,554,795 | $270,536 | $489,145 | $412,000 | 36 | — | $332,271 | $401,248 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steffens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $246K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own missions include student access and educational excellence, humanitarian response, homelessness services, and interactive STEAM exploration. For example, Walla Walla Community College Foundation describes its mission as supporting student access and educational excellence at the college; the International Rescue Committee describes its work as responding to humanitarian crises and helping people affected by conflict and disaster; and Union Gospel Mission describes its mission as helping people move from homelessness to wholeness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 46 grants totaling $1,580,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $23,000. The largest awards included $200,000 to Cross Catholic Outreach for general operating support; $127,000 to Cross International for general operating support; $100,000 to Cross International for its Emergency Relief Fund; and $75,000 each to Doctors Without Borders and Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, both for general operating support. Other notable grants included $60,000 to Walla Walla Community College Foundation for general operating support and $50,000 each to Alternatives to Violence, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lewis Clark Valley, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, Fort Hays State University, Idaho Food Bank, and the International Rescue Committee. The Fort Hays State University grant supported Science and Math Summer Camps; the other listed grants were for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary S Schweitzer as President, Stephanie L Schweitzer as Vice President, Edmund A Schweitzer as Secretary, and Paul A Schweitzer as Treasurer.
Steffens Foundation is led by Mary S Schweitzer, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary S Schweitzer
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edmund A Schweitzer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul A Schweitzer
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie L Schweitzer
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Steffens Foundation
How much does Steffens Foundation give each year?
Steffens Foundation gave $1.6M across 46 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 50 grants.
What is Steffens Foundation's typical grant size?
Steffens Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $23,000, and its average grant was $34,348, across 46 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Steffens Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Steffens Foundation give grants?
Steffens Foundation's top state is Florida, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Washington (25%) and Idaho (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pullman, WA (6 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Spokane, WA (3 grants) and Boulder, CO (3 grants).
Does Steffens Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Steffens Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Steffens Foundation's largest grantees?
Steffens Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cross International ($227,000 across 2 grants), Cross Catholic Outreach ($200,000) and Doctors Without Borders ($95,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Steffens Foundation?
Steffens Foundation reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $246K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Steffens Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own missions include student access and educational excellence, humanitarian response, homelessness services, and interactive STEAM exploration. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Steffens Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Steffens Foundation's EIN?
Steffens Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2420941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Steffens Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Steffens Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Washington
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Seattle Foundation
Seattle, WA
Seattle Foundation supports community-led solutions, racial and economic equity, policy and systems change, and a broad range of community needs through donor-recommended and foundation-directed grants. Its 2024 median grant was $6,000, and its giving primarily serves Greater Seattle and Washington, with some grants made nationally and internationally.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
5,379
Total Given
$177.9M
Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA
The Gates Foundation funds work to reduce disease and poverty, improve health and gender equality in lower-income countries, and support education and economic mobility in the United States, especially Washington State; it works in more than 140 countries. Its 2024 grants had a median of $500,000, with awards ranging from $1 to $350.5 million. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals, but periodically offers opportunities through published requests for proposals.
Assets
$78.7B
Grants
4,974
Total Given
$6.3B
M J Murdock Charitable Trust
Vancouver, WA
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust funds nonprofit capacity-building and projects in arts and culture, civic and community services, education, health and environmental stewardship, and scientific research across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Its 2024 median grant was $87,000, with awards ranging from $4,000 to about $1.55 million. Eligible organizations can submit a Letter of Inquiry; full applications are by invitation.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
797
Total Given
$116.6M
The Avista Foundation
Spokane, WA
The Avista Foundation supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in education, basic needs and poverty, and economic and cultural vitality. Its 2025 grants had a median of $1,000, though awards ranged from $20 to $350,000, and it serves communities in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, parts of southern Oregon, Sanders County, Montana, and Juneau, Alaska.
Assets
$10.6M
Grants
577
Total Given
$2.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Washington
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Steffens Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/steffens-foundation-morg_f093aa4cbf8a4df586ca203bf7ce02dc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202420941_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Steffens Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/steffens-foundation-morg_f093aa4cbf8a4df586ca203bf7ce02dc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Steffens Foundation'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.
Steffens Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?