Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Canton, Ohio. It supports charitable religious and religious education purposes, with 2025 grants going to organizations in Ohio and several other states.
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation gave $2.9M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $262K), mostly in Ohio. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,879,000
- +65.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +120.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $261,727
- -24.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $8,432,766
- +110.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests: its filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Requests should be submitted in writing to John C Bartley. Grants are generally restricted to charitable religious or religious education purposes and eligible charitable organizations, except under unusual circumstances.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: John C Bartley
Mailing address: PO Box 80258, Canton, OH 44708
Phone: (330) 417-2652
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Policy Roundtable ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 31 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went primarily to Ohio recipients (66%), followed by Texas (17%), Georgia (9%), Alabama (3%), and California (2%). Other listed grants went to recipients in Colorado, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $79K; repeat grants $481K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $107K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 1040% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2021) to $2.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Policy Roundtable Strongsville, OH | General Support | $1,650,000 |
| First Liberty Plano, TX | General Support | $500,000 |
| Maxwell Leadership Foundation Duluth, GA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Choose Life Radio Network Canton, OH | General Support | $107,000 |
| Compass North Church Akron, OH | General Support | $100,000 |
| Highlands College Birmingham, AL | General Support | $100,000 |
| Harvest Christian Fellowship Riverside, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| TOPUCU Foundation Avon Lake, OH | General Support | $50,000 |
| United in Purpose Colorado Springs, CO | General Support | $50,000 |
| General Council - Assemblies of God Springfield, MO | General Support | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Steps Ahead Charitable Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,432,766 | $7,311,143 | $2,890,275 | $2,879,000 | 11 | $2,880,379 | $145,451 | $191,201 |
| 2024 | $4,011,898 | $3,502,598 | $1,746,125 | $1,735,000 | 5 | $1,735,000 | $221,997 | $106,281 |
| 2023 | $2,255,425 | $1,993,613 | $985,128 | $980,000 | 6 | $980,000 | $12,944 | $34,678 |
| 2022 | $1,246,940 | $1,252,698 | $258,877 | $252,557 | 6 | $255,864 | $1,952 | $16,036 |
| 2021 | $253,119 | $140,187 | $178,617 | $175,000 | 3 | $176,022 | $38,701 | $12,616 |
| 2020 | $291,549 | $257,389 | $605,818 | $600,000 | 6 | — | $42,291 | $21,737 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $191K for 2025 — 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 stated mission is to bring “Faith, Hope and Love” to people needing a brighter day, emphasizing God’s word, salvation through Jesus, giving back, and putting God’s love into action through biblical generosity.
According to its 2025 filing, grants are awarded—except under unusual circumstances—exclusively for charitable religious or religious education purposes to organizations qualified under IRC Section 501(c)(3) and to public charities under 501(A)(1), (2), or (3). Among its grantees, Choose Life Radio Network describes its mission as encouraging and educating from a biblical worldview, with a focus on the sanctity of human life from conception. Maxwell Leadership Foundation describes its mission as a values-based, evidence-driven, collaborative process of transformation intended to address a global leadership deficit.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $2,879,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $1,650,000, with a median of $100,000.
Notable grants included $1,650,000 to American Policy Roundtable in Strongsville, Ohio; $500,000 to First Liberty in Plano, Texas; $250,000 to Maxwell Leadership Foundation in Duluth, Georgia; $107,000 to Choose Life Radio Network in Canton, Ohio; and $100,000 each to Compass North Church in Akron, Ohio, and Highlands College in Birmingham, Alabama. All were listed for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John C Bartley as president, Karen S Bartley as treasurer, and Thomas W Winkhart as secretary.
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation is led by John C Bartley, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John C Bartley
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen S Bartley
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas W Winkhart
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation
How much does Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation give each year?
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation gave $2.9M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 5 grants.
What is Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $261,727, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation that year got $79K on average.
Where does Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation give grants?
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (17%) and Georgia (9%).
Does Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Policy Roundtable ($1,650,000), First Liberty ($500,000) and Maxwell Leadership Foundation ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation?
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation reported $8.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $191K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to bring “Faith, Hope and Love” to people needing a brighter day, emphasizing God’s word, salvation through Jesus, giving back, and putting God’s love into action through biblical generosity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests: its filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's EIN?
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4754425. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 September 2026.
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 August 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Corinne L Dodero Foundation
Cleveland, OH
The foundation supports organizations working in disability services, health care, arts and cultural preservation, equine-assisted services, heritage, faith-based stewardship, and youth development, primarily in Ohio. Its 2026 grants ranged from $500 to $60,000, with a median of $3,000. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$8.1M
Grants
52
Total Given
$437K
The Venner Family Foundation
Wadsworth, OH
The Venner Family Foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including those in arts, education, health, social services, and public policy, with most 2025 grant dollars going to Ohio organizations. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$6.0M
Grants
38
Total Given
$348K
William and Marie Molnar Foundation Corp
Bloomfield Hills, MI
The William and Marie Molnar Foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, with most of its giving going to Michigan; its 2025 grants also reached organizations in New Jersey, Arizona, and Iowa. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $35,000, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.3M
Grants
28
Total Given
$309K
Christ Foundation
Hartville, OH
The Christ Foundation funds 501(c)(3) organizations working in community development, education, health, and human services, with an emphasis on children and families in need. It serves Ohio and surrounding states; its 2024 grants ranged from $270 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts requests through an online application, with deadlines in March, June, and September.
Assets
$71.1M
Grants
189
Total Given
$4.4M
CSO Inc
Troy, MI
CSO INC supports charitable organizations, including those working in housing, homelessness, and emergency shelter. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $36,500, with a median of $5,000, and went mainly to Michigan, with additional funding in Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, and Alaska. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
13
Total Given
$100K
The Irving and Geraldine Schaffer
Scarsdale, NY
The Irving and Geraldine Schaffer supports organizations working in areas including youth leadership, community services, public media, civic participation, justice, and education; its 2024 grants ranged from $209 to $50,000, with a median of $3,000. It funded organizations in multiple states, with 56% of grant dollars going to New York. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.1M
Grants
73
Total Given
$493K
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/steps-ahead-charitable-family-foundation-morg_5a214bd8ae2040679c4ccafd131c9377
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814754425_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/steps-ahead-charitable-family-foundation-morg_5a214bd8ae2040679c4ccafd131c9377},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Steps Ahead Charitable Family 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.
Steps Ahead Charitable Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?