The Giant Steps Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998 and designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Based in San Francisco, California, the foundation operates with a mission to create a kinder, gentler, and healthier world for all living creatures through strategic philanthropic support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.8M
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-9.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
-27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
+24.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Giant Steps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $727K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was created with a desire to spark others to pursue their dreams and to create a kinder, gentler, and healthier world for all living creatures. It pursues this mission through three primary avenues:
- Environmental Preservation and Education — Supporting conservation and educational initiatives
- Wildlife Advocacy and Domestic Animal Rescue — Defending wild animals and protecting rescued animals
- Human Health, Fitness, and Empowerment — With a focus on underserved populations
The foundation strongly encourages those it supports to engage in sustainable, humane, and caring practices. Specific funding interests include general support, wildlife affected by Australian wildfires, the Virginia Range Wild Horse Darting Program, the Stay Wild Event, and vegan food programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 33 grants in 2024. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $14,840,591
- Total Revenues: $778,354
- Total Expenses: $1,570,995
- Staff: 1 employee
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $15,300,000
- Total Revenues: $2,030,000
- Total Expenses: $1,640,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,840,591 | $15,301,226 | $14,682,172 |
| Revenue | $778,354 | $2,031,405 | $1,965,933 |
| Expenses | $1,570,995 | $1,640,040 | $1,662,534 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,468,699 | $1,548,434 | $1,542,175 |
| Net Investment Income | $683,652 | $1,942,799 | $1,875,574 |
| Distributable Amount | $726,791 | $699,279 | $792,526 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stanford University ($240,000), The Farmlink Project ($150,000), Better Food Foundation ($112,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN WILD HORSE CONSERVATION DAVIS, CA | VIRGINIA RANGE DIVERSIONARY FEED PROGRAM AND PZP DARTING | $72,000 |
| BETTER FOOD FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $112,000 |
| BHUTAN FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | BHUTAN ANIMAL RESCUE, NEW FACILITY AND/OR VET | $35,000 |
| CENTER FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION AND EDUCATION GRASS VALLEY, CA | LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER | $22,000 |
| CHASING HORSES WILD HORSE ADVOCATES DICKINSON, ND | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN PORTSMOUTH, NH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FIXNATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| FLAG RANCH FOUNDATION PASO ROBLES, CA | PLANT-BASED CATERING, HAY AND FEED | $17,900 |
| FLEET OF ANGELS LAKEWOOD, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| INTO THE LIGHT HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY REDWOOD CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $19,700 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Daphne Muehle serves as Vice President of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER LEEDS | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 18 | — |
| DAPHNE MUEHLE | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $107,946 |
Contact Information
- Website: www.giantsteps.org
- Telephone: 650-483-3553
- EIN: 52-2069841
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Giant Steps Foundation fund?
The foundation was created with a desire to spark others to pursue their dreams and to create a kinder, gentler, and healthier world for all living creatures. It pursues this mission through three primary avenues: • **Environmental Preservation and Education** — Supporting conservation and educational initiatives • **Wildlife Advocacy and Domestic Animal Rescue** — Defending wild animals and protecting rescued animals • **Human Health, Fitness, and Empowerment** — With a focus on underserved po…
How do I apply for a grant from The Giant Steps Foundation?
The foundation made 33 grants in 2024. Recent grants include: • Stanford University / The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University — Compassionate Scholar Fund ($240,000) • Farmlink Project — Navajo and Cherokee Plant-Based Food ($150,000) • The Jane Goodall Institute — General Support ($90,090) Total grant distributions in 2024 reached approximately $1.2 million across all grants made.
What size grants does The Giant Steps Foundation award?
In 2024, The Giant Steps Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Giant Steps Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Giant Steps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $727K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Giant Steps Foundation's EIN?
The Giant Steps Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2069841. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Giant 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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