The Giant Steps Foundation
The Giant Steps Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its mission is to create a kinder, gentler, and healthier world for all living beings, and its grantmaking focuses largely on animal welfare, alongside selected interests in environmental protection, social justice, human health, and education.
The Giant Steps Foundation at a glance
In short: The Giant Steps Foundation gave $1.5M across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), top state New Mexico. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,463,505
- +24.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- +15.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $39,554
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,363
- Total assets
- $13,316,489
- -10.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (12 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Giant Steps Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website describes an inquiry process: organizations review the foundation’s values and focus areas, submit a brief inquiry if they believe they are a match, and may be invited to submit a full proposal and supporting materials. The foundation says it collaborates with applicants on acceptable goals if they are directed to submit a proposal.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists July 31, 2019, as a grant application deadline.
- Deadline
- The website lists July 31, 2019, as a grant application deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Hood Strong 275 Battery St 9, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (650) 483-3553
Website: https://giantsteps.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Giant Steps Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was La Planta ($675K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
173 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 136 grants of 173 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New Mexico (46%), California (20%), and the District of Columbia (15%). Other leading recipient states were Massachusetts (6%) and Idaho (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Giant Steps Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 37 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 260% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $587K (2019) to $2.5M (2021). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| La Planta Tijeras, NM | General Support | $675,000 |
| Better Food Foundation (Vegans of LA) Washington, DC | Plant-Based Food | $215,000 |
| Kane's Krusade East Longmeadow, MA | General Support, General Support Matching Grant | $85,124 |
| American Wild Horse Conservation Davis, CA | Diversionary Feed, Wild Horse Roundup Witness, Plant-Based Food | $72,000 |
| Fleet of Angels Lakewood, CO | La Wildfire Support, General Support | $60,000 |
| Fixnation Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Wood River Land Trust Hailey, ID | Hailey Hot Springs Matching Grant | $50,000 |
| Wildcare San Rafael, CA | General Support, Plant-Based Food | $42,500 |
| Into the Light Redwood City, CA | General Support, Vet Expenses | $25,000 |
| Marin Humane Novato, CA | Plant-Based Food, Pen Pals, Wildlife Officer Training | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Giant Steps Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Grant distributions reported by filing year:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,316,489 | $565,551 | $1,851,829 | $1,463,505 | 37 | $1,752,532 | $473,979 | $673,524 |
| 2024 | $14,840,591 | $778,354 | $1,570,995 | $1,173,059 | 32 | $1,468,699 | $683,652 | $726,791 |
| 2023 | $15,301,226 | $2,031,405 | $1,640,040 | $1,297,722 | 44 | $1,548,434 | $1,942,799 | $699,279 |
| 2022 | $14,682,172 | $1,965,933 | $1,662,534 | $1,260,619 | 34 | $1,542,175 | $1,875,574 | $792,526 |
| 2021 | $20,768,083 | $2,844,318 | $2,864,127 | $2,492,912 | 26 | $2,714,253 | $2,743,444 | $1,023,649 |
| 2020 | $20,819,990 | $1,250,712 | $2,480,959 | $2,064,925 | 33 | — | $1,144,824 | $939,074 |
| 2019 | $19,296,621 | $2,540,781 | $937,846 | $587,202 | 21 | — | $2,483,378 | $855,082 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Giant Steps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $674K 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 mission is to create a kinder, gentler, and healthier world where people treat animals and one another with respect, compassion, and love. Its stated focus areas are saving farmed animals, defending wild animals, protecting rescued animals, and helping humans in ways that also help animals. It also identifies environmental protection, fairness in sports, human health, and educational activities that support healthy, well-balanced lives as interests.
The 2025 grants illustrate support for varied organizations and activities. For example, Fleet of Angels received funding for purposes including wildfire support and general support; the organization says it provides emergency grants and services for equines in crisis. FixNation received general support; it describes its work as reducing the population of homeless cats through sterilization and promoting Trap-Neuter-Return. WildCare received support for general purposes and plant-based food; it says it provides wildlife advocacy, education, and medical care for wild animals. Other 2025 grantees included the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, which says it partners rescued dogs with first responders, and Into the Light, which says it provides refuge and restoration for underage female survivors of sexual exploitation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $1,463,505. Grant amounts ranged from $1,018 to $675,000, with a median of $6,363. In 2024, it made 32 grants totaling $1,173,059; in 2023, it made 44 grants totaling $1,297,722.
The largest 2025 grants included $675,000 to La Planta for general support; $215,000 to Better Food Foundation (Vegans of LA) for plant-based food; $85,124 to Kane’s Krusade for general support and a matching grant; and $72,000 to American Wild Horse Conservation for diversionary feed, wild horse roundup witness activities, and plant-based food. Other notable grants included $60,000 to Fleet of Angels, $50,000 to FixNation, and $50,000 to Wood River Land Trust.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer Leeds as president and director, and Daphne Muehle as vice president.
The Giant Steps Foundation is led by Jennifer Leeds, President & Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Leeds
President & Director
On filings since 2019
18 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daphne Muehle
Vice President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$120K (2019) → $131K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $131K, to Daphne Muehle (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about The Giant Steps Foundation
How much does The Giant Steps Foundation give each year?
The Giant Steps Foundation gave $1.5M across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 32 grants.
What is The Giant Steps Foundation's typical grant size?
The Giant Steps Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,363, and its average grant was $39,554, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Giant Steps Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Giant Steps Foundation give grants?
The Giant Steps Foundation's top state is New Mexico, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (20%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hailey, ID (3 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Giant Steps Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 76% of The Giant Steps Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Plant-Based Food" (3 grants).
Who are The Giant Steps Foundation's largest grantees?
The Giant Steps Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include La Planta ($675,000), Better Food Foundation (Vegans of LA) ($215,000) and Kane's Krusade ($85,124), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Giant Steps Foundation?
The Giant Steps Foundation reported $13.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $674K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Giant Steps Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to create a kinder, gentler, and healthier world where people treat animals and one another with respect, compassion, and love. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Giant Steps Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does The Giant Steps Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Giant Steps Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-giant-steps-foundation-morg_74d2b4c4cd8749dda6049e3ae4742d38
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522069841_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Giant Steps Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-giant-steps-foundation-morg_74d2b4c4cd8749dda6049e3ae4742d38},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 The Giant Steps 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.
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