The Second Step Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Established in 2015, it operates as a corporate foundation of Interstate Companies Inc (based in Bloomington, MN). The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses on philanthropic giving to address hunger across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$300K
+3.4% YoY
Grant Count
27
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+3.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Second Step Foundation primarily funds program support to reduce hunger. The foundation operates with a geographic focus spanning multiple states including Arizona, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Second Step Foundation funds organizations across 14 states, with particular emphasis on:
- Arizona
- California
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,152,316
- Total Revenues: $770,697
- Total Expenses: $302,240
- Total Grants Awarded: $300,000
- Grants and Contributions: $725,300
- Investment Income and Dividends: $45,397
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,683,859
- Total Revenues: $590,067
- Total Expenses: $291,840
The foundation has demonstrated consistent growth, with assets increasing 2.6% year-over-year and grant contributions increasing 29.4% from 2023 to 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
127 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Great Plains Food Bank ($30,000), Feeding South Dakota ($20,000), The Open Door ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE OPEN DOOR EAGAN, MN | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| CROSS SERVICES ROGERS, MN | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| ROCORI AREA FOOD SHELF COLD SPRINGS, MN | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| NORTHEAST IOWA FOOD BANK - CEDAR VALLEY FOOD PANTRY WATERLOO, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| RIVER BEND FOOD BANK DAVENPORT, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF IOWA DES MOINES, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF SIOUXLAND SIOUX CITY, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| NOTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK GENEVA, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| ROCK RIVER VALLEY PANTRY ROCKFORD, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF NW INDIANA MERRIVILLE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO REDUCE HUNGER | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Travis Penrod — Chair
- Debra Penrod — Director of the Foundation
All board members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRAVIS PENROD | CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| DEBRA PENROD | DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION | 0.5 | — |
| AARON M JOHANSEN | DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| MARY JOHANSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BRITTANY DOMIER | DIRECTOR, CO-LEAD OF FOOD SHELF VALID | 0.5 | — |
| DANA DOMIER | DIRECTOR, CO-LEAD OF FOOD SHELF VALID | 0.5 | — |
| SAMANTHA RAINS | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| BENJAMIN RAINS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Second Step Foundation has made significant commitments to hunger relief efforts, donating $300,000 to support food banks and hunger-relief organizations across 14 states. The foundation has also made additional emergency donations during periods of government funding disruptions to ensure continued support for hunger-relief programs.
Second Step Foundation Donates $300,000 to Help Fight Hunger across 14 StatesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Second Step Foundation fund?
The Second Step Foundation primarily funds **program support to reduce hunger**. The foundation operates with a geographic focus spanning multiple states including Arizona, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
How do I apply for a grant from The Second Step Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 27 grants in 2024 • Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $30,000 • Recent grantees include: • Great Plains Food Bank ($30,000 for program support to reduce hunger) • Feeding South Dakota ($20,000 for program support to reduce hunger) • Great Falls Community Food Bank ($10,000 for program support to reduce hunger) **Application Process:** The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does The Second Step Foundation make grants?
The Second Step Foundation funds organizations across 14 states, with particular emphasis on: • Arizona • California • Iowa • Illinois • Indiana • Kansas • Minnesota • Montana • North Dakota • South Dakota • Wisconsin • Wyoming
What size grants does The Second Step Foundation award?
In 2024, The Second Step Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $300K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Second Step Foundation's EIN?
The Second Step Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2198379. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Second Step 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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