The Second Step Foundation
The Second Step Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It makes grants to charitable organizations, with its current efforts focused on helping address hunger in the communities served by Interstate Companies, Inc.
The Second Step Foundation at a glance
In short: The Second Step Foundation gave $600K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state Iowa. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $600,400
- +100.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- +7.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,703
- +86.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $2,253,549
- +4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (6 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (13% 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 Second Step Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its board reviews nominations from Interstate employees, makes its own recommendations, researches charities, and selects recipients.
- Contact
Mailing address: 117 Portland Ave 302, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (952) 221-1876
Website: https://www.secondstepfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Second Step Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Great Plains Food Bank ($60K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $260K.
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 134 grants of 134 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports organizations in the 30 communities served by Interstate’s branches. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Iowa and North Dakota at 13% each, followed by Montana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin at 10% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Second Step Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 28 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 88% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 475% of 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 $260K (2020) to $600K (2025). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $600K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding South Dakota Sioux Falls, SD | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $40,000 |
| Great Plains Food Bank Bismarck, ND | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $40,000 |
| Billings Food Bank Billings, MT | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Dicsa - Nutritional Services Iron Mountain, MI | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Edible Prairie Project - Summer Weekend Meals for Kids Gillette, WY | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Food Bank of Iowa Des Moines, IA | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Food Bank of Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Food Bank of Siouxland Sioux City, IA | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Food Bank of the Heartland Omaha, NE | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
| Friends in Need Food Shelf Cottage Grove, MN | Program Support to Reduce Hunger | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Second Step 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 | $2,253,549 | $705,008 | $603,775 | $600,400 | 29 | $601,400 | $70,535 | $126,542 |
| 2024 | $2,152,316 | $770,697 | $302,240 | $300,000 | 27 | $300,975 | $35,424 | $106,405 |
| 2023 | $1,683,859 | $590,067 | $291,840 | $290,000 | 27 | $290,940 | $20,847 | $68,041 |
| 2022 | $1,385,632 | $775,023 | $320,215 | $320,000 | 28 | $320,080 | $11,773 | $44,497 |
| 2021 | $930,824 | $499,711 | $270,015 | $270,000 | 23 | $270,000 | $9,691 | $37,556 |
| 2020 | $701,128 | $901,050 | $260,182 | $260,000 | 22 | — | $1,020 | $16,116 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Second Step Foundation reported a distributable amount of $127K 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 assist and support local food shelves and similar charities that help feed people in the communities where Interstate has branch operations. Its stated vision emphasizes collaboration with community organizations that provide assistance and help people address problems at their source.
The foundation’s website says eligible recipients must be registered not-for-profit organizations and not attached to a religious or political organization. Its 2025 filing describes grants as program support to reduce hunger. Examples of grantees’ stated missions include Food Bank of Lincoln’s work to meet emergency food needs across 16 counties in southeast Nebraska, and Montana Food Bank Network’s work to end hunger in Montana through food acquisition and distribution, education, and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $600,400. Awards ranged from $400 to $40,000, with a median grant of $20,000. It reported 27 grants totaling $300,000 in 2024 and 27 grants totaling $290,000 in 2023.
The largest 2025 grants listed were $40,000 each to Feeding South Dakota and Great Plains Food Bank. Other listed awards included $20,000 each to Billings Food Bank, DICSA – Nutritional Services, Edible Prairie Project – Summer Weekend Meals for Kids, Food Bank of Iowa, Food Bank of Lincoln, Food Bank of Siouxland, Food Bank of the Heartland, Friends in Need Food Shelf, Friends with Food, and Great Falls Community Food Bank.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Travis Penrod as chair; Debra Penrod as director of the foundation; Aaron M. Johansen as director and treasurer; Mary Johansen as director; Brittany Domier and Dana Domier as directors and co-leads of Food Shelf Valid; Samantha Rains as director and secretary; and Benjamin Rains as director.
The foundation’s website says board members serve as volunteers without pay or benefits.
The Second Step Foundation is led by Travis Penrod, Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Travis Penrod
Chair
Chairman → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron M. Johansen
Director & Treasurer
Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brittany Domier
Director & Co-Lead of Food Shelf Valid
Director → Director & Co-Lead of Food Shelf Valid, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Domier
Director & Co-Lead of Food Shelf Valid
Director → Director & Co-Lead of Food Shelf Valid, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra Penrod
Director of the Foundation
Director & Secretary → Director, 2022
Director → Director of the Foundation, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Elizabeth Johansen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Rains
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Rains
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jim Williams (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Sue Williams (2020–2021) — Executive Director
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 The Second Step Foundation
How much does The Second Step Foundation give each year?
The Second Step Foundation gave $600K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $300K across 27 grants.
What is The Second Step Foundation's typical grant size?
The Second Step Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $20,703, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Second Step Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Second Step Foundation give grants?
The Second Step Foundation's top state is Iowa, with 13% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Dakota (13%) and Montana (10%).
Does The Second Step Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on The Second Step Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support to Reduce Hunger" (29 grants).
Who are The Second Step Foundation's largest grantees?
The Second Step Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Great Plains Food Bank ($60,000 across 2 grants), Feeding South Dakota ($40,000) and Billings Food Bank ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Second Step Foundation?
The Second Step Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $601K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $127K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Second Step Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to assist and support local food shelves and similar charities that help feed people in the communities where Interstate has branch operations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Second Step Foundation?
The foundation 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 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 2020–2025.
Does The Second Step 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 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 29, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Second Step Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-second-step-foundation-morg_991946c220b14556b7153e95e4838661
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472198379_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Second Step Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-second-step-foundation-morg_991946c220b14556b7153e95e4838661},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Second Step 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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