The Steele Family Foundation
The Steele Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including California, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
The Steele Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Steele Family Foundation gave $290K across 40 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), top state California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $290,000
- -10.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- -23.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,250
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $741,014
- +16.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (5 of 40, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Steele Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1255 Santa Terresita, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (202) 342-1194
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Steele Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Marymount University ($50K). Together the top 10 received $155K.
Grant Size Distribution
315 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 314 grants of 315 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to organizations in California (34%), Virginia (34%), the District of Columbia (21%), New York (7%), and Indiana (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Steele Family Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 40 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 320% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $290K (2024) to $391K (2020). In 2024 it made 40 grants totaling $290K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marymount University Arlington, VA | Marymount is a private comprehensive catholic universitylocated in arlington, va, just outside washington, dc. | $50,000 |
| Somos Amigos Medical Missions Washington, DC | Theatre Production Company Nurturing Artists | $20,000 |
| University of Canterbury New York, NY | University of caterbury is a public university in christchurch new zealand | $20,000 |
| Bhutan Foundation Washington, DC | Cultural Preservation, Environmental, Good Governance | $10,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Preventing Hunger and Homelessness by Advancing Self-Sufficiency | $10,000 |
| Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara, CA | Presents new plays and innovative interpretations of classic works | $10,000 |
| Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Washington, DC | Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities | $10,000 |
| World Women Work Washington, DC | Worldwomenwork is a non-profit fundraising initiative dedicated to promoting conservation and awareness for endangered species around the world. | $10,000 |
| Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry Inc Charlottesville, VA | Encounter Christ to Transform Individuals, Families and Community | $10,000 |
| Ahead with Horses Shadow Hills, CA | Provide unique, motivating and effective therapy, education to disabled/disadvantaged | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Steele 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $741,014 | $412,135 | $308,327 | $290,000 | 40 | $290,000 | $252,240 | $90,711 |
| 2023 | $637,206 | $199,523 | $344,470 | $324,250 | 52 | $325,826 | $185,694 | $93,795 |
| 2022 | $782,153 | $145,854 | $415,591 | $390,500 | 72 | $391,781 | $122,737 | $115,218 |
| 2021 | $1,051,890 | $342,715 | $371,371 | $342,003 | 71 | $342,961 | $321,906 | $131,671 |
| 2020 | $1,080,546 | $311,551 | $416,405 | $391,000 | 80 | — | $291,981 | $110,976 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Steele Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $91K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a university, food assistance, arts organizations, human services, and wildlife and environmental organizations. For example, Marymount University describes its mission as emphasizing intellectual curiosity, service, and a global perspective. Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry says it provides nourishing food and opportunities for community engagement, while the Wildlife Center of Virginia describes its work as treating and rehabilitating wild animals and providing environmental education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $290,000 through 40 grants. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. Notable grants included $50,000 to Marymount University; $20,000 each to Somos Amigos Medical Missions and the University of Canterbury; and $10,000 each to the Bhutan Foundation, Catholic Charities of Santa Barbara, and Ensemble Theatre. Other 2024 grantees included Ahead With Horses, which says it provides equine therapy for children with disabilities and special needs, and Heal the Ocean, which says it works to reduce ocean pollution and improve ocean and coastal health.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ronald W. Steele and Mary J. Steele as directors.
The Steele Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary J. Steele
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronald W. Steele
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Steele Family Foundation
How much does The Steele Family Foundation give each year?
The Steele Family Foundation gave $290K across 40 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $324K across 52 grants.
What is The Steele Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Steele Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,250, across 40 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Steele Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Steele Family Foundation give grants?
The Steele Family Foundation's top state is California, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (34%) and District of Columbia (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (15 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), Charlottesville, VA (2 grants) and Goleta, CA (2 grants).
Does The Steele Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on The Steele Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Steele Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Steele Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Marymount University ($50,000), Somos Amigos Medical Missions ($20,000) and University of Canterbury ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Steele Family Foundation?
The Steele Family Foundation reported $741K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $290K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Steele Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a university, food assistance, arts organizations, human services, and wildlife and environmental organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Steele Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Steele Family Foundation's EIN?
The Steele Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6383654. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Steele Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Steele Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Steele Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Steele Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-steele-family-foundation-morg_49f81537ca224bc7aa2543e0a6ccb170
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_616383654_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Steele Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-steele-family-foundation-morg_49f81537ca224bc7aa2543e0a6ccb170},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Steele 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.
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