The Steele Foundation Inc
The Steele Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation established in 1980 and based in Phoenix, Arizona. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation focuses on improving the lives of Arizona's children through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$65.9M
+0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+2.7% YoY
Grant Count
34
+9.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$108K
-6.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Steele Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on making it great to be a kid in Arizona through investments in education. Primary areas of interest include:
- Education
- Holistic health
- Community enrichment
Grantmaking
The foundation administers several grant programs including general support, scholarships, and specialized initiatives such as the Blue Watermelon Project and the DC Institute.
Grant Range
$2,500 to $2,000,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, with primary focus areas including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Within Arizona, the foundation has particular presence in Phoenix and Tucson.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $65.86 million
- Total revenue: $5.98 million
- Total expenses: $5.38 million
- Total liabilities: $16,700
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $65.27 million
- Total revenue: $2.73 million
- Total expenses: $5.32 million
The foundation maintains a giving rate of approximately 7.0% of assets annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $65,862,184 | $65,266,628 | $67,628,930 |
| Revenue | $5,975,536 | $2,733,059 | $6,342,764 |
| Expenses | $5,375,051 | $5,316,724 | $5,906,590 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,739,185 | $4,653,973 | $5,254,834 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,423,464 | $2,143,961 | $5,845,479 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,517,735 | $4,406,820 | $4,587,650 |
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
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Arizona Foundation ($2,025,000), Barrow Neurological Foundation ($500,000), Arizona Jewish Historical Society ($262,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASU Foundation Tempe, AZ | Daniel Cracchiolo Chair in Constitutional Law | $100,000 |
| Barrow Neurological Foundation Phoenix, AZ | DC/PG Fellowship Endowment | $500,000 |
| Camp Stone Scholarship Fund Beachwood, OH | Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
| Childsplay Tempe, AZ | Storybook Preview Performances | $105,000 |
| Literacy Connects Tucson, AZ | Reading Seed Program at Prince & Summit | $110,000 |
| Mesa Arts Center Foundation Mesa, AZ | Project Literacy | $50,000 |
| Sharsheret Teaneck, NJ | General Support | $5,000 |
| The Salvation Army Scottsdale, AZ | Christmas Angel Program | $27,000 |
| University of Arizona Foundation Tucson, AZ | DCI lab renovation, DC Research, & PANDA | $2,025,000 |
| DC Scholar - Bryan Phoenix, AZ | Scholarship | $3,368 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Marianne Cracchiolo Mago – President (40 hours/week, $472,673 compensation)
- Andy Abraham – Secretary (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Andy Cracchiolo – Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Jeff Fishman – Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Holly Tullis – Finance Director (40 hours/week, $169,000 compensation)
- Amber Skalsky – Program Manager (40 hours/week, $169,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marianne Cracchiolo Mago | President | 40 | $504,539 |
| Andy Abraham | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Andy Cracchiolo | Director | 1 | — |
| Jeff Fishman | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: www.steeleaz.org
- Phone: 602-850-9804
- Address: 4131 N 36th St Ste 1, Phoenix, AZ 85018-4754
- EIN: 95-3466880
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Steele Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission centers on making it great to be a kid in Arizona through investments in education. Primary areas of interest include: • Education • Holistic health • Community enrichment
How do I apply for a grant from The Steele Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $3.68 million • Total giving in 2023: $4.65 million • Typical grant range: $2,500 to $2,000,000 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Number of grants awarded in 2024: 31 grants • Number of grants awarded in 2023: 64 grants **Grant Programs:** The foundation administers several grant programs including general support, scholarships, and specialized initiatives such as the Blue Watermelon Project and the DC Institute. **Application Process:** All …
Where does The Steele Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, with primary focus areas including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Within Arizona, the foundation has particular presence in Phoenix and Tucson.
What size grants does The Steele Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Steele Foundation Inc awarded 34 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $108K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Steele Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Steele Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Steele Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Steele Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-3466880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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