The Steele-reese Foundation Xxxxx1004
The Steele-Reese Foundation is a private foundation established in February 1959 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation was created by Eleanor Steele Reese and Emmet P. Reese, who shared a deep commitment to rural communities. Eleanor, born in 1893, was the daughter of Charles Steele, a partner of J.P. Morgan, but chose to leave the East Coast to pursue a career as an opera singer before eventually settling in the American West. Emmet P. Reese had moved to central Idaho in the early 1930s to live as an independent frontiersman. Together, they operated Pine Creek Ranch near Shoup, Idaho, and later a larger spread in Salmon, Idaho, establishing the foundation's enduring focus on rural America.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.5M
+14.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-9.5% YoY
Grant Count
74
-16.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+8.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports five primary program areas in rural communities:
Rural Education — Early childhood through Grade 12 programming, including supplemental programs in early childhood education settings, elementary and middle school programs that improve student outcomes, literacy programs, out-of-school-time services, charter schools and model school programs, and assistance to small public libraries. The foundation also supports a small college scholarship program for graduates of high schools in Lemhi and Custer Counties, Idaho. The foundation prioritizes education projects demonstrating comprehensive engagement with participants and clear, measurable outcomes.
Rural Human/Social Services — Programs serving low-income and under-represented populations, including elders, homeless individuals, people living with disabilities, young children, disadvantaged or disconnected older youth, young people or adults involved in the criminal justice system, and survivors of abuse or domestic violence. Also supports local fire-protection services, parks and civic improvements, and local food banks.
Rural Conservation and Preservation — Land, wildlife, and historic preservation and restoration projects; ecosystem protection programs; and water projects. All conservation or environmental programs must be locally focused.
Rural Health — Health-related initiatives in rural areas.
Rural Arts and Humanities — Arts and cultural programming in rural communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants only to federally tax-exempt entities. Recent grant activity shows the foundation distributed $1,815,600 in total giving in its most recent reporting year. Typical award amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000.
Review Cycle
. The foundation will only consider requests that benefit rural communities in Idaho, Montana, and Native nations with whom the foundation shares this geography. Requests for work benefiting urban or suburban areas, or rural areas immediately adjacent to or in close proximity to urbanized areas, will not be considered.
How to Apply
The foundation operates two separate grant programs with different application procedures:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds work in:
- Rural Idaho
- Rural Montana
- Appalachian Kentucky
- Native nations in Idaho and Montana
The foundation does not fund urban or suburban areas, or rural areas immediately adjacent to or in close proximity to urbanized areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of August 2024:
- Total Assets: $36,510,346
- Total Revenues: $7,166,201
- Total Expenses: $2,556,436
- Total Giving: $1,815,600
Staff: 4 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,510,346 | $31,896,464 | $29,971,012 |
| Revenue | $7,166,201 | $4,631,727 | $2,863,832 |
| Expenses | $2,556,436 | $2,606,442 | $2,496,146 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,078,571 | $2,219,813 | $2,047,509 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,810,615 | $4,255,863 | $2,443,686 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,069,741 | $1,903,125 | $2,170,491 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Steele-reese Foundation Xxxxx1004
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Krystal Zec — Vice President (as of July 2024)
- JP Morgan Chase Bank NA — Trustee
- William T Buice — Trustee
- Charles U Buice — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM T BUICE | CO-TRUSTEE | 17 | $56,663 |
| CHARLES U BUICE | CO-TRUSTEE | 17 | $56,662 |
| JUDY K OWENS | DIRECTOR | 17 | $49,250 |
| LINDA TRACY | DIRECTOR | 17 | $51,750 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with two live grant opportunities: the Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program and the Idaho and Montana Grant Program. The 2026 grant request process for Idaho and Montana has closed, with the foundation planning to conduct open house information sessions via Zoom in December to discuss the Letter of Inquiry process for future cycles.
KET Recipient of Steele-Reese Foundation Grant > KETData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Steele-reese Foundation Xxxxx1004 on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities