The Steele-Reese Foundation

What The Steele-Reese Foundation does

The Steele-Reese Foundation is a private charitable trust established in 1955 by Eleanor Steele Reese and Emmet P. Reese, governed under New York State law and classified as a 501(c)(3) private foundation. It supports federally tax-exempt organizations serving rural communities in three geographic areas: Idaho and Montana (including Native nations sharing that geography), and the federally designated Appalachian Kentucky counties. In the Idaho/Montana program, the Foundation funds rural education, health, human and social services, arts and humanities, and land/water/wildlife conservation and historic preservation; in Appalachian Kentucky, funding is restricted to organizations benefiting pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 children, with an explicit focus on third-grade reading proficiency and middle-school mathematics outcomes. Grant size typically ranges from a $5,000 minimum up to $50,000 per year, with occasional multi-year awards, and one annual grant cycle is conducted per program area (LOI process for Idaho/Montana beginning in January, direct application for Kentucky with a March 2 deadline, decisions by August 1, and funds disbursed in late August/early September).

The Foundation employs no full-time staff and maintains no dedicated office, operating instead through individual trustee Charles U. Buice (Brooklyn), corporate trustee JPMorgan Chase Bank (managing the endowment), and two part-time regional directors: Judy Owens for Appalachian Kentucky (Lexington, KY) and Linda Tracy for Idaho, Montana, and tribal communities (Washington, DC). All proposals are submitted through the GrantInterface online portal, and the Foundation maintains a publicly searchable grants database going back to 2010 via Foundant Technologies and Candid. Marketing and outreach are passive, relying on the Foundation's website, regional director availability, December Zoom information sessions, and referrals from partner organizations (Idaho Nonprofit Center, Montana Nonprofit Association, Kentucky Nonprofit Network, Brushy Fork Leadership Institute). Its endowment, built primarily from founder Eleanor Steele Reese's inheritance and subsequent contributions, is not publicly disclosed.

The business model is endowment-funded grantmaking rather than commercial revenue: the Foundation generates no operating revenue, charges no fees to applicants, and distributes a portion of investment income each year as grants to qualifying nonprofits. Geographic and programmatic restrictions are explicitly enforced (urban/suburban areas and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties are ineligible), and the Foundation does not pursue growth in endowment size, geographic footprint, or payout volume.

Name

The Steele-Reese Foundation

Legal name

The Steele-Reese Foundation

Website

https://steele-reese.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Steele-Reese Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable trust established in 1955 that awards annual grants of $5,000–$50,000 to federally tax-exempt organizations serving rural communities in Idaho, Montana, tribal nations sharing that geography, and Appalachian Kentucky, with program areas spanning education, health, social services, conservation, and the arts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAA

Private Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

SECONDARYFSAAANAI

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Trust & Fiduciary Services (Trust Companies, Estate & Custody Trusts)

SECONDARYBPADAOAB

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

Keywords

• Rural grantmaking
• Charitable foundation grants
• Nonprofit community funding
• Rural education grants
• Scholarship endowment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grant Disbursements: As a private foundation, The Steele-Reese Foundation generates no revenue from operations. The Foundation's income derives from its endowment investments, which are managed by JP Morgan Chase Bank as corporate trustee. The Foundation disburses grants to qualifying tax-exempt entities in its program areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Steele-Reese Foundation is a private charitable trust that provides grants (typically $5,000–$50,000 per year) to federally tax-exempt organizations serving rural communities in Idaho, Montana, adjacent Native nations, and Appalachian Kentucky. Its offerings comprise two regional grant programs, an Idaho Scholarship endowment for Lemhi and Custer County graduates, and an online Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and application process administered via a third-party grant portal.

Product overview

The Steele-Reese Foundation operates two distinct regional grant programs: the Idaho and Montana Grant Program supporting rural education, health, human/social services, arts/humanities, and conservation/preservation in rural and tribal communities; and the Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program focused exclusively on Pre-K through Grade 12 education and children's services. Additionally, the Foundation manages a scholarship endowment program for graduates of Lemhi and Custer County high schools in Idaho at thirteen partner colleges and universities. All grant applications are submitted through an online grant portal powered by GrantInterface, with the Idaho/Montana program using a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process as an initial screening step.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Idaho and Montana Grant Program Annual grant program (typically $5,000–$50,000 per year) supporting federally tax-exempt organizations working in rural education, health, human and social services, arts and humanities, and conservation/preservation in Idaho, Montana, and adjacent Native nations. Applicants begin with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submitted between mid-January and an annual deadline, followed by an invitation to submit a full proposal.
• Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program Annual grant program (typically $5,000–$50,000 per year) supporting federally tax-exempt entities benefiting pre-kindergarten and K-12 school-aged children in Appalachian Kentucky counties designated by the federal Appalachian Regional Commission. Eligible activities include early childhood education, elementary and secondary schools, and public libraries providing children's programs. Applications are submitted via the online portal with a March 2 deadline and decisions communicated by August 1.
• Idaho Scholarships Scholarship endowments for students graduating from high schools in Lemhi and Custer Counties, Idaho, renewable at thirteen partner colleges and universities including Brigham Young University, College of Idaho, Gonzaga University, Idaho State University, and University of Idaho.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third-grade reading and writing proficiency
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Idaho Nonprofit CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for Idaho nonprofits seeking funding information. Contact: (208) 424-2229. Provides additional information about funding sources, nonprofit sustainability, and training.
• Montana Nonprofit AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for Montana nonprofits. Contact: 406/449-3717. Part of network providing information about funding sources and nonprofit training.
• Kentucky Nonprofit NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for Kentucky nonprofits. Contact: 859.963.3203. Part of network providing information about funding sources and training.
• Brushy Fork Leadership InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral resource for additional leadership and training resources for Appalachian Kentucky applicants. Part of Berea College. Contact: 859-985-3858, Donna Daniels, Director.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Peers

• Annie E. Casey Foundation:

Direct peers

• Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky: Regional foundation dedicated to Appalachian Kentucky. Directly comparable in geographic focus on the same Appalachian Kentucky counties and rural community mission.
• Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation: Private foundation advancing rural community development and social justice across the Southeastern U.S., with strong Appalachian focus. Comparable family-foundation model targeting rural poverty in defined geographies.
• M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust: Pacific Northwest private foundation supporting education, social services, health, and arts across rural and urban communities. Directly comparable regional private foundation with similar multi-sector grantmaking model.
• Christensen Fund: Private foundation prioritizing Indigenous-led organizations and biocultural diversity. Closely comparable in explicit prioritization of Native-led organizations and rural/tribal geographies that mirror Steele-Reese's Idaho/Montana Native nation priorities.
• Ford Family Foundation: Family foundation focused on rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Comparable in mission (rural community vitality, education, community development) and structure as a private family foundation serving specific rural geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Steele-Reese Foundation