The Steele Foundation

What The Steele Foundation does

The Steele Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt private charitable foundation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with additional operational focus on Tucson. The foundation was formed in 1980 following conversations between Horace W. Steele and his attorney Dan Cracchiolo, and was formally endowed after Steele's death in 1985. Its stated mission is to improve the lives of Arizona's children through investments in education, with a "whole child" thesis spanning traditional academics (birth through high school) and cultural enrichment (arts, sciences, performing arts, environmental education).

The foundation's core activity is grant-making — not product development or technology deployment. It distributes philanthropic capital to a curated portfolio of nonprofit and educational partner organizations in Phoenix and Tucson, including University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Brophy College Preparatory/Loyola Academy, Educare Arizona, Make Way for Books, Arizona Science Center, Childsplay Theatre, Children's Museum of Phoenix, Vista College Prep, and Donor's Choose. Cumulative grants since inception exceed $80 million. The foundation does not operate software, platforms, or proprietary technology; its output is funding and capacity-building support for partner organizations.

Its business model is endowment-driven rather than revenue-generating. The original endowment established by Horace Steele in 1985 has reportedly tripled, and the foundation operates an invitation-only grant process, declining unsolicited proposals. GTM is community-led: foundation leadership actively engages Arizona's education ecosystem to monitor emerging strategies and screen potential grantees against priorities. Pricing is not applicable — grants are awarded, not sold. The organization employs approximately 25 staff, is governed by Chairman Dan Cracchiolo and President Marianne Cracchiolo, and operates exclusively within Arizona with no global footprint.

Name

The Steele Foundation

Legal name

The Steele Foundation

Website

https://steeleaz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Steele Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private charitable foundation in Phoenix, Arizona, that distributes invitation-only grants to nonprofit and educational organizations serving Arizona's children, with cumulative giving exceeding $80 million since its 1985 endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation grants
• Education philanthropy
• Children's education funding
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Arizona education grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Endowment Income: The Steele Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization funded by an endowment established by Horace W. Steele in 1985. The foundation distributes grants to qualifying non-profit organizations that improve the lives of Arizona's children through educational programs. The original endowment was tripled over time, with over $80 million in assistance granted within Arizona since inception.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Steele Foundation is an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) private foundation that distributes invitation-only grants to nonprofit organizations improving the lives of Arizona's children through educational programs. Its grantmaking spans early childhood literacy, K-12 and charter school support, university research and learning initiatives, cultural and arts education, and community assets such as Steele Indian School Park. The foundation funds both capital and programmatic needs, including capacity building for partner organizations, and has deployed more than $80 million within Arizona since 1985.

Product overview

The Steele Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization that operates as a grant-making foundation focused on improving the lives of Arizona's children through educational investments. The foundation does not offer a unified software product or platform; rather, it provides philanthropic grants to partner organizations. Its grantmaking is invitation-only, supporting organizations in Phoenix and Tucson communities that demonstrate proven impact with children in areas including traditional education (birth through high school), early childhood literacy, and cultural education programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants to Arizona education and youth-serving nonprofits Invitation-only philanthropic grants awarded to Arizona-based nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of Arizona's children through education. Grants support both capital projects and programmatic work, and are awarded after active screening based on the foundation's priorities and the grantee's proven impact with children.
• Make Way for Books Partnership (School Readiness and Digital Learning) Funding for early childhood literacy and school readiness programs for children ages 0-5, delivered through Make Way for Books in Tucson and other Arizona communities. Targets emergent literacy and digital learning for underserved children.
• Educare Arizona Founding Grant Founding philanthropic investment to establish Educare Arizona's first site, supporting comprehensive early childhood services for vulnerable young children and their families.
• Brophy College Preparatory / Loyola Academy Support Multi-decade grant support for Brophy College Preparatory and its founding-funder role for Loyola Academy, a no-cost junior high program for economically challenged boys with academic promise.
• University of Arizona Partnership Long-running grant program supporting the University of Arizona, including the Steele Children's Research Center, Horace Steele Endowed Chair for Pediatric Research, and programs across the Colleges of Medicine, Humanities, Nursing, Law, and Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Arizona State University Partnership Grant program supporting Arizona State University campus learning initiatives, endowed chairs, the ASU Cancer Research Institute, the ASU Art Museum, and the American Dream Academy, including the $2.1 million Daniel Cracchiolo Chair in Constitutional Law.
• Childsplay Theatre Support Multi-year grant support for Childsplay Theatre's children-focused theater programs, including Storybook Preview Performances, the Bright Light Kids Campaign, the Creative is Competitive Initiative, and Virtual Field Trips.
• Arizona Science Center Support Grant support for Arizona Science Center science education programs, including the All About Me Gallery, Future of Education is Science Campaign, and The Chevy Humphrey 4th Grade Student Free Admission Endowment.
• Children's Museum of Phoenix Support Capital and ongoing programmatic funding for the Children's Museum of Phoenix, including the Steele Foundation Art Studio, Brain Time early childhood program, and exhibition funding.
• Vista College Prep Capacity Building Capacity-building grant support for Vista College Prep's leadership team to enable the K-8 charter school network to grow quality seats for underserved students in south Phoenix.
• Donor's Choose Literacy Project Flash-Funding Flash-funded literacy classroom project grants for Title 1 school teachers in Pima and Maricopa counties through the Donor's Choose crowdfunding platform, supporting books and classroom supplies.
• Steele Indian School Park Community Grant Joint $2.5 million grant with The Phoenix Community Alliance to develop 75 acres of parkland at Central Avenue and Indian School Road in downtown Phoenix for community enjoyment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 children impacted through Make Way for Books partnership alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• Make Way for BooksmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Make Way for Books gives all children the chance to read and succeed. Since 2016, Steele has proudly provided more than $750,000 in support for the School Readiness Program and digital learning programs, impacting more than 40,000 kids.
• Educare ArizonaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Steele Foundation provided a $750,000 grant to establish Arizona's first site of Educare Arizona. Educare's mission is to ensure vulnerable young children and their families achieve success in school and in life by providing quality early childhood learning, family support, and health care.
• Childsplay TheatremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Since 2008, Steele Foundation has provided approximately $735,000 in support to Childsplay, helping make possible Theater Story Book Preview Performances, the Bright Light Kids Campaign, the Creative is Competitive Initiative, play development funding and Virtual Field trips.
• Children's Museum of PhoenixmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008In 2008, Steele Foundation contributed capital campaign funding for the construction of the downtown Phoenix children's museum in the historic Monroe School building. Steele has provided ongoing support for Brain Time at the Museum, The Steele Foundation Art studio, and exhibition funding including during COVID-19.
• Phoenix Community AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Steele Foundation underwrote a $2.5 million grant with The Phoenix Community Alliance to develop 75 acres of parkland at the corner of Central Avenue and Indian School Road in downtown Phoenix for community enjoyment (Steele Indian School Park).
• Arizona Science CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Since 1996, Steele Foundation has supported Arizona Science Center and its mission to inspire, educate and engage curious minds through science. Funds have helped support initiatives such as the All About Me Gallery, Future of Education is Science Campaign, and The Chevy Humphrey 4th Grade Student Free Admission Endowment.
• Arizona State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Since 1993, Steele Foundation has provided over $5 million to ASU Foundation campaigns to support campus learning initiatives including E.N. Basha Sr. Arizona Heritage Endowed Chair, ASU Cancer Research Institute, ASU Art Museum, American Dream Academy, and $2.1 million establishing the Daniel Cracchiolo Chair in Constitutional Law.
• University of ArizonaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Since 1991, Steele Foundation has provided approximately $11 million in support of medical research and learning initiatives including Steele Children's Research Center, University of Arizona Medical Center, the Horace Steele Endowed Chair for Pediatric Research, College of Humanities, College of Nursing, and James E. Rodgers College of Law.
• Brophy College Preparatory / Loyola AcademyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Since 1985, Steele Foundation has provided more than $3.5 million in support for both Loyola Academy and Brophy College Preparatory. Loyola Academy is a no-cost junior high model for boys entering 6th grade who are economically challenged yet demonstrate substantial academic promise.
• Vista College PrepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteele Foundation has provided Capacity Building for the leadership team of this national blue-ribbon, award-winning K-8 Charter school network based in south Phoenix, helping support growth to increase more quality seats for underserved students.
• Donor's ChoosemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonor's Choose is an innovative crowdfunding platform that raises funds to purchase classroom supplies for public schools. Steele Foundation flash funded over 637 literacy-based projects in one day for 379 amazing teachers from Title 1 schools in Pima and Maricopa Counties.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Walton Family Foundation: Major U.S. foundation focused on K-12 education reform, charter schools, and school choice. Comparable in emphasis on charter school models (e.g., Vista College Prep) and education innovation, but operates at substantially larger national scale with policy-advocacy orientation.
• Lumina Foundation: One of the largest U.S. private foundations focused exclusively on postsecondary education access and completion. Comparable as an education-focused grantmaker, but operates nationally at much larger scale with emphasis on higher education rather than K-12 and early childhood like Steele.
• Educational Foundation of America: A Connecticut-based private foundation funding education, environment, and arts with strong focus on K-12 innovation and underserved youth. Comparable in education grantmaking approach and emphasis on innovative program models, though operating nationally rather than regionally.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (US Education): The largest U.S. education philanthropy, funding K-12 and postsecondary initiatives nationwide. Comparable as a systems-level education grantmaker but vastly larger in scale and scope, focused on systemic reform rather than direct community-based funding.

Regional players

• Flinn Foundation: A Phoenix-based private foundation focused on Arizona's biosciences, education, and arts/culture. Comparable as a major Arizona-focused private foundation with similar grantmaking scale and university partnership orientation (e.g., University of Arizona collaborations), though with broader thematic scope than Steele.

Direct peers

• Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust: A private Arizona-based foundation focused on education, healthcare, and arts/culture with similar grantmaking scale and regional concentration. Comparable in mission alignment on early childhood and K-12 education, geographic scope (Maricopa County emphasis), and capacity-building approach to grantees.
• Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation: A Phoenix-based private foundation supporting education, children, and community services in Arizona. Highly comparable in geographic concentration on Arizona, focus on children's education, and similar invitation-based grantmaking approach for established Arizona nonprofits.
• Arizona Community Foundation: Arizona's largest community foundation, also focused on statewide philanthropy with strong emphasis on education and children. Directly comparable in geographic focus, grantmaking model, and target beneficiary population, though it operates with a broader thematic scope than Steele's exclusive education focus.
• Helios Education Foundation: Arizona- and Florida-based education-focused foundation that funds K-12 and postsecondary education across the Southwest. Directly comparable as a regional education grantmaker with similar emphasis on underserved students, college access, and innovative school models — the most direct peer by mission.
• Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust: Indianapolis- and Phoenix-based private foundation with education as a core focus area, particularly for underserved populations. Comparable as a dual-state private foundation with similar grantmaking scale and commitment to education access, though with a broader thematic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/steeleaz.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-steele-foundation-az

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Steele Foundation