The Steele Family Foundation

What The Steele Family Foundation does

The Steele Family Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable foundation (CRA Registration No. 829322767RR0001) established on June 29, 2007, operating from Caledon East, Ontario, with a small team of 1-10 staff. It runs a venture philanthropy model organized around three pillars — Education, Homeless/Hospice/Addictions, and Grassroots Programs — and selects causes through internal due diligence rather than unsolicited grant applications. Funding comes entirely from charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations, with tax receipts issued for gifts over $20 CAD via Donorbox, e-transfer, and cheque.

The foundation's flagship program is the trademarked WISE Scholarship Program™, an "Earn to Learn" framework in which participants accumulate 100 points across academic grades, extracurricular activities, and service/non-formal education experiences in exchange for scholarship support. The program is operationally enabled by the WISE Portal, a proprietary web application the foundation developed internally to deliver psychometric assessments for students in grades 9-12, track individual progress, and report on scholarship activity. A partner-specific extension, the JKL Admin Mobile/Web App, was built in collaboration with the Just Keep Livin Foundation. The foundation does not deliver services directly; instead it channels grants, technology, and embedded Senior Scholarship Administrators through partner organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, SOS Children's Villages (Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana), Grace Sober Living, International Student Foundation (Turkey), Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers, and the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.

Internationally, the foundation's Sacred Trust Project delivered St. Xavier's Academy, a 263,000 sq ft school in rural Tamil Nadu, India, serving over 300 children. The foundation supports over 1,000 refugee children through the Inclusive Education Foundation in Thailand, has donated over $1 million cumulatively since founding, receives more than $750,000 in anonymous donations annually, and was awarded the 2023 CAF America Excellence in International Philanthropy/Education Award. Governance is family-led, with Michael Steele as President, Stacey Steele as Communications Officer, Jennifer Steele handling marketing and research, and David Dozzo (Mario Dozzo Foundation) and Stuart Bollefer (Aird & Berlis LLP) serving as Director and Tax/Legal Adviser respectively.

Name

The Steele Family Foundation

Legal name

The Steele Family Foundation

Website

https://thesteelefamilyfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Steele Family Foundation is a Canadian charitable foundation providing education, humanitarian assistance, and grassroots community support through its WISE Scholarship Program, the Sacred Trust Project in India, and partnerships serving disadvantaged youth across three continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Scholarship programs
• Educational philanthropy
• Humanitarian aid services
• Nonprofit grassroots programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The foundation operates entirely on charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. They accept online donations via Donorbox, email money transfers, and cheques. The foundation provides charitable tax receipts for donations over $20 CAD.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Steele Family Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable foundation that delivers education, humanitarian assistance, and community support to disadvantaged individuals and communities through three pillars: Education (anchored by the WISE Scholarship Program and Sacred Trust Project), Homeless/Hospice/Addictions, and Grassroots Programs. Its flagship offering is the WISE Scholarship Earn to Learn framework, supported by the proprietary WISE Portal that tracks academic progress, service hours, extracurricular activities, and psychometric assessments for scholarship recipients across multiple continents.

Product overview

The Steele Family Foundation operates primarily as a charitable organization focused on three pillars: Education, Homeless/Hospice/Addictions, and Grassroots Programs. The foundation's flagship education product is the WISE Scholarship Program™, an Earn to Learn scholarship initiative supported by the WISE Portal—a web application for scholarship management, student profiling, and progress tracking. The WISE Portal includes features such as psychometric assessments for students in grades 9-12. The foundation also developed the JKL Admin Mobile/Web App in partnership with the Just Keep Livin Foundation, which integrates with the WISE platform. Additional offerings include The Arts Scene Podcast (sponsored) and the Sacred Trust Project (school construction initiative, including St. Xavier's Academy in India). The technology portfolio centers on the WISE Portal platform with the JKL Admin app as a connected add-on.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WISE Scholarship Program™: World Impact Scholarship & Education (WISE) Scholarship Program - an Earn to Learn platform supporting 'Stranded Superstars' with education, mentorship, and pathways to post-secondary opportunities across three continents.
• WISE Portal
• Sacred Trust Project

Products and services

• WISE Scholarship Program™ A scholarship program designed to support 'Stranded Superstars' (disadvantaged youth and adults) through an Earn to Learn framework, providing educational funding, mentorship, and pathway support across multiple continents including North America, Africa, and India.
• WISE Portal A web application developed by The Steele Family Foundation that enables scholarship management, student profiling with psychometric assessments, progress tracking, and reporting. The portal connects scholarship recipients with resources for post-secondary education and tracks Earn to Learn activities across academic grades, extracurriculars, and social/non-formal education.
• Sacred Trust Project (St. Xavier's Academy) An international education initiative focused on building schools and educational infrastructure in impoverished regions, beginning with the construction of St. Xavier's Academy in Mathigiri, Tamil Nadu, India, serving over 300 children.
• JKL Admin Mobile/Web App A management tool developed in collaboration with the Just Keep Livin Foundation that streamlines administrative tasks and fully integrates with the WISE scholarship platform for efficient management and oversight of the JKL-WISE Scholarship Program.
• Homeless/Hospice & Addictions Programs Programs supporting individuals facing housing instability, hospice needs, and addiction recovery, delivered in partnership with organizations such as Grace Sober Living to provide safe supportive environments and educational pathways.
• Grassroots Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 children receiving education at St. Xavier's Academy in India
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and major.

• Andrea Bocelli FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Andrea Bocelli and Veronica Berti dedicated a new ABF space to The Steele Family Foundation and WISE Scholarship Program at ABF Globalab headquarters in Florence. Recognition of shared belief in education reaching overlooked students.
• Inclusive Education Foundation (Thailand)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership focused on enrolling refugee children in school and strengthening skills of migrant teachers along Thai-Myanmar border. Foundation supported co-op students Bruce Wu and Rewa Shukla through University of Waterloo program.
• University of WaterloocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023$200,000 gift established the Feridun Hamdullahpur Change Makers in Co-op program funding co-op positions at nonprofit organizations internationally. Also includes $50,000 for Athletic Excellence Awards.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater ScottsdalecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022WISE Scholarship Alliance partnership supporting local youth development through the Earn to Learn program. The foundation pledged $700,000 as part of initial investment to build this partnership alongside other WISE alliances.
• Just Keep Livin FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Camila and Matthew McConaughey's foundation enabling JKL students to use the WISE Earn to Learn program to make positive life choices improving physical and mental health.
• Grace Sober LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership empowering individuals recovering from addiction through the WISE Scholarship Program, providing safe supportive environment to rebuild lives and maintain sobriety.
• SOS Children's Villages CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to establish WISE program for vulnerable children aged 14-17 living in alternative care across Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Ghana, helping young individuals transition to independence.
• International Student Foundation (ISF) - TurkeyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Alliance opening doors for Turkish students offering access to education around the globe, marking expansion of WISE Scholarship Program to Turkey.
• Mario Dozzo FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSignificant donor and partner supporting WISE Scholarship Program. Dave Dozzo serves as Director of both foundations.
• Gary Levine Charitable TrustmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous donor supporting WISE Scholarship Program and helping make difference in lives of students.
• Ward & Laurie SeymourmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSignificant donors supporting foundation mission and work providing support to the disadvantaged.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's International AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2018, foundation has supported the Award through World Fellowship with focus on India and Ghana. Stacey and Michael help create digital infrastructure for the Award's growth and accessibility.
• Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing teens safe places to explore music, dance, art, and vocational training. Shared focus on structure, mentorship, and purpose aligns with WISE Scholarship Program.
• Grand Canyon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership established Q4 2025 linking WISE scholarship pathways with campus support at GCU, focusing on access and success for WISE scholars.
• Phoenix Children's HospitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner$10,000 contribution at Gainey Gives Back event supporting young patients' access to care and resources.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New Profit: US-based venture philanthropy organization that pools philanthropic capital and partners with high-impact social organizations to scale education and economic mobility solutions. Comparable to The Steele Family Foundation's venture philanthropy model, multi-pillar program structure, and emphasis on tracking measurable outcomes.
• Tipping Point Community: Bay Area venture philanthropy that funds direct-service nonprofits focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through education, housing, and employment. Comparable in mission (grassroots anti-poverty work), operating model (donor-driven grantmaking to vetted partners), and outcome-tracking approach.
• ECMC Foundation: Private foundation focused on improving educational outcomes for underserved youth through post-secondary pathways. Directly comparable to The Steele Family Foundation's WISE Scholarship Program in targeting disadvantaged students and funding their transition to higher education.
• Mulago Foundation: Family foundation that invests philanthropic capital in high-impact solutions for poverty and conservation in Africa and Asia. Comparable in venture philanthropy positioning, family-founder structure, and cross-continent program targeting in developing regions.
• Peery Foundation: Family foundation focused on education, youth development, and homelessness, with a venture philanthropy approach to funding direct-service organizations. Closely comparable to all three of The Steele Family Foundation's pillars (Education, Homelessness, Grassroots).
• Siegel Family Endowment: Family foundation investing in education, technology, and workforce pathways for young people. Comparable in family-foundation structure, education-pillar focus, and use of technology (WISE Portal) to scale program delivery to disadvantaged youth.

Broad incumbents

• Lumina Foundation: Large private foundation focused on increasing post-secondary access and completion, with a particular emphasis on underserved populations. Overlaps with the WISE Scholarship Program's education-pillar mission but operates at significantly greater scale with broader systemic-policy focus.
• Mastercard Foundation: Global foundation running large-scale education and youth employment programs across Africa, with a focus on 'secondary education' and 'young Africa works' initiatives. Comparable in cross-continent education focus, Africa presence (Ghana, Kenya) and youth scholarship model, but operates at multi-billion dollar scale.
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Large family-controlled private foundation supporting education, arts, and environmental causes. Comparable to The Steele Family Foundation in family-ownership structure, multi-pillar grantmaking, and education-program prominence, though operating at significantly larger asset scale.

Regional players

• ChildAid Foundation: Foundation funding education and youth development programs for underprivileged children in developing countries including India and East Africa. Comparable in focus on education infrastructure in rural India and cross-border scholarships for disadvantaged youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SteeleFamilyFoundationOfficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/SteeleFamilyFoundationOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-steele-family-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Steele Family Foundation