The Steele-Reese Foundation focuses on place-based, rural community strengthening with heavy support for K–12 schools, youth development programs, and local arts and conservation groups. Grants cluster in Appalachian Kentucky and Montana, often funding operational/general support and repeating multi-year or multiple grants to the same community organizations. Their giving emphasizes practical community services—education boards, regional nonprofits, land trusts, outdoor youth programs, and justice/access initiatives—rather than national institutional philanthropy.
The Steele-reese Foundation Xxxxx1004’s recent giving shows a clear preference for rural, place-based institutions: county school boards, public libraries, community action groups, arts organizations, and conservation-related nonprofits in Appalachian Kentucky and Montana. One of its largest recent grants went to Steele Memorial Benefit Association in Salmon, Idaho, followed by support for Plenty Doors Community Development in Crow Agency, Montana, and Wolfe County High School in Campton, Kentucky. That mix points to a funder that backs local organizations serving small communities rather than broad national intermediaries. Education is a major part of the portfolio, especially K–12 schools and school boards in Kentucky communities such as Madison County, Knox County, Fleming County, Owsley County, Bell County, and Perry County. The foundation also supports arts and outdoor stewardship groups, including Appalachian Arts Alliance Inc in Hazard, Kentucky, and Salmon Whitewater Park Association in Salmon, Idaho. Several grants are described as general or general operating support, indicating flexibility in how recipients use the funds. Across the list, the pattern is consistent: practical support for organizations rooted in specific towns, counties, and rural regions.
K–12 education appears across multiple Kentucky recipients. The foundation gave $70,000 to Wolfe County High School in Campton for general operation, $54,500 to Madison County Board of Education in Richmond for general operation, and $53,000 to Knox County G R Hampton in Barbourville for general operation. Youth development and community-serving programs are another thread. It gave $75,000 to Plenty Doors Community Development in Crow Agency, Montana, and $40,000 to Harlan County Boys and Girls Club in Harlan, Kentucky. Those grants fit a broader pattern of support for local institutions that work directly with children, families, and small-town residents. Arts and conservation also show up in the recent grants. Appalachian Arts Alliance Inc in Hazard received $50,000 in 2024 and another $50,000 in 2023, while Salmon Whitewater Park Association in Salmon received $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025. The repeated support suggests sustained interest in community arts and outdoor stewardship.
$2.1M
$37.4M
$3.6M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $15K and $30K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in KY.
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Moderately concentrated regional giving with many repeat or multi-year grants to the same mid-sized local organizations; grants are typically mid-sized (tens of thousands) and aimed at general/operational support rather than one-off project funding.
Notable grantees: Appalachian Arts Alliance, Kentucky FFA Foundation, Montana Conservation Corps, Montana Innocence Project, Steele Memorial Benefit Association
Typical grant size sits in a moderate operating-support range: the 25th percentile is $14,550, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $30,000. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $100,000 and $75,000, showing a layered approach that combines mid-sized support with a smaller number of higher-dollar commitments. The foundation’s pattern includes repeat grants to the same organizations across multiple years, such as Kentucky Science Teachers Association, Salmon Whitewater Park Association, and Cowan Community Action Group Inc. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
The foundation gives nationally, but its grants land overwhelmingly in the US. Kentucky is the top state by grant count, and many recipient cities are in Appalachian communities such as Hazard, Whitesburg, Campton, Richmond, Barbourville, and Flemingsburg. Outside Kentucky, recent grants reach Salmon, Idaho, Crow Agency, Montana, and New York, New York. The HQ state, Illinois, receives 0% of grants, so the giving footprint is distinct from the foundation’s Chicago base.
Its recent grants favor rural, place-based nonprofits: county school boards, public libraries, community action groups, arts organizations, conservation-related groups, and youth-serving programs. Kentucky education recipients and Montana and Idaho community groups appear repeatedly in the recent awards.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $14,550 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger awards, including $100,000 and $75,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once across different years, including Appalachian Arts Alliance Inc, Salmon Whitewater Park Association, Kentucky Science Teachers Association, Fleming County Board of Education, and Cowan Community Action Group Inc.
Kentucky is the top state by grant count, with many awards going to Appalachian communities such as Hazard, Whitesburg, Campton, Richmond, Barbourville, and Flemingsburg. The recipient-country distribution is entirely US-based in the provided data.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CORBIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | CORBIN, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PULASKI COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | SOMERSET, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOLS | STANTON, KY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | BURKESVILLE, KY | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FOUNDATION FOR APPALACHIAN KENTUCKY | HAZARD, KY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PAINTSVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | PAINTSVILLE, KY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MORGAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | WEST LIBERTY, KY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PERRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | VIPER, KY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CASEY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | LIBERTY, KY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PENLAND SCHOOL OF CRAFT | PENLAND, NC | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY | BURKESVILLE, KY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | MCKEE, KY | $37,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FLOYD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | EASTERN, KY | $36,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOYD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | ASHLAND, KY | $34,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| POWELL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | STANTON, KY | $34,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| COMMONWEALTH FUND FOR KET | LEXINGTON, KY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| STANLEY SCHOOL PARENTS' ASSOCIATION | STANLEY, ID | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WATERFORD INSTITUTE INC | TAYLORSVILLE, UT | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BELL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | PINEVILLE, KY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CARTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | GRAYSON, KY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MONTANA PEDIATRICS | KALISPELL, MT | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BRIDGERCARE | BOZEMAN, MT | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALLIANCE FOR CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT | BILLINGS, MT | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LEMHI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC | SALMON, ID | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MONTANA HISTORY FOUNDATION INC | HELENA, MT | $28,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MOUNTAIN SHADOW ASSOCIATION | LODGE GRASS, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WOLFE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | CAMPTON, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE ALLIANCE OF IDAHO INC | BELLEVUE, ID | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE | LIVINGSTON, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SOMERSET INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | SOMERSET, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NATIVE AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BILLINGS, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEVER ALONE RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES | RONAN, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CODE GIRLS UNITED | KALISPELL, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THRESH INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HAZARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS | HAZARD, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THOMPSON SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | MANCHESTER, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - MONTANA | Missoula, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MENS SECOND CHANCE LIVING | HAILEY, ID | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN -EASTERN MONTANA | BILLINGS, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MCCLR CHECKING | BOX ELDER, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SUPPORT & TECHNIQUES FOR EMPOWERING PEOPLE (STEP) INC | BILLINGS, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WESTERN SUSTAINABILITY EXCHANGE | LIVINGSTON, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE SERVICES OF CARBON COUNTY | RED LODGE, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FAMILY SERVICE INC | BILLINGS, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| TRUST MONTANA INC | MISSOULA, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HOPA MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EMMA'S HOUSE - BITTERROOT VALLEY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER INC | HAMILTON, MT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FLEMING COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY | FLEMINGSBURG, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MENIFEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | FRENCHBURG, KY | $22,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOUNDARY COUNTY YOUTH CRISIS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE INC | BONNERS FERRY, ID | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
CORBIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
$50,000GENERAL
PULASKI COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$50,000GENERAL
LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOLS
$50,000GENERAL
CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$45,000GENERAL
PAINTSVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
$40,000GENERAL
MORGAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$40,000GENERAL
PERRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$40,000GENERAL
CASEY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$40,000GENERAL
CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$40,000GENERAL
JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$37,000GENERAL
FLOYD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$36,000GENERAL
BOYD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$34,000GENERAL
POWELL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$34,000GENERAL
BELL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$30,000GENERAL
CARTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$30,000GENERAL
MONTANA PEDIATRICS
$30,000GENERAL
ALLIANCE FOR CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT
$30,000GENERAL
LEMHI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
$30,000GENERAL
WOLFE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$25,000GENERAL
THE ALLIANCE OF IDAHO INC
$25,000GENERAL
COMMUNITY SCHOOL COLLABORATIVE
$25,000GENERAL
SOMERSET INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
$25,000GENERAL
NEVER ALONE RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES
$25,000GENERAL
THRESH INC
$25,000GENERAL
HAZARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
$25,000GENERAL
THOMPSON SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL
MENS SECOND CHANCE LIVING
$25,000GENERAL
MCCLR CHECKING
$25,000GENERAL
SUPPORT & TECHNIQUES FOR EMPOWERING PEOPLE (STEP) INC
$25,000GENERAL
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE SERVICES OF CARBON COUNTY
$25,000GENERAL
TRUST MONTANA INC
$25,000GENERAL
EMMA'S HOUSE - BITTERROOT VALLEY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER INC
$25,000GENERAL
FLEMING COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$25,000GENERAL
MENIFEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$22,000GENERAL
BOUNDARY COUNTY YOUTH CRISIS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE INC
$20,000GENERAL