Supporting rural communities in Montana, Idaho and Appalachian Kentucky.

The Steele-Reese Foundation is a charitable trust committed to supporting rural communities and the nonprofit organizations that serve them in Idaho, Montana, and Appalachian Kentucky.  Since its inception, the Foundation has maintained a focus on the unique challenges of rural living and on helping people build healthy, successful, and sustainable communities.

Eleanor Steele Reese, daughter of Charles Steele – a banker, lawyer, and business associate of J.P. Morgan – created The Steele-Reese Foundation in 1955. The Foundation's name honors Eleanor's family as well as the family of her husband, Emmet Reese. The couple found strength and fulfillment in their work as cattle ranchers in Idaho and they created the Foundation as a lasting commitment to their rural values.

The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations working in the areas of rural education; health; human/social services; the arts and humanities; and land, water, and wildlife conservation and historic preservation.  Applications from organizations operating outside of the Foundation's regional or programming areas are not eligible for funding.

A free webinar will be held on January 23, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. to assist prospective Kentucky applicants with their grant proposals.

Please register at: https://kynonprofits.org/events/422

We also urge participants to register with Steele-Reese prior to the webinar by following the How To Apply pages of this web site.  Please contact Judy Owens with any questions.

Online Application

The Foundation uses an online application process. We encourage applicants to review the How to Apply pages of this web site and to thoroughly review the Foundation’s funding guidelines and program areas.

We also encourage you to contact the Foundation's Appalachian Director, Judy Owens, or Western Director, Linda Tracy, to discuss your project prior to submitting an application.

All online grant applications must be submitted by March 1 of each year.