Exhibit 10.23

                                FIRST AMENDMENT
                                     TO THE
                                 STEELCASE INC.
                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

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     WHEREAS, Steelcase Inc. (the "Company") has established and maintains the
Steelcase Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, effective September 1, 1999; and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.10, the Company has reserved the right to
amend the Plan at any time; and

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has delegated to its
Compensation Committee (the "Compensation Committee") the necessary authority to
amend the Plan; and

     WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee desires to amend the Plan's definition
of competition to make it uniform with the definition used in the Company's
other non-qualified plans.

     NOW THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PREMISES, Section 1.6 of the Plan is
amended, effective October 1, 1999, to read as follows:

          "1.6 'Competition' means directly or indirectly engaging in
     competition with the Company or any subdivision, subsidiary, or affiliate
     of the Company (collectively, the 'Company') at any time during employment
     with the Company or during the three (3) year period following termination
     of employment with the Company, without prior approval of the
     Administrative Committee. A Plan Participant engages in competition if that
     person participates directly or indirectly in the manufacture, design or
     distribution of any products of the same type as those of the Company,
     including, but not limited to, office furniture, office systems or
     architectural products, or the providing of any related services, for or on
     behalf of any person or entity other than the Company and its authorized
     dealers, at any location within or without the United States of America. It
     is intended that this definition shall be enforced to the fullest extent
     permitted by law. If


     any part of this definition shall be construed to be invalid or
     unenforceable, in whole or in part, then such definition shall be construed
     in a manner so as to permit its enforceability to the fullest extent
     permitted by law."

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this First Amendment to the
Steelcase Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan to be executed by its duly authorized
officer this 29/th/ day of February, 2000.

                                 STEELCASE INC.


                                 By:     /s/  Nancy W. Hickey
                                     -----------------------------


                                         Its:  Senior Vice President
                                               Global Human Resources

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