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Services to Enhance Potential

EIN 23-7289763 · Dearborn, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN THE PURSUIT OF THEIR CHOSEN GOALS AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF PERSONAL SATISFACTION IN THEIR LIVES.

Income
$15.3 million
Spending
$16.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
1,106
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$133,371, former ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $7.6 million spent. SKILL BUILDING CONSISTS OF ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL'S SELF-SUFFICIENCY, INDEPENDENCE AND CONFIDENCE, ENGAGES THE INDIVIDUAL IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES AND/OR PREPARES THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND VOLUNTEERING. STEP PROVIDES THESE SERVICES IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, INCLUDING PROGRAMMING WITHIN THEIR FOUR RESOURCE CENTERS, PROGRESSIVE ART COLLECTIVE STUDIOS, CULINARY KITCHENS AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THE MEMBERS RESIDE. GOALS FOR THE SKILL BUILDING PROGRAMMING INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS TO OBTAIN COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, INCREASED INDEPENDENCE AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
  2. $3.7 million spent. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT (SE) SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) IN FINDING AND MAINTAINING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT IN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE GOAL OF SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE GREATER INDEPENDENCE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKFORCE. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INCLUDE JOB DEVELOPMENT, JOB COACHING AND TRAINING, NATURAL SUPPORTS, ONGOING SUPPORT AND FOLLOW-UP, CAREER ADVANCEMENT, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, AND COLLABORATION WITH VOCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
  3. $1.7 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE ABILITY ONE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
  4. $1.3 million spent. SUPPORTS COORDINATION, ALSO KNOWN AS CASE MANAGEMENT OR SERVICE COORDINATION, IS A CRUCIAL ASPECT OF PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD). IT INVOLVES COORDINATING VARIOUS SERVICES, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND ENHANCE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. SERVICES INCLUDE ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING, IDENTIFYING SERVICES AND RESOURCES, COORDINATING SERVICES, ADVOCACY, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, CRISIS INTERVENTION, TRANSITION PLANNING, AND EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-ADVOCACY. SERVICES PROVIDED ALSO INCLUDE CARE COORDINATION WITH THE MEMBER'S PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.