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Step Up Savannah Inc

EIN 30-0526014 · Savannah, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STEP UP SAVANNAH, INC. ENGAGES ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF FAMILIES IN SAVANNAH, CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA.

Income
$788,131
Spending
$753,941
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$69,390, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $235,249 spent. STEP UP SUPPORTS STRATEGIES THAT HELP FAMILIES BUILD WEALTH: BANK ON SAVANNAH: A PROGRAM ADOPTED BY THE BANKING TASKFORCE TO HELP PEOPLE WITHOUT A BANK ACCOUNT ACCESS FREE AND LOW-COST CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. FINANCIAL EDUCATION: FINANCIAL EDUCATION HELPS INDIVIDUALS BY IMPROVING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATED TO EARNING, SPENDING, BUDGETING, SAVING, AND BORROWING. ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS: STEP UP AND ITS PARTNERS HELP FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND AND APPLY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP, MEDICAID AND PEACHCARE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR PAYCHECKS. WORK SUPPORTS: STEP UP PARTNERS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO CONNECT LOWER-WAGE WORKERS TO SERVICES THAT HELP THEM STRETCH THEIR PAYCHECKS AND REACH FINANCIAL GOALS. STEP UP SUPPORTS STRATEGIES THAT HELP FAMILIES BUILD WEALTH: BANK ON SAVANNAH: A PROGRAM ADOPTED BY THE BANKING TASKFORCE TO HELP PEOPLE WITHOUT A BANK ACCOUNT ACCESS FREE AND LOW-COST CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. FINANCIAL EDUCATION: FINANCIAL EDUCATION HELPS INDIVIDUALS BY IMPROVING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATED TO EARNING, SPENDING, BUDGETING, SAVING, AND BORROWING. ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS: STEP UP AND ITS PARTNERS HELP FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND AND APPLY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP, MEDICAID AND PEACHCARE SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR PAYCHECKS. WORK SUPPORTS: STEP UP PARTNERS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO CONNECT LOWER-WAGE WORKERS TO SERVICES THAT HELP THEM STRETCH THEIR PAYCHECKS AND REACH FINANCIAL GOALS.
  2. $185,004 spent. STEP UP SUPPORTS WORKFORCE READINESS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES: CHATHAM APPRENTICE PROGRAM-CAP HELPS UNEMPLOYED AND UNDER-EMPLOYED CHATHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS FIND OR CREATE CAREER PATHS THAT OFFER FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT. WORKING FAMILY NETWORK-THE WORKING FAMILIES NETWORK (WFN) IS A COLLABORATIVE THAT AIMS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOP OUR SKILLS COLLECTIVELY, AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY STRATEGIES THAT ASSIST LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.CURRENTLY, THE NETWORK CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 60 ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LOW-INCOME SAVANNAH/CHATHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS. DEVELOPING A SKILLED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS A CRITICAL STEP IN ACHIEVING UPWARD MOBILITY FOR OUR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY. STEP UP SUPPORTS WORKFORCE READINESS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES: CHATHAM APPRENTICE PROGRAM-CAP HELPS UNEMPLOYED AND UNDER-EMPLOYED CHATHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS FIND OR CREATE CAREER PATHS THAT OFFER FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT. WORKING FAMILY NETWORK-THE WORKING FAMILIES NETWORK (WFN) IS A COLLABORATIVE THAT AIMS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOP OUR SKILLS COLLECTIVELY, AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY STRATEGIES THAT ASSIST LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.CURRENTLY, THE NETWORK CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 60 ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LOW-INCOME SAVANNAH/CHATHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS. DEVELOPING A SKILLED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS A CRITICAL STEP IN ACHIEVING UPWARD MOBILITY FOR OUR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.
  3. $93,471 spent. STEP UP PROVIDES RESOURCES TO BUILD CAPACITY IN OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NON-PROFITS TO COMBAT POVERITY. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (NLA): NLA IS A 12-WEEK PROGRAM OFFERED BY STEP UP EVERY YEAR, TYPICALLY IN SEPTEMBER, HELD AT SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY. NLA ENGAGES ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING LEADERS FROM DIVERSE SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH A FOCUS ON ADVOCACY, CRITICAL THINKING, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. AMERICORPS VISTA (VISTA): AMERICORPS VISTA IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM DESIGNED REDUCE AND COMBAT POVERTY BY RECRUITING MEMBERS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES. AMERICORPS VISTA COMMIT ONE YEAR OF SERVICE AND LIVE ON A STIPEND THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE FEDERAL POVERTY WAGE. STEP UP ACTS AS AN INTERMEDIARY FOR AMERICORPS VISTA, CURRENTLY MANAGING 10 VISTA SITES AND 10 VISTA MEMBERS (INCLUDING REGULAR REVOLVING RECRUITMENT) TO HELP BUILD CAPACITY AT THESE PARTNER AGENCIES. STEP UP PROVIDES RESOURCES TO BUILD CAPACITY IN OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NON-PROFITS TO COMBAT POVERITY. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (NLA): NLA IS A 12-WEEK PROGRAM OFFERED BY STEP UP EVERY YEAR, TYPICALLY IN SEPTEMBER, HELD AT SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY. NLA ENGAGES ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING LEADERS FROM DIVERSE SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH A FOCUS ON ADVOCACY, CRITICAL THINKING, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. AMERICORPS VISTA (VISTA): AMERICORPS VISTA IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM DESIGNED REDUCE AND COMBAT POVERTY BY RECRUITING MEMBERS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES. AMERICORPS VISTA COMMIT ONE YEAR OF SERVICE AND LIVE ON A STIPEND THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE FEDERAL POVERTY WAGE. STEP UP ACTS AS AN INTERMEDIARY FOR AMERICORPS VISTA, CURRENTLY MANAGING 10 VISTA SITES AND 10 VISTA MEMBERS (INCLUDING REGULAR REVOLVING RECRUITMENT) TO HELP BUILD CAPACITY AT THESE PARTNER AGENCIES.
  4. $20,970 spent. POVERTY IS CAUSED BY MORE THAN A LACK OF INCOME OR BETTER MANAGING PERSONAL RESOURCES; GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSES MEANS WORKING TO CHANGE SYSTEMS THAT KEEP PEOPLE DROWNING IN DEBT OR PREVENT THEM FROM ACCESSING THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MOVE THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY AND BETTER POSITION THEMSELVES TO SUCCEED. STEP UP IDENTIFIES LOCAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT CAN BE REFORMED BASED UPON INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK FROM THOSE DIRECTLY RECEIVING AND PROVIDING SERVICES. BOARD MEMBERS CONSIDER ISSUES BROUGHT TO IT BY ACTION TEAMS AND COMMITTEES AFTER REVIEW AND RESEARCH. THROUGH A PROCESS OF EDUCATION AND DEBATE, BOARD MEMBERS VOTE TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC POLICY ISSUES AND, WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM STAFF, ACT AS THE PRIMARY ADVOCATES FOR REFORM. MAJOR POLICY AREAS INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREDATORY LENDING. STEP UP ALSO CONDUCTS "POVERTY SIMULATIONS" WHICH EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY TO THE ISSUES ENCOUNTERED BY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
  5. POVERTY IS CAUSED BY MORE THAN A LACK OF INCOME OR BETTER MANAGING PERSONAL RESOURCES; GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSES MEANS WORKING TO CHANGE SYSTEMS THAT KEEP PEOPLE DROWNING IN DEBT OR PREVENT THEM FROM ACCESSING THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MOVE THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY AND BETTER POSITION THEMSELVES TO SUCCEED. STEP UP IDENTIFIES LOCAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT CAN BE REFORMED BASED UPON INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK FROM THOSE DIRECTLY RECEIVING AND PROVIDING SERVICES. BOARD MEMBERS CONSIDER ISSUES BROUGHT TO IT BY ACTION TEAMS AND COMMITTEES AFTER REVIEW AND RESEARCH. THROUGH A PROCESS OF EDUCATION AND DEBATE, BOARD MEMBERS VOTE TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC POLICY ISSUES AND, WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM STAFF, ACT AS THE PRIMARY ADVOCATES FOR REFORM. MAJOR POLICY AREAS INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREDATORY LENDING. STEP UP ALSO CONDUCTS "POVERTY SIMULATIONS" WHICH EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY TO THE ISSUES ENCOUNTERED BY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 2009.

    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.