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First Step Home Inc

EIN 31-1328492 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE COMPASSIONATE PATHWAYS FOR WOMEN'S ADDICTION RECOVERY THROUGH AN INTEGRATED CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 43%
Employees
52
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$109,916, president/ceo (to 08/24)

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $1.7 million spent. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT: FIRST STEP HOME IS THE ONLY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY FOR WOMEN IN SOUTHWEST OHIO THAT ALLOWS WOMEN TO UNDERGO TREATMENT WHILE ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN, UNDER THE AGE OF 12, TO LIVE WITH THEM. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, 159 WOMEN WERE ADMITTED TO FSH'S RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. SEVEN BABIES WERE BORN DRUG-FREE TO CLIENTS DURING TREATMENT.DURING THIS PERIOD, 45% OF OUR CLIENTS WERE DIAGNOSED WITH OPIATE ADDICTION. THIS IS A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM THE PAST FEW YEARS, BUT WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN THE USE OF STIMULANTS SUCH AS METHAMPHETAMINES, COCAINE AND ALCOHOL. THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE WOMEN WAS 37 AND WE PROVIDED THEM WITH 3,631 NIGHTS OF ROOM AND BOARD. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED 394 NIGHTS OF ROOM AND BOARD TO THE CHILDREN WHO ACCOMPANIED THEIR MOTHERS DURING TREATMENT. OUR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDED 169 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND 523 HOURS OF CASE MANAGEMENT.
  2. $985,306 spent. OUTPATIENT TREATMENT: OUR TYPICAL CLIENT BEGINS THEIR TREATMENT IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AND THEN MOVES TO OUTPATIENT AS THEY ARE STABILIZED IN THEIR ADDICTION TREATMENT. OUTPATIENT TREATMENT: MOST FSH CLIENTS BEGIN TREATMENT IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM & MOVE TO OUTPATIENT ONCE STABILIZED & APPROPRIATE FOR A LOWER LEVEL OF CARE. THERE ARE TWO LEVELS OF CARE IN OUTPATIENT TREATMENT: INTENSIVE AND NON-INTENSIVE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, 109 WOMEN RECEIVED OUTPATIENT SERVICES, AND SUPPORTIVE RECOVERY HOUSING IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL WOMEN RECEIVING OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. ALMOST ALL WOMEN IN THE INTENSIVE PROGRAM RESIDE IN ON-SITE RECOVERY HOUSING. WOMEN WHO RECEIVE NON-INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES MAY CONTINUE TO LIVE IN ONE OF OUR SOBER HOUSES, THOUGH SOME CHOOSE TO LIVE OFF-SITE. THE NUMBER OF RECOVERY HOUSING BED DAYS FOR WOMEN DURING THIS PERIOD WAS 16,684, WHILE 6,627 BED DAYS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE CHILDREN LIVING WITH THEIR MOTHERS. ADDITIONALLY, DURING FY 2025, THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES PROVIDED 564 HOURS OF CASE MANAGEMENT AND 479 HOURS OF INDIVIDUAL THERAPY TO FSH CLIENTS, WHICH HELPED THEM COPE WITH THEIR ADDICTION AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.