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Steps Foundation

EIN 37-2120310 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE STEPS FOUNDATION PROVIDES FEMALE VETERANS, GOLD STAR SPOUSES, AND SOF SPOUSES WITH CURATED, TRAUMA-INFORMED RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT FOSTER WELLNESS, CAREER TRANSITION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION DURING THEIR TRANSITION AWAY FROM MILITARY LIFE.

Income
$524,742
Spending
$463,148
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$32,854, founder & executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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. $148,573 spent. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM: THE FOUNDATION OFFERS MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS SESSIONS, INTRODUCING TOOLS TO HELP REDUCE STRESS BY SHIFTING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM FROM THE SYMPATHETIC TO THE PARASYMPATHETIC. SOMATIC COACHING INCLUDES LEADING EDGE TRAUMA-INFORMED SOMATIC THERAPISTS WHO WORK WITH SPOUSES TO ADDRESS PAST TRAUMAS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSREGULATION, ENABLING SPOUSES TO CLAIM A SENSE OF SAFETY, VITALITY AND EMBODIMENT BEYOND LONG HELD SURVIVAL PATTERNS.
  2. $121,895 spent. PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS: NUTRITION AND FITNESS PROGRAMS MAKE HEALTHY LIVING APPROACHABLE. FAMILIES RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO SIMPLIFY MEALTIMES, PROVIDE MENUS FOR SPECIFIC HEALTH CONCERNS, REACH PERSONAL FITNESS GOALS, AND DISCOVER TOOLS TO HELP RECONNECT FAMILIES WITH THEIR OPERATOR AFTER SO MANY YEARS APART. ENDOCRINE BALANCING HELPS IDENTIFY IMBALANCES IN HORMONE LEVELS AND SPIKES IN CORTISOL LEVELS, PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTS FOR CONTINUED HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND OFFERING HOLISTIC HEALTH PROGRAMS TO REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS VIRTUAL PELVIC FLOOR THERAPY TO HELP ADDRESS PELVIC ISSUES
  3. $24,535 spent. CAREER AND EDUCATION: PERFORMANCE-BASED COACHING SESSIONS, UTILIZING NEUROSCIENCE, POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND STRENGTH-BASED TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES TO HELP SPOUSES GAIN CLARITY ON PURPOSE, PASSION AND STRENGTHS. FINANCIAL READINESS EDUCATION SESSIONS AND ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING HELP SPOUSES CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A CUSTOMIZED FINANCIAL PLAN. FOR SPOUSES WHO HAVE RECENTLY RELOCATED OR ARE SEEKING A CAREER CHANGE, WE PROVIDE TAILORED SUPPORT THROUGH RESUME WRITING SERVICES AND LINKEDIN ADVISORY SESSIONS, HELPING THEM HIGHLIGHT THEIR UNIQUE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES.
  4. $101,717 spent. COMMUNITY: THE FOUNDATION HOSTS MONTHLY CONNECTION CALLS, OFFERING DIVERSE SESSIONS LED BY CAREFULLY CURATED PROVIDERS. ROOTED IN OUR FOUR CORNERSTONES MENTAL, PHYSICAL, COMMUNITY, AND CAREER AND EDUCATION THESE CALLS CREATE A TRUSTED SPACE FOR LEARNING, CONNECTION, AND GROWTH. SPIRITUAL CONNECTION GROUPS ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER WISDOM, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND A DEEPER SENSE OF PURPOSE, WHILE BENEFITING FROM THE FELLOWSHIP OF LIKE-MINDED SPOUSES WHO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND JOYS OF MILITARY LIFE. THESE GROUPS OFFER A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO SHARE, CONNECT, AND GROW TOGETHER AS A SISTERHOOD BEYOND THE MILITARY. THE FOUNDATION HOSTS MONTHLY CONNECTION CALLS, OFFERING DIVERSE SESSIONS LED BY CAREFULLY CURATED PROVIDERS. ROOTED IN OUR FOUR CORNERSTONES MENTAL, PHYSICAL, COMMUNITY, AND CAREER AND EDUCATION THESE CALLS CREATE A TRUSTED SPACE FOR LEARNING, CONNECTION, AND GROWTH. SPIRITUAL CONNECTION GROUPS ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER WISDOM, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND A DEEPER SENSE OF PURPOSE, WHILE BENEFITING FROM THE FELLOWSHIP OF LIKE-MINDED SPOUSES WHO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND JOYS OF MILITARY LIFE. THESE GROUPS OFFER A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO SHARE, CONNECT, AND GROW TOGETHER AS A SISTERHOOD BEYOND THE MILITARY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 2024.

    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 November 4, 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.