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Steps Program Inc

EIN 38-3849052 · Clarksburg, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY AND EQUAL ACCESSIBILITY IN THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND VOCATIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS WE PROVIDE VIA AN ATMOSPHERE OF ACADEMIC DIGNITY, INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE AND COLLEGE-BASED LEARNING FOR ALL.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
289
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$198,488, coo

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 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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

    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 (1)
  1. $3.2 million spent. COLLEGE STEPS PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS LIVING WITH SOCIAL OR LEARNING CHALLENGES. COLLEGE STEPS OFFERS ITS SUPPORT PROGRAM TO STUDENTS FOR WHOM NAVIGATING COLLEGE IS CHALLENGED BY SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, OR LEARNING BARRIERS. IT PROVIDES SERVICES TO BOTH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT COLLEGE LIFE PRIOR TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AS WELL AS ENROLLED COLLEGE STUDENTS. EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATING IN COLLEGE STEPS RECEIVES AN INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE PLAN THAT HELPS TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR GOALS AND AREAS OF NEEDED SUPPORT WITHIN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND VOCATIONAL CATEGORIES. COLLEGE STEPS' COLLEGE CAMPUS SUPPORTS ARE MANAGED BY A FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR ON EACH CAMPUS WHO SUPPORTS COLLEGE STEPS' STUDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS (A) WORKS WITH STUDENTS TO DEVISE AND REFINE AN INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE PLAN (ICP) THAT OUTLINES THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS AND SERVES AS A WORKING ROAD MAP FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS, (B) MEETS WITH STUDENTS DAILY TO ENSURE ACADEMIC GOALS ARE BEING MET AND SUPPORT IS BEING MOST EFFICIENTLY PROVIDED, (C) INTERFACES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENSURE FREQUENT AND DETAILED FEEDBACK ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE IS CONVEYED, (D) INTERFACES WITH COLLEGE FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF AND STUDENTS TO COORDINATE AND SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT, (E) SUPERVISES COLLEGE STEPS NETWORK OF ON-CAMPUS PEER MENTORS. COLLEGE STEPS ALSO CAREFULLY SELECTS, TRAINS, AND EMPLOYS A TEAM OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE PARTNERING COLLEGE. PEER MENTORS PROVIDE SUPPORT WITH ACADEMICS (E.G. SUPPORTIVE TIME STUDY, ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, ETC) AND VOCATIONAL INTERNSHIPS, AS WELL AS HELP LINK COLLEGE STEPS SCHOLARS TO THE SOCIAL ELEMENT OF COLLEGE LIFE VIA INTRODUCTION TO NEW CLUBS OR ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL GROUPS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.

    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 March 2015.

    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.