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Step Up Suncoast Inc

EIN 59-6208766 · Sarasota, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Step Up Suncoast empowers individuals and families to achieve long-term economic stability through education, support services, and community partnerships. The Agency's activities include combating poverty through community action programs and research projects by making every effort to mobilize the human and financial resources of the community, rallying local resources into community action programs for the benefit of all persons irrespective of age, race, color, or creed and facilitating these general purposes through combined representation of federal, state, and local governmental and community agencies.

Income
$21.6 million
Spending
$20.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
234
Volunteers
374
Highest pay
$233,617, president & ceo

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 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. $10.1 million spent. Early childhood education, voluntary pre-kindergarten and Head Start educational programs for over 736 participants. The programs received over $879,537 in donated services and use of facilities.
  2. $3.3 million spent. Parents as Teachers - Training, home visit parenting services, and family support and referral services provide for developmental monitoring, parent training, child screening, intervention therapy, and educational programs for over 2,398 participants through various resource connection for families programs. The Parents as Teachers ("PAT") model is designed to provide support for families by making personal visits to the home, conducting group events, providing screenings, and a resource network to families. Through the integrated service, the PAT model goal is to increase parental knowledge of child and family development, increase school readiness, and provide early detection and intervention for possible developmental delays.
  3. $2.9 million spent. Client assistance services provide rental and utilities assistance, energy assistance, family emergency assistance, and community foundation services to over 3,453 participants through the LIHEAP, LIHWAP, Season of Sharing, Family Self-Sufficiency, Micro-Enterprise, and Community Block Grant programs. The programs received over $43,861 in donated services.
  4. $876,222 spent. Housing assistance provides rental deposit and mortgage assistance, element intrusion services and housing counseling assistance to over 316 participants through the emergency housing, weatherization, and HUD programs.
  5. $527,572 spent. Food services provide food vouchers and lunches to over 736 participants through the food distribution and USDA programs.

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 October 1968.

    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.