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First Steps Inc

EIN 62-0674974 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST STEPS PROVIDES EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN OUR SERVICES, CHILDREN MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS. WE CREATE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES THAT BUILD FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR LONG TERM SUCCESS.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 44%
Employees
70
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$152,934, executive di

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 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 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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. $2.9 million spent. SINCE 1957, FIRST STEPS HAS SERVED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHILE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES. WE SERVE FAMILIES FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND ETHNICITIES. OUR INCLUSIVE MCWHORTER FAMILY CHILDREN'S CENTER OFFERS FULL TIME CARE AND EDUCATION TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ALONGSIDE THEIR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING PEERS AGES SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS. OUR STAFF IS HIGHLY TRAINED AND PROVIDES EACH CHILD THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THEY NEED, RECOGNIZING THAT EACH CHILD HAS A DISTINCT SET OF STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES. OUR STAFF REPORTS DAILY TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS VIA TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD ON THEIR CHILD'S PROGRESS, WHILE PROVIDING TOOLS TO - CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O
  2. FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT SINCE 1957, FIRST STEPS HAS SERVED CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHILE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES. WE SERVE FAMILIES FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND ETHNICITIES. OUR INCLUSIVE MCWHORTER FAMILY CHILDREN'S CENTER OFFERS FULL TIME CARE AND EDUCATION TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ALONGSIDE THEIR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING PEERS AGES SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS. OUR STAFF IS HIGHLY TRAINED AND PROVIDES EACH CHILD THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THEY NEED, RECOGNIZING THAT EACH CHILD HAS A DISTINCT SET OF STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES. OUR STAFF REPORTS DAILY TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS VIA TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD ON THEIR CHILD'S PROGRESS, WHILE PROVIDING TOOLS TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON SKILLS IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT. FIRST STEPS PROVIDES OUR CHILDREN WITH A CURRICULUM RICH IN LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS THAT PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR ACHIEVEMENT LATER IN LIFE. THE FIRST STEPS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM CONSISTS OF SKILLED DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPISTS THAT TRAVEL TO A CHILD'S HOME, CHILDCARE CENTER OR OTHER NATURAL SETTING TO SPEND TIME EACH WEEK IN PLAY BASED INTERVENTIONS GEARED TOWARDS THE CHILD'S GOALS. WORKING WITH PARENTS AND OTHER CAREGIVERS IN THESE NATURAL SETTINGS AND COACHING THEM TO UTILIZE THESE TECHNIQUES IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROGRAM. THE AYUNDANDO NINOS (HELPING CHILDREN) PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH CHILDREN FROM LATINO FAMILIES AS WELL AS OTHER CULTURES, OFFERING INTERPRETERS TO ASSIST IN COMMUNICATING WITH CAREGIVERS. WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN OFFERING THE VERY BEST TRAINING TO OUR STAFF TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABREAST OF NEW TECHNIQUES AND EVALUATION TOOLS TO ENSURE EACH CHILD RECEIVES THE VERY BEST. OUR THERAPY PROGRAM OFFERS OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH/LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL, AND FEEDING THERAPIES TO CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12 IN OUR MCWHORTER FAMILY CHILDREN'S CENTER. OVER THE PAST YEAR, MORE THAN 5,497 THERAPY SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 February 1994.

    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.