Step Denver
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Step Denver is a residential recovery community that gives men with nowhere else to turn the opportunity to rebuild their lives through Sobriety, Work, Accountability, and Community. The ultimate goal of the organization is to have its residents transition to safe, sober, independent living situations where they may become productive, contributing members of their communities.
- Income
- $5.0 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $181,651, ceo
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.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $3.8 million spent. The Board and Staff of Step Denver have continued with the implementation of its Strategic Plan focused on the goal of serving more men. Step has begun the process of expanding into Colorado Springs to replicate its program in that community. A Step Denver subsidiary, Step Springs, was established and construction on the StepSprings residential facility will conclude in 2025.Throughout this period of expansion, Step Denver remains focused on ensuring clients/residents receive a high level of engagement and programming to support their progress and sustained outcomes. Program enhancements continue to be made. Step Denver achieved an 85% follow-up contact rate in 2025, and recorded record rates of sobriety (85%) and stable housing (90%) post program departure. 382 individuals were served in Step Denver's program this year.
- $52,412 spent. The Driven to Donate vehicle donation program continues to provide a substantial percentage of the revenue needed to provide Steps clients with safe, sober housing. Donated vehicle sale proceeds provide steady capital needed on a monthly basis to support facility operational expenses, while monetary donation cycles are more seasonal. Driven to Donate revenue provides coverage of residential facility needs, allowing monetary donations to be deployed in direct service to clients, supportingprogrammatic expenses.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.