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First Step of Wichita Falls Inc

EIN 75-1633139 · Wichita Falls, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FREE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC AND/OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE, LEADING TO EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL PROBLEMS.

Income
$843,164
Spending
$984,056
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
34
Volunteers
102
Highest pay
$71,805, former executive dire

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

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $713,322 spent. FIRST STEP OF WICHITA FALLS, INC. (FIRST STEP) WAS INCORPORATED IN 1977 AS A SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. IT HAS PROGRESSED TO INCLUDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. FIRST STEP'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, FREE FROM VIOLENCE, THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSULT WITHOUT REGARD TO SEX, RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OR LIFESTYLE, WITH SAFETY BEING THE FIRST PRIORITY. FIRST STEP IS ONE OF THE FEW SHELTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER TO MALE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.FIRST STEP SERVES NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS, WHICH COVERS A TWELVE COUNTY RADIUS (ARCHER, BAYLOR, CHILDRESS, CLAY, COTTLE, HARDEMAN, FOARD, JACK, MONTAGUE, WICHITA, WILBARGER, AND YOUNG) AN AREA OF 10,364 SQUARE MILES AND AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 227,994.FIRST STEP SERVICES INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHELTER, 24 HOUR TOLL-FREE CRISIS HOTLINE, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, MEDICAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND CLOTHING ASSISTANCE, AND INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO ALL COMMUNITY RESOURCES. FIRST STEP OFFERS COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO OUR MISSION.IN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, FIRST STEP SERVED 235 SHELTER CLIENTS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND/OR SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPRISING 157 FEMALES AND 78 MALES, OF WHICH 128 WERE CHILDREN FOR 6,069 DAYS. FIRST STEP SERVED 189 NON-RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS. THE 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE ANSWERED 1,336 CALLS AND PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS. THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY, 6 PROTECTIVE ORDERS WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. FIRST STEP ASSISTED 7 INDIVIDUALS WITH LEGAL ADVOCACY AND ACCOMPANIED 7 INDIVIDUALS TO COURT.FIRST STEP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON THE TOPICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT UPON REQUEST. WE HAVE DELIVERED EDUCATION TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (PATROL, PROBATION, AND PAROLE). WE HAVE PROVIDED EDUCATION TO LOCAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISCTRICTS. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, CHURCHES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS.FIRST STEP PROVIDED 849 SESSIONS OF COUNSELING TO 136 CLIENTS. A TOTAL OF 102 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 718 HOURS OF SERVICE. FIRST STEP PROVIDED HOSPITAL ACCOMPANIMENT FOR 20 CLIENTS FOR FORENSIC EXAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 1979.

    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.