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Next Step Equal Education

EIN 83-3053421 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Next Step Equal Education is a nonprofit that collaborates with indigenous villages in Guatemala to improve their local education. Our projects include supporting local schools with materials and supplies creating computer labs in villages building new school facilities bringing secondary education to villages providing school snacks and providing scholarships for secondary education.

Income
$294,422
Spending
$326,678
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3

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

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (7)
  1. $118,082 spent. School construction: we completed the construction of a 6-room schoolhouse with 2 office-bodegas for the middle-high school in the village Taquinc La Esperanza Cahabn Alta Verapaz Guatemala with approximately 104 students and we began the construction of 3 rooms for the second floor of a schoolhouse with an office-bodega for the middle-high school in the village Setzacpec Cahabn Alta Verapaz Guatemala with approximately 133 students.
  2. $77,590 spent. School supplies and learning materials: we bought school supplies and learning materials for public schools in 6 villages in Alta Verapaz Guatemala for approximately 867 students.
  3. $31,548 spent. Secondary school classes: we contracted 3 teachers to teach in the middle-high school in Taquinc La Esperanza Cahabn Alta Verapaz Guatemala 2 teachers to teach in the middle-high school in Setzacpec Cahabn Alta Verapaz Guatemala and provided them with support for school activities.
  4. $11,589 spent. School furniture: we bought new desks chairs cabinets and shelves for the middle high school we built in Taquinc La Esperanza Cahabon Alta Verapaz Guatemala.
  5. $27,221 spent. School snacks: we provided Incaparina a nutrient rich energy dense drink mix along with firewood and a stipend for students mothers who volunteer to prepare the snack to provide in school snacks to approximately 867 students in 6 villages in Alta Verapaz Guatemala.
  6. $29,538 spent. Computer labs: we provided computer teachers and computers and related equipment solar system equipment printing materials costs for equipment repairs to support community run computer labs in 4 villages in Alta Verapaz Guatemala
  7. $7,611 spent. Scholarship program: we provided grants to students studying in secondary schools outside their villages to help them pay for the cost of their schooling and living expenses in Izabal and Alta Verapaz Guatemala.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 August 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.