Step Up Louisiana Organizing Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Step Up Louisiana is a community-based organization committed to building power to win education and economic justice for all. We work with multiracial and intergenerational Louisianans to Step Up by campaigning, organizing from a racial justice perspective, and holding public officials accountable. We organize with parents, workers, students, and community members to disrupt systemic oppression in our schools and workplaces through voter education, advocacy, and action.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 91
- Volunteers
- 1,500
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 127% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $1.6 million spent. Civic Engagement - organizing and leadership development of our base at scale through door to door outreach and year-round membership and committee meetings are important parts of our civic engagement program. We listen to our base about the education and economic justice issues most directly impacting them and then take action to address those concerns. Our integrated voter engagement community organizing work is year-round to hold our leaders accountable and keep our community informed.
- $360,024 spent. Economic Justice - Step Up members organize to transform all jobs in Louisiana to good, safe, living wage jobs. Our members aim to boost our economy for all families by focusing on raising wages and improve working conditions for low wage workers and stopping discrimination for formerly incarcerated people. Step Up also organizes with Dollar Store workers with a focus on safety and pay at the major retail corporations in our communities.
- $151,977 spent. Educational Justice - Step Up Louisiana organizes with parents to lead our education justice work. Our organizing committee is called a Parent Union. We utilize the context of the village when defining the role of a parent. A parent is the mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, big cousin, or an adult who mentors and cares for the children of our community. Our essential demands for educational equity in Louisiana is the implementation of sustainable community schools throughout our local school districts and for our children to be taught the truth about history through culturally responsive curriculums in our public schools.
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
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.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.