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Follow My Steps Foundation Inc

EIN 85-2648252 · Springfield, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair57 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPPOSING SOCIAL-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS FACED BY YOUTH, IN UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, BY PROVIDING MENTORSHIP, CAREER SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

Income
$499,685
Spending
$414,183
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
25
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$16,962, president & ceo

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 of 8 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $274,155 spent. THRIVE OVER SURVIVE PROGRAM - WE IMPACTED OVER 300 YOUTH. MENTORED YOUTH ARE 55% MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE AND 78% MORE LIKELY TO VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR MENTORS PROVIDED OVER 700 HOURS OF ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE. MENTORED YOUTH ARE 46% LESS LIKELY TO USE ILLEGAL DRUGS AND 27% LESS LIKELY TO BEGIN DRINKING, CONTRIBUTING TO HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE CHOICES. WE AWARDED OVER $15,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, HELPING YOUTH OVERCOME FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. DATA SHOWS THAT SCHOLARSHIPS INCREASE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT BY UP TO 30%, ENSURING LONG-TERM ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS.
  2. $7,375 spent. NEIGHBORSHARE DONATIONS - WE PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORSHARE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH NEIGHBORSHARE WE HAVE HELPED 24 FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AROUND $7,000.

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 October 13, 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 October 2020.

    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 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.