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Stepping Stones Foundation Inc

EIN 86-0542919 · Prescott Vly, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

24/7 HELPLINE, EMERGENCY SHELTER, TRANSITIONAL SAFE LIVING PROGRAM & 24/7 ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN & THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION/DEPRIVATION

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$915,104
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
17
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$68,596, vp of outreachdirector

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 10 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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. $872,874 spent. SEE SCHED O
  2. WE PROVIDE 24/7/365 RESIDENTIAL, ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO ADULT & CHILD VICTIMS. IN 2025, WE SERVED 54 ADULTS & 40 CHILDREN IN OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM. 19 FAMILIES, INCLUDING 22 CHILDREN, PARTICIPATED IN OUR TRANSITIONAL SAFE LIVING PROGRAM. ANOTHER 47 WOMEN & 4 MEN WERE PROVIDED SERVICES THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCACY PROGRAM. ADVOCATES TOOK OVER 2,500 CALLS ON OUR 24/7 HELPLINE. WE PROVIDED 1,343 HOURS OF SUPPORT GROUPS, AND 7,421 HOURS OF FACE-TO-FACE SUPPORT, INCLUDING COUNSELING, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY. WE PROVIDED 5,108 BEDNIGHTS AND 15,300+ MEALS. 100% OF FAMILIES WE SERVED WITH HOUSING WERE TANF ELIGIBLE AND 89% OF THE INDIVIDUALS WERE AT 50% OR BELOW POVERTY LEVEL ACCORDING TO THE MOST CURRENT ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING HUD CHARTS. ANONYMOUS COMPLETION SURVEYS COMPILED AND REPORTED 97% OF CLIENTS HAVE INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS EFFECTS ON THEIR LIVES; 97% REPORT THEIR SAFETY HAS IMPROVED; 97% REPORT THEY KNOW HOW TO PLAN FOR CONTINUED SAFETY. 97% REPORT THEY KNOW HOW TO ACCESS ONGOING JUSTICE ADVOCACY; 97% HAVE INCREASED FEELINGS OF WELL-BEING. WE PROVIDED 224 HOURS OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & HOW TO ACCESS SERVICES.

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 June 1985.

    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.