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The Next Step Foundation

EIN 87-3076934 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEXT STEP FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND ENABLE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, ALONG WITH WOMEN AND YOUNG ADULTS, TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO COMPETE IN THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, AND TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION THROUGH OUR PROPRIETORY RAATT METHOD OF DELIVERING TRAINING. THE RAATT METHOD, WHICH STANDS FOR RECRUIT, ASSESS, ACCOMODATE, TRAIN, AND TRANSITION, ADDRESSES THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF OUR BENEFICIARY'S PROGRESS TOWARD EMPLOYMENT.

Income
$497,343
Spending
$496,350
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$75,890, executive ch

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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    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 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. $325,231 spent. IN 2024, WE TRAINED PARTICIPANTS FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ON A VARIETY OF DIGITAL SKILLS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND JOB-READINESS TRAININGS. WE TRAINED MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS, 37% OF WHICH IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A DISABILITY, ON DATA ANNOTATION AND AWS CLOUD SKILLS. WE PLACED 33% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN JOBS FOLLOWING TRAINING. IN KILIFI COUNTY, KENYA WE TRAINED 30 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS, WHICH ENABLED THEM TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. WE ALSO PROVIDED DISABILITY INCLUSION TRAINING TO APPROXIMATELY 1,500 EMPLOYEES FROM MORE THAN 20 EMPLOYERS TO FACILITATE THEIR INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR WORKPLACE.
  2. $60,981 spent. THE NEXT STEP FOUNDATION'S UPILI PROGRAM EXPANDED ITS IMPACT IN 2024, IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES IN KENYA. THE PROGRAM GREW BEYOND ITS JOYTOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL PILOT TO INCLUDE TREESIDE KAMBUI SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, WHERE IT LAUNCHED ITS FIRST GROUP COUNSELING COHORT CONDUCTED IN KENYAN SIGN LANGUAGE (KSL) BY A DEAF COUNSELOR. THROUGH THIS EXPANSION, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 200 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHOSE IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH RESULTED IN HIGHER TEST SCORES ON THE KENYAN NATIONAL EXAMS.
  3. $20,327 spent. IN 2024, THE NEXT STEP FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISABILITY TRUST (AT4D) TO LAUNCH AI FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (AI4SDG) CENTER, A NEW INITIATIVE HARNESSING AI TO ADVANCE SDGS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH. TARGETING SDGS 4 (QUALITY EDUCATION), 8 (DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH), 10 (REDUCED INEQUALITY), AND 11 (SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES), THE CENTER DRIVES INNOVATION THROUGH COLLABORATION. THE CENTER SUPPORTS PROJECTS LIKE THE NIKKOWORKX DATA ANNOTATION TRAINING PLATFORM, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR AI CAREERS AND FOSTERING EQUITABLE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT SOLUTIONS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 July 2024.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.