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Step Up for Students - West Virginia Inc

EIN 87-4413159 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-WEST VIRGINIA, INC. EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO PURSUE AND ENGAGE IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE LEARNING OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FAMILIES WHO LACK THE INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ACCESS THESE OPTIONS. BY PURSUING THIS MISSION, WE HELP PUBLIC EDUCATION FULFILL THE PROMISE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$147,236
Spending
$855,357
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$389,226, chief cst. exp. officer (thru 09/24)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 481% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 4 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $313,240 spent. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024, SUFS-WV IS NO LONGER UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA'S STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE. SUFS-WV HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA'S STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE TO ASSIST WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE WEST VIRGINIA HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. THE WEST VIRGINIA HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OFFERED QUALIFYING K-12 STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AN INDIVIDUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. SUFS-WV WAS CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO INCLUDE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY AND BEING THE FIDUCIARY OF THE STUDENT'S SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, WHICH WERE USED FOR QUALIFYING EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 June 2025.

    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.

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.