Step Up on Second Street Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
STEP UP ON SECOND STREET DELIVERS COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, TO HELP THEM RECOVER, STABILIZE, AND INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIPS, WE PROVIDE POSITIVE SOCIAL AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, AND RECOVERY SERVICES TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO CULTIVATE LIVES OF HOPE AND DIGNITY. WE EXERCISE INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORT, AND ACCEPTANCE OF ALL PEOPLE LIVING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
- Income
- $72.1 million
- Spending
- $63.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 91%
- Employees
- 656
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $443,745, chief executive officer
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (3)
- $34.7 million spent. HOUSING:STEP UP ON SECOND STREET, INC. HAS REAL ESTATE RENTAL OPERATIONS THAT ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO MOVE INTO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, STEP UP ON SECOND STREET, INC. OWNED AND/OR OPERATED PROPERTIES IN EL MONTE, LOS ANGELES, REDLANDS, SALINAS, SAN BERNARDINO, AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS SANFORD, FLORIDA.
- $17.1 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:STEP UP ON SECOND STREET, INC. ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING VETERANS AND TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH) WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AND SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES BOTH IN CLINIC AND FIELD-BASED, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES WHICH ADDRESS ALL AREAS OF LIFE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND LINKAGE TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, LIFE SKILLS COACHING, SOCIALIZATION, LINKAGE TO FOOD RESOURCES, HOMELESS ADVOCACY, OUTREACH AND HOUSING RETENTION, HOUSING PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT LEADING TO INDIVIDUAL GOAL ATTAINMENT, INCREASED SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND RECOVERY.
- EMPLOYMENT SERVICES:STEP UP ON SECOND STREET, INC. BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO WORK SHOULD WORK. SERVICES INCLUDE EXPLORATION OF VOCATIONAL INTEREST/HISTORY, RESUME BUILDING, JOB SEARCH, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS, PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING COMMUNITY JOB SEEKING AND PLACEMENT, AND PEER SUPPORT TRAINING.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 August 1992.
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 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.