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Step Up Womens Network

EIN 95-4701468 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT STEP UP, WE OFFER IN PERSON AFTER SCHOOL AND VIRTUAL SUMMER MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. IN ADDITION, WE OFFER YEAR ROUND VIRTUAL MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG WOMEN AGES 18-29. (SEE SCHEDULE O)ALL GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS COME FROM COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITIED RESOURCES OR ARE FACING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS. WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS AND THE MENTORING CONNECTIONS WE PROVIDE, THEY BECOME CONFIDENT, CONNECTED AND CAREER READY SO THAT THEY CAN JOIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN LEADERS. 100% OF STEP UP PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE MENTORS.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
30
Volunteers
1,085
Highest pay
$284,711, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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 (4)
  1. $1.3 million spent. TEEN PROGRAMS: STEP UP SUPPORTS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS AND THOSE WHO IDENTIFY WITH GIRLHOOD AGES 14-18 THROUGH AN EVIDENCED BASED TWELVE-WEEK AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM OFFERS SPECIALIZED CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAMMING AND LEVERAGES A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING LENS TO HELP GIRLS EXPLORE CAREER INTERESTS, GAIN EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BEGIN TO BUILD A CAREER PATH. DURING THE SUMMER, STEP UP ALSO OFFERS THREE WEEKS OF POWERFUL CAREER PREP IN CONJUNCTION WITH STEP UP CORPORATE PARTNERS WHO HOST CAREER CONNECTED AND EXPERENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARTICPATION IN STEP UP, 83% REPORTED INCREASED CAREER-READINESS, 81% REPORTED INCREASED CONNECTEDNESS, AND 78% OF YOUNG ADULTS REPORTED INCREASED CONFIDENCE.
  2. $728,284 spent. YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS: STEP UP SUPPORTS YOUNG WOMEN AND THOSE WHO IDENTFY WITH WOMANHOOD AGES 18-29 AS THEY TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND NAVIGATE THEIR POST SECONDARY PURSUITS. WE FOCUS ON HELPING THEM TO FURTHER HONE THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE WORKFORCE, AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE MENTORING MODEL PAIRS YOUNG WOMEN WITH PROFESSIONAL MENTORS FOR STRUCTURED INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER COACHING, OFFERED MENTOR SUPPORTED SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDED CAREER FOCUSED FLASH MENTORING. AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARTICPATION IN STEP UP, 100% REPORTED INCREASED CAREER-READINESS, 97% OF YOUNG ADULTS REPORTED INCREASED CONFIDENCE, AND 86% REPORTED INCREASED CONNECTEDNESS.
  3. $458,182 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: STEP UP'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM DEVELOPS AND FOSTERS SUSTAINED STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS THAT ARE BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL IN REACH. THEY ENSURE SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT OF EXTERNAL PARTNERS SUCH AS SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. IN THE COMING YEARS, STEP UP'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM WILL SEEK TO ENGAGE MORE STAKEHOLDERS AND CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHILE DEEPENING OUR IMPACT IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE AND SERVE. DURING THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR, STEP UP PARTNERED WITH 35 SCHOOLS AND LEVERAGED 43 TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO DELIVER OUR SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
  4. $366,145 spent. MEMBER PROGRAMS: STEP UP IS ABLE TO DELIVER A HIGH LEVEL OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, CAREER PREPARATION, AND MENTORSHIP THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF HIGHLY ENGAGED MENTORS. STEP UP UR MEMBER PROGRAMS HELP THE ORGANIZATION RECRUIT NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WILL LEVERAGE THEIR RESOURCES ON BEHALF OF STEP UP GIRLS. FUELED WITH THIS ADDITIONAL PEOPLE POWER, STEP UP ENSURES ALL GIRLS ARE ON THE PATHWAY TO ACHIEVE HIGH SCHOOL AND POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS AND HAVE THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP THEM PURSUE AND ACHIEVE THEIR UNIQUE DREAMS OF SUCCESS. IN 2025, MORE THAN 600 STEP UP MENTORS REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES AND BACKGROUNDS BROUGHT A DEPTH AND DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE TO STEP UP GIRLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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 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 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 November 1998.

    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.

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