First Step Staffing
First Step Staffing reported $53.3 million in revenue and $56.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.41 went to program services, $2.78 to management and general costs and $1.81 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 93.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $393,173 (CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 7% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $56MFor context, the median across 409 covered employment charities: $88.97 programs, $11.03 management, $0.00 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $53MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.4% | 88.0% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.8% | 10.9% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.8% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.28 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 6.9% | 22.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 93.0% | 62.6% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $393,173 | $297,435 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.70% | 1.26% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | -0.7 | 8.1 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFirst Step Staffing, an Alternative Staffing Organization, is designed to eliminate barriers to employment. First Step believes in providing an economic opportunity for everyone. To do so, First Step contracts with businesses and directly employs men and women who have experienced homelessness, veterans, and returning citizens to fill these contract jobs. To help our clients successfully re-enter the job market and support job retention, First Step provides training, job coaching, transportation assistance to/from work, and any necessary uniforms, tools, or equipment. First Step has had a…
First Step Disability Services helps men and women with severe disabilities access Social Security Disability Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Prior to First Step Disability Services, only 19 percent of homeless people who applied for disability are approved. In contrast, over 80 percent of First Step's clients are approved and in an average of 12-24 months (compared to 3-5 years in Georgia). Over the last five years, First Step Disability Services has secured approximately $3,000,000 in retroactive benefits and almost $200,000 in recurring monthly benefits
First Step operates a housing assistance program in Atlanta, GA and Philadelphia, PA. The program provides direct housing assistance to those facing eviction and/or homeless during their employment with FSS. Housing payments vary and do not extend past 6 months
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $393,173 | $0 | $0 | $393,173 |
| COO Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $344,739 | $0 | $30,263 | $375,002 |
| VP of Northeast Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $196,668 | $0 | $0 | $196,668 |
| CMO Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $189,168 | $0 | $0 | $189,168 |
| VP of Operations Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $172,990 | $0 | $11,142 | $184,132 |
| VP of Southern CA Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $154,383 | $0 | $0 | $154,383 |
| VP of Retention Services Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $142,433 | $0 | $11,142 | $153,575 |
| CFO Officer, 30.0 hrs/week | $122,323 | $0 | $0 | $122,323 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from First Step Staffing (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $890K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 57,055
- Volunteers Part I, line 617
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Direct Hire Consultants LLC Executive Search Firm | $138,586 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
14 private foundations reported grants to First Step Staffing totaling $6.5M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from First Step Staffing's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for First Step Staffing, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 First Step Staffing spent in 2025, $95.41 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Goodwill Industries of Eastern North CarolinaDurham, NC · revenue $52M · programs 85.8% · 2024
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- Goodwill of the Great PlainsSioux City, IA · revenue $52M · programs 90.6% · 2024
- Occupational Training Center of Burlington CountyBurlington, NJ · revenue $55M · programs 85.2% · 2024
- Work Services CorporationWichita Falls, TX · revenue $51M · programs 90.2% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of First Step Staffing's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, First Step Staffing reported that 95.4% of its $56.4 million in expenses went to program services, 2.8% to management and general and 1.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does First Step Staffing pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation First Step Staffing reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $393,173, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does First Step Staffing get its money?
Of $53.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 6.9% came from contributions and grants (including 1.4% from government grants) and 93.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is First Step Staffing a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 20-8038859 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202611759349300111 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503229349302165 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422549349301412 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323189349313027 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202202379349301320 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142039349301009 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023089349301912 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 20-8038859: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.