Step Forward
Step Forward reported $44.2 million in revenue and $43.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.37 went to program services, $10.55 to management and general costs and $0.08 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.8% of the total. Government grants made up 98.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $253,743 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 27% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending January 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $44MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending January 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $44MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.4% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.8% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 98.3% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.1% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $253,743 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.58% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 12 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.3 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 14 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseChild education - Step Forward's head start program served 1,741 children throughout the greater cleveland community. In partnership, Step Forward and its partners deliver high-quality early childhood programs in safe, nurturing environments. In addition to an engaging pre-school environment, Step Forward head start provides health, mental health and dental screenings, nutritious meals and family literacy opportunities to incorporate the entire family into the spirit of growth and responsibility.Step Forward's early head start program incorporates the belief that education starts when life…
Community service and housing assistancestep forward helps individuals and families in cuyahoga county overcome barriers to employment, housing, and financial stability. In 2024, the agency distributed $4 million in remaining COVID relief funds, bringing total home relief assistance to more than $36 million since the pandemic. Step Forward also provided 400 free tax returns, supported 83 mothers through parenting and early childhood education programs, and helped more than 250 clients build job skills and career readiness through partnerships, training, and outreach events
Energy assistance -Step Forward helps low-income households maintain essential utility services through the home energy assistance and percentage of income payment plan programs. In 2024, the agency received 34,580 applications and provided services to 34,134 individuals, with 98.7 percent receiving assistance. Step Forward distributed more than $6.6 million in total aid, including energy, crisis, and water assistance, ensuring households remained safe and connected throughout the year
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $215,719 | $0 | $38,024 | $253,743 |
| VP OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,388 | $0 | $35,391 | $221,779 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,757 | $0 | $43,352 | $210,109 |
| VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,483 | $0 | $31,484 | $209,967 |
| VP OF COMMUNITY SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,269 | $0 | $32,507 | $201,776 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, PLANNING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $137,573 | $0 | $41,167 | $178,740 |
| VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,278 | $0 | $22,033 | $177,311 |
12 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Step Forward (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $483K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · 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–1b14 · 14 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 5437
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,192
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| OHIO CITY SECURITY Security | $453,058 |
| CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT Daycare-collaboration partner | $374,552 |
| PROTIVITI INC Staffing agency | $244,986 |
| CLEVERBEE ACADEMY LLC Daycare-collaboration partner | $143,797 |
| WIPFLI LLP Auditor | $143,718 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Step Forward's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Step Forward, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Step Forward spent in FY2025, $89.37 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Life UnlimitedNorth Kansas City, MO · revenue $44M · programs 82.5% · FY2025
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- Jay Nolan Community ServicesMission Hills, CA · revenue $44M · programs 85.3% · FY2025
- Southern California Health & Rehabilitation ProgramLynwood, CA · revenue $44M · programs 76.5% · FY2025
- the Young Men's Christian Association of Greater LouisvilleLouisville, KY · revenue $44M · programs 86.7% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of Step Forward's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025, Step Forward reported that 89.4% of its $43.8 million in expenses went to program services, 10.5% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Step Forward pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Step Forward reported for one person in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025 was $253,743, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Step Forward get its money?
Of $44.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025, 98.8% came from contributions and grants (including 98.3% from government grants) and 1.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Step Forward a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 34-0965350 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025, object 202513439349300611 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2024, object 202403519349300730 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2023, object 202303389349300615 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2022, object 202233399349300523 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021, object 202123379349301207 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2020, object 202043439349300104 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 34-0965350: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.