First Step
First Step reported $34.6 million in revenue and $32.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.07 went to program services, $17.93 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 97.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $200,000 (EXECUTIVE DI). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 24% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $32MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $35MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.1% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.9% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | Not reported | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 97.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $200,000 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.62% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.7 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 10 | 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 expenseHighest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DI Highest compensated employee | $200,000 | $0 | $0 | $200,000 |
| CFO Highest compensated employee | $175,000 | $0 | $0 | $175,000 |
| COO Highest compensated employee | $155,000 | $0 | $0 | $155,000 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from First Step (Part VII, line 2).
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–1b10 · 10 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 15aNo
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- 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 5862
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to First Step totaling $14 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'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, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 First Step spent in FY2025, $82.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Town & Country Manor of the Christian and Missionary AllianceSanta Ana, CA · revenue $35M · programs 87.4% · FY2025
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- Federal Defenders of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · revenue $35M · programs 99.6% · FY2025
- Catholic Social ServicesPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $35M · programs 95.6% · FY2025
- National Organization for Rare DisordersNorwell, MA · revenue $35M · programs 81.1% · 2025
Questions people ask
How much of First Step's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, First Step reported that 82.1% of its $32.1 million in expenses went to program services, 17.9% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does First Step pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation First Step reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $200,000, for the role of EXECUTIVE DI (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does First Step get its money?
Of $34.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 0.3% came from contributions and grants and 97.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is First Step a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 71-0307372 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 June 30, 2025, object 202641319349302304 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501149349300135 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440599349301104 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (amended), object 202430579349301153 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202210339349301141 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202130279349301608 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 71-0307372: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.