Consistent revenue growth, from $179,024 in 2014 to $399,419 in 2023.
Zero reported liabilities across all 13 filings, indicating strong financial management.
No reported officer compensation, suggesting high efficiency and volunteer-driven leadership.
Assets have grown significantly from $2,074 in 2014 to $70,400 in 2023, enhancing organizational capacity.
Expenses closely track revenue, indicating funds are actively deployed for mission-related activities.
Spending Breakdown
How Stepping Forward Ministries allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
90%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
7%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
3%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stepping Forward Ministries
Is Stepping Forward Ministries a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Stepping Forward Ministries (EIN: 204944364) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 92/100. 0 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
Is Stepping Forward Ministries a good charity to donate to?
Stepping Forward Ministries has a Mission Score of 92/100. Revenue: $340K. Assets: $122K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Stepping Forward Ministries?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Stepping Forward Ministries is 204944364. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Stepping Forward Ministries spend its money?
Stepping Forward Ministries allocates 90% to programs, 7% to administration, and 3% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Stepping Forward Ministries's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Stepping Forward Ministries's tax-exempt status using EIN 204944364 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
Stepping Forward Ministries demonstrates consistent growth in revenue and assets over the past decade, indicating a stable financial trajectory. The organization's expenses closely track its revenue, suggesting a lean operational model where most incoming funds are deployed for immediate activities. For instance, in 2023, revenue was $399,419 and expenses were $392,885, showing a very tight margin. This pattern is consistent across all reported years, with expenses often nearly matching or slightly exceeding revenue in some periods, such as 2019 where expenses were $197,322 against $196,451 in revenue. This indicates a commitment to utilizing funds rather than accumulating large reserves, which can be a positive sign for donors seeking direct impact.
The organization's financial health appears sound, with a notable increase in assets from $2,074 in 2014 to $70,400 in 2023, reflecting a growing capacity. The consistent reporting of zero liabilities across all filings is a significant strength, indicating strong financial management and a lack of debt. The absence of officer compensation further enhances its transparency and efficiency profile, suggesting a volunteer-driven leadership or a very modest compensation structure not reported in this category.
Spending efficiency is high, given the minimal difference between revenue and expenses. While a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising costs is not provided in the summary data, the overall financial picture suggests that the vast majority of funds are being expended on the organization's mission. The consistent growth in revenue and assets, coupled with zero liabilities and no reported officer compensation, paints a picture of a well-managed and fiscally responsible nonprofit.