Next Step Charitable Trust
Next Step Charitable Trust shows volatile financial performance with zero officer compensation.
EIN: 206145591 · Harwood, MD · NTEE: P12 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $122K |
| Total Expenses | $112K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $27K |
| Transparency Score | 70/100 |
Is Next Step Charitable Trust Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Next Step Charitable Trust directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Next Step Charitable Trust
Next Step Charitable Trust (EIN: 206145591) is a nonprofit organization based in Harwood, MD, classified under NTEE code P12. The organization reported total revenue of $122K and total assets of $72K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Next Step Charitable Trust's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Next Step Charitable Trust is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2015–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 10.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $133K |
| Total Expenses | $112K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$21K |
| Total Assets | $27K |
| Net Assets | $27K |
| Operating Margin | 16.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Next Step Charitable Trust reported a surplus of $21K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 2.9 months of operating reserves (limited).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2015–2023), Next Step Charitable Trust's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +57.6% | -20.7% | +365.4% |
| 2022 | -12.7% | +181.6% | -90.7% |
| 2020 | -100.0% | -94.4% | -15.6% |
| 2019 | +8.5% | -56.3% | -27.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Next Step Charitable Trust with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Next Step Charitable Trust allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $21K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating that no executive salaries are paid, which is highly favorable for minimizing administrative overhead.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Next Step Charitable Trust's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant year-to-year financial volatility in revenue and expenses, such as expenses exceeding revenue by over $56,000 in 2022.
- Reported $0 revenue in 2020, which is unusual for an active charitable trust.
- Lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data, making it difficult to assess program efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Next Step Charitable Trust:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating no executive salaries.
- Zero liabilities reported in all available periods, suggesting good financial management of debt.
- Periods of strong revenue generation, such as $133,488 in 2023 and $97,060 in 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions about Next Step Charitable Trust
Is Next Step Charitable Trust a legitimate charity?
Next Step Charitable Trust (EIN: 206145591) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Maryland. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 70/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $122K. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Next Step Charitable Trust spend its money?
Next Step Charitable Trust directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Next Step Charitable Trust tax-deductible?
Next Step Charitable Trust is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 206145591). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Next Step Charitable Trust's spending goes to programs?
Next Step Charitable Trust directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Next Step Charitable Trust compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 70/100 (Good), Next Step Charitable Trust is above average for NTEE category P12 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Next Step Charitable Trust located?
Next Step Charitable Trust is headquartered in Harwood, Maryland and files with the IRS under EIN 206145591. It is classified under NTEE code P12.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Next Step Charitable Trust have?
Next Step Charitable Trust has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $122K in total revenue.
Is Next Step Charitable Trust a good charity?
Next Step Charitable Trust exhibits some positive attributes, such as zero officer compensation and periods of strong revenue generation. However, the significant year-to-year financial volatility and the lack of detailed expense breakdowns in the provided data make a definitive 'good' assessment difficult without further information on program impact and specific spending categories.
Why are the assets so inconsistent year over year?
The inconsistency in assets, ranging from $5,836 in 2022 to $104,808 in 2017, is likely due to the fluctuating difference between revenue and expenses each year. For example, in 2022, expenses exceeded revenue by over $56,000, leading to a sharp decline in assets, while in 2021, revenue significantly surpassed expenses, contributing to asset growth.
What caused the $0 revenue in 2020?
The $0 revenue reported in 2020 is a significant anomaly. Without further information from the full IRS 990 filing, it's impossible to determine the exact cause, but it could indicate a temporary halt in fundraising activities, a reporting error, or a year with no incoming donations.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Next Step Charitable Trust showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2015–2023), Next Step Charitable Trust's revenue has grown by 124%, moving from $60K to $133K. Total assets decreased by 23.2% over the same period, from $35K to $27K. Total functional expenses rose by 106.6%, from $54K to $112K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Next Step Charitable Trust reported a surplus of $21K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $133K | $112K | $27K | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $85K | $142K | $6K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $97K | $50K | $63K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $0 | $3K | $16K | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $46K | $53K | $19K | $0 | — | — |
| 2018 | $42K | $121K | $26K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $72K | $2K | $105K | $0 | — | — |
| 2016 | $86K | $86K | $35K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $60K | $54K | $35K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $133K, expenses of $112K, and assets of $27K (revenue +57.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $85K, expenses of $142K, and assets of $6K (revenue -12.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $97K, expenses of $50K, and assets of $63K.
- 2020: Revenue of $0, expenses of $3K, and assets of $16K (revenue -100.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $46K, expenses of $53K, and assets of $19K (revenue +8.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $42K, expenses of $121K, and assets of $26K (revenue -41.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $72K, expenses of $2K, and assets of $105K (revenue -16.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $86K, expenses of $86K, and assets of $35K (revenue +43.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $60K, expenses of $54K, and assets of $35K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Next Step Charitable Trust:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Next Step Charitable Trust is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.