Stepping Forward Ministries
Stepping Forward Ministries shows consistent growth and zero liabilities with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 204944364 · Salem, OR · NTEE: Q33 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $340K |
| Total Expenses | $393K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $70K |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is Stepping Forward Ministries Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Stepping Forward Ministries directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Stepping Forward Ministries
Stepping Forward Ministries (EIN: 204944364) is a nonprofit organization based in Salem, OR, classified under NTEE code Q33. The organization reported total revenue of $340K and total assets of $122K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Stepping Forward Ministries's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Stepping Forward Ministries is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 12.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $399K |
| Total Expenses | $393K |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$7K |
| Total Assets | $70K |
| Net Assets | $70K |
| Operating Margin | 1.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 2.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Stepping Forward Ministries reported a surplus of $7K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 2.2 months of operating reserves (limited).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Stepping Forward Ministries's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -26.5% | -21.7% | +10.2% |
| 2022 | +71.7% | +66.4% | +188.5% |
| 2021 | +66.5% | +60.5% | +213.4% |
| 2020 | -3.2% | -4.8% | +46.9% |
| 2019 | +16.7% | +19.7% | -15.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| 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 Stepping Forward Ministries with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, Stepping Forward Ministries allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% 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 $7K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership either serves on a volunteer basis or receives compensation below the reporting threshold, which is a strong indicator of fiscal prudence for an organization of its size.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Stepping Forward Ministries:
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stepping Forward Ministries
Is Stepping Forward Ministries a legitimate charity?
Stepping Forward Ministries (EIN: 204944364) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Oregon. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $340K. No red flags identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Stepping Forward Ministries spend its money?
Stepping Forward Ministries directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Stepping Forward Ministries tax-deductible?
Stepping Forward Ministries is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204944364). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Stepping Forward Ministries's spending goes to programs?
Stepping Forward Ministries directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Stepping Forward Ministries compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 92/100 (Excellent), Stepping Forward Ministries is above average for NTEE category Q33 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Stepping Forward Ministries located?
Stepping Forward Ministries is headquartered in Salem, Oregon and files with the IRS under EIN 204944364. It is classified under NTEE code Q33.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Stepping Forward Ministries have?
Stepping Forward Ministries has 13 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 $340K in total revenue.
Is Stepping Forward Ministries a good charity?
Based on the provided financial data, Stepping Forward Ministries appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates consistent revenue growth, maintains zero liabilities, and reports no officer compensation, suggesting high efficiency and a strong commitment to its mission.
How has Stepping Forward Ministries' financial health changed over time?
Stepping Forward Ministries has shown significant financial growth and improved health over the past decade. Revenue has increased from $179,024 in 2014 to $399,419 in 2023, and assets have grown substantially from $2,074 to $70,400 in the same period, all while maintaining zero liabilities.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, indicating a highly cost-effective leadership structure, likely relying on volunteer efforts or very minimal, unreported stipends.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Stepping Forward Ministries showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Stepping Forward Ministries's revenue has grown by 312.7%, moving from $97K to $399K. Total assets increased by 2256.1% over the same period, from $3K to $70K. Total functional expenses rose by 307.9%, from $96K to $393K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Stepping Forward Ministries reported a surplus of $7K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $399K | $393K | $70K | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $544K | $502K | $64K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $317K | $302K | $22K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $190K | $188K | $7K | $0 | — | — |
| 2019 | $196K | $197K | $5K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $168K | $165K | $6K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $145K | $144K | $2K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $109K | $109K | $1K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $191K | $191K | $2K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $179K | $180K | $2K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $135K | $134K | $3K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $97K | $98K | $2K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $97K | $96K | $3K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $399K, expenses of $393K, and assets of $70K (revenue -26.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $544K, expenses of $502K, and assets of $64K (revenue +71.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $317K, expenses of $302K, and assets of $22K (revenue +66.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $190K, expenses of $188K, and assets of $7K (revenue -3.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $196K, expenses of $197K, and assets of $5K (revenue +16.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $168K, expenses of $165K, and assets of $6K (revenue +16.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $145K, expenses of $144K, and assets of $2K (revenue +32.9% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $109K, expenses of $109K, and assets of $1K (revenue -43.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $191K, expenses of $191K, and assets of $2K (revenue +6.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $179K, expenses of $180K, and assets of $2K (revenue +32.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $135K, expenses of $134K, and assets of $3K (revenue +38.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $97K, expenses of $98K, and assets of $2K (revenue +0.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $97K, expenses of $96K, and assets of $3K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Stepping Forward Ministries:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Stepping Forward Ministries 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.