Stepping Stones Learning Center
Stepping Stones Learning Center shows consistent multi-million dollar operations and asset growth over five years with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 161467135 · Rochester, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Expenses | $6.0M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| Net Assets | $870K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Stepping Stones Learning Center Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Stepping Stones Learning Center directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Stepping Stones Learning Center
Stepping Stones Learning Center (EIN: 161467135) is a nonprofit organization based in Rochester, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Stepping Stones Learning Center's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Stepping Stones Learning Center is a mid-size nonprofit, with 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2015). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 7.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $6.2M |
| Total Expenses | $6.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$266K |
| Total Assets | $6.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $5.2M |
| Net Assets | $870K |
| Operating Margin | 4.3% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 85.6% |
| Months of Reserves | 12.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2015, Stepping Stones Learning Center reported a surplus of $266K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 12.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 85.6% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 5 years of filings (2011–2015), Stepping Stones Learning Center's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +11.4% | +14.3% | +46.8% |
| 2014 | -1.2% | -3.6% | +253.4% |
| 2013 | +10.5% | +9.5% | +26.6% |
| 2012 | +10.5% | +10.1% | +10.3% |
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Stepping Stones Learning Center with a Mission Score of 75 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: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Stepping Stones Learning Center allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $266K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 85.6%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The reported 0% officer compensation across all five filings is highly unusual for an organization with multi-million dollar revenues and expenses, suggesting either a fully volunteer executive team or that executive compensation is categorized differently and not reflected in the 'Officer Comp' field provided.
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 Stepping Stones Learning Center's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) prevents full efficiency analysis
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation for an organization of this size, potentially obscuring executive pay details
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Stepping Stones Learning Center:
- Consistent multi-million dollar revenue generation over five years
- Positive net assets, with assets consistently exceeding liabilities
- Significant asset growth from $836,380 in 2011 to $6,054,710 in 2015, indicating financial stability and resource accumulation
- Consistent operational surplus (revenue exceeding expenses) in all reported periods
Frequently Asked Questions about Stepping Stones Learning Center
Is Stepping Stones Learning Center a legitimate charity?
Stepping Stones Learning Center (EIN: 161467135) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Stepping Stones Learning Center spend its money?
Stepping Stones Learning Center directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Stepping Stones Learning Center tax-deductible?
Stepping Stones Learning Center is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 161467135). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Stepping Stones Learning Center's spending goes to programs?
Stepping Stones Learning Center directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Stepping Stones Learning Center located?
Stepping Stones Learning Center is headquartered in Rochester, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 161467135.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Stepping Stones Learning Center have?
Stepping Stones Learning Center has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends.
Why is officer compensation consistently reported as 0% despite multi-million dollar operations?
This could indicate a volunteer-led executive team, or that executive compensation is reported under different expense categories not explicitly detailed in the provided 'Officer Comp' field.
What is the breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
Without detailed expense categories from the IRS 990 filings, it's impossible to provide an accurate breakdown. The provided data only shows total expenses.
How does the organization manage its increasing liabilities?
While liabilities have increased from $969,439 in 2011 to $5,184,567 in 2015, assets have grown at a faster rate, from $836,380 to $6,054,710, suggesting the organization is managing its debt effectively relative to its asset growth.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Stepping Stones Learning Center showing financial trends over 5 years of public records:
Over 5 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2015), Stepping Stones Learning Center's revenue has grown by 34.4%, moving from $4.6M to $6.2M. Total assets increased by 623.9% over the same period, from $836K to $6.1M. Total functional expenses rose by 32.7%, from $4.5M to $6.0M. In its most recent filing year (2015), Stepping Stones Learning Center reported a surplus of $266K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $5.2M in liabilities against $6.1M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 85.6%), resulting in net assets of $870K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $6.2M | $6.0M | $6.1M | $5.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $5.6M | $5.2M | $4.1M | $3.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $5.7M | $5.4M | $1.2M | $883K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $5.1M | $4.9M | $922K | $881K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.6M | $4.5M | $836K | $969K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2015: Revenue of $6.2M, expenses of $6.0M, and assets of $6.1M (revenue +11.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $5.6M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $4.1M (revenue -1.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $1.2M (revenue +10.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $5.1M, expenses of $4.9M, and assets of $922K (revenue +10.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.6M, expenses of $4.5M, and assets of $836K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Stepping Stones Learning Center:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Stepping Stones Learning Center 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.