The Second Step is a community of survivors, advocates, and volunteers who foster the safety, stability, and well-being of those who have experienced domestic violence. We provide free comprehensive services, including safety planning, legal advocacy, counseling, peer support, transitional housing, and other essential services to adult and child survivors healing from the trauma of domestic abuse, in greater boston and eastern ma.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
57¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 141 volunteers and 41 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $471K a year · 18% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
57%
of spending
Worth a look: 57% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$146K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
25 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 25.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $16K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.8M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.1M
-52% vs prior year
Spent
$2.3M
To programs
57%
Net assets
$4.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.1M
FY2025▼ -52%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.3M
FY2022$2.8M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$4.5M
FY2025$2.1M
Expenses
$2.3M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$2.4M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$2.3M
Net assets
$4.9M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$2.8M
FY2024$5.1M
FY2025$4.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1988.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

57 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 57% · $1.3M Management & general 22% · $506K Fundraising 20% · $460K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $146K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$145,754Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Susan Ross$145,754$133,415$125,777$102,154——
Julie Lima————$132,644$54,233
Matthew Swoveland—————$17,925

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides comprehensive services to adult and child survivors of domestic violence.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $909K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Legal Services Program

Free trauma informed legal services program for survivors. Our team of highly trained staff attorneys provides full representation, limited assistance representation, advice and consultation on matters including abuse prevention orders, family law, immigration, and housing.

$561Kprogram expense
02

Transitional Living Program

From july 2024 through february 2025, TSS operated a 9-BEDROOM residence for families leaving emergency, short-term shelter. Families had access to comprehensive case management that allowed them to build skills to support their goal towards independent living.

$309Kprogram expense
03

Intervention and Advocacy Program

TSS provides extensive services to survivors in the community, most notably safety planning and emotional support. Through one-on-one case management, survivors receive services such as psychoeducation and emotional support; financial literacy; access to resources such as MENTAL/PHYSICAL health, wellness, stress management, and coping…

$38Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$16K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$187K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$64K
Money outPt IX
$2.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$506K
Fundraisingcol D$460K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.8M
Total assetsLn 16$6.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$843K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$240K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$64K
Investment incomeLn 3$187K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$1K
Total revenueLn 12$2.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$307K
SavingsLn 2$4.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.4M
Other assetsLn 15$327K
Total assetsLn 16$6.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$4.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 541
VolunteersI 6141
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.7M$4.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$6.8M$6.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$5.1M$4.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$141K$45K$19K$76K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$800K$128K$247K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$33K$22K$4K$7K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$92K$46K$40K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$112K$72K$13K$27K
Accounting feesLn 11c$76K$76K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$35K$35K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$169K$19K$146K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$629$331$298
Office expensesLn 13$61K$23K$23K$16K
OccupancyLn 16$131K$94K$13K$23K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$79K$77K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$30K$18K$8K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$138K$91K$33K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.3M$1.3M$506K$460K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.1M$2.3M−$143K$4.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.5M$2.2M$2.3M$5.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.5M$2.4M$109K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.8M$2.3M$507K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.3M$2.1M$217K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.9M$2.0M−$154K$1.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,129,268 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,301,820$1,947,877
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $83,332$64,048
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $132,598$186,945
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$42,305−$69,602
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,475,445$2,129,268
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,436,797$1,552,324
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $19,500$35,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $730,364$684,486
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,186,661$2,271,810
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,288,784−$142,542
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,129,268 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$239,786
VIII-1e Government grants$843,054
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$865,037
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,947,877
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $64,048$64,048
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $188,297$188,297
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$1,352−$1,352
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$69,602−$69,602
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $64,048 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $117,343$2,129,268
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,271,810 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $44,997 · Management $19,334 · Fundraising $76,284$140,615
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $799,668 · Management $128,149 · Fundraising $247,191$1,175,008
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $22,000 · Management $3,653 · Fundraising $7,455$33,108
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $46,183 · Management $40,460 · Fundraising $4,884$91,527
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $72,199 · Management $12,635 · Fundraising $27,232$112,066
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $75,979$75,979
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $35,000$35,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $18,646 · Management $145,711 · Fundraising $4,665$169,022
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $331 · Fundraising $298$629
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $22,529 · Management $23,065 · Fundraising $15,625$61,219
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $94,316 · Management $13,377 · Fundraising $22,852$130,545
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $76,847 · Management $1,826$78,673
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $17,643 · Management $8,324 · Fundraising $4,373$30,340
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $91,170 · Management $32,962 · Fundraising $13,947$138,079
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,306,198 · Management $505,806 · Fundraising $459,806$2,271,810
Part X · Balance sheet $6,724,377 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $437,350$306,684
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $4,305,500$4,479,221
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $333,390$189,259
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $29,354$30,553
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,299,946$1,391,268
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $441,081$327,392
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,846,621$6,724,377
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $96,550$89,621
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $380,816$298,483
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,779,216$1,799,514
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,830,734$4,792,919
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $236,671$131,944
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,067,405$4,924,863
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,846,621$6,724,377
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,924,863 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,129,268
XI-2 Total expenses$2,271,810
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$142,542
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,067,405
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,924,863

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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