Stepstone Academy FY2021 filing

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The mission of the school is to provide the highest quality education for students that fosters lifelong learning and prepares students to graduate from college and become productive, involved citizens.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2021. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-4870208) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $600K a year · 19% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
97% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
0.5 mo
of spending, in cash
0.5 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $55K
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.3M
594% of total assets
Liabilities are 594% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
5 of 5 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$2.5M
+40% vs prior year
Spent
$2.1M
To programs
97%
Net assets
−$4.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.5M
FY2021▲ +40%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.8M
FY2021$2.5M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$3.7M
Expenses
$2.1M
FY2021▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$2.2M
FY2023$2.7M
FY2024$2.8M
FY2025$3.0M
Net assets
−$4.4M
FY2021▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$4.8M
FY2021−$4.4M
FY2022−$3.4M
FY2023−$2.6M
FY2024−$1.5M
FY2025−$766K

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2012.

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

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $2.1M Management & general 3% · $55K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Stepstone Academy executive salaries →

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Educates students to foster lifelong learning and prepare them for college and active citizenship.

Questions for Stepstone Academy

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1 program · $2.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

We foster a lifelong love of learning, and inspire in each student the goal of graduating from college as well as the values of academic achievement and participatory citizenship.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 45-4870208) · Dispute this line
$2.1Mprogram 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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$55K

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $1.2M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$609K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$369K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$109K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$63K
Special Education Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$54K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported 1 finding: a weakness in money controls.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $1.6M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$946K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$321K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$126K
Special Education Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$63K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through Ohio Department of Education and Workforce$54K

Plus 4 smaller programs.

The auditor reported 1 finding: doubt the group can keep going, a weakness in money controls.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $1.2M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Ohio Department of Education$644K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Ohio Department of Education$285K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Ohio Department of Education$121K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through Ohio Department of Education$68K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Ohio Department of Education$40K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported: doubt the group can keep going.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $1.0M federal money spent
Covid-19 Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Ohio Department of Education$557K
Title IDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Ohio Department of Education and 1 more$242K
Cash Assistance: Covid-19 National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Ohio Department of Education$89K
Idea Part BDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Ohio Department of Education$51K
Title Ii-A Improving Teacher QualityDepartment of Education · ALN 84.367 · Through Ohio Department of Education$44K

Plus 2 smaller programs.

The auditor reported: doubt the group can keep going.

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Money outPt IX
$2.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.1M
Managementcol C$55K
Owns and owesPt X
−$4.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$87K
Total assetsLn 16$895K
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$87K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$87K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$16K
Accounts receivableLn 4$24K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$5K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$210K
Other assetsLn 15$553K
Total assetsLn 16$895K
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.3M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$39K$87K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$107K$210K
Total assetsLn 16$876K$895K
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.7M$5.3M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.8M−$4.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$858K$858K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$138K$138K
Management feesLn 11a$177K$177K
Legal feesLn 11b$15K$15K
Accounting feesLn 11c$30K$30K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$25K$25K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$12K
Office expensesLn 13$61K$61K
OccupancyLn 16$509K$509K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$77K$77K
InsuranceLn 23$15K$15K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$216K$177K$40K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.1M$2.1M$55K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Mar 13, 2026 $3.7M$3.0M$769K−$766K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 16, 2025 $3.8M$2.8M$1.0M−$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Apr 25, 2024 $3.6M$2.7M$868K−$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Apr 3, 2023 $3.2M$2.2M$968K−$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Apr 11, 2022 $2.5M$2.1M$410K−$4.4M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Feb 24, 2021 $1.8M$2.3M−$453K−$4.8M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990
Part I · Summary $2,544,012 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,822,454$2,544,012
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,822,454$2,544,012
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 $1,365,024$995,569
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $910,094$1,138,142
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,275,118$2,133,711
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$452,664$410,301
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
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
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,544,012 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,544,012
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,544,012
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,544,012
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,133,711 across 12 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $858,046$858,046
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $137,523$137,523
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $177,319$177,319
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $15,120$15,120
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $30,332$30,332
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $24,858$24,858
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $12,405$12,405
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $61,403$61,403
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $508,743$508,743
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $77,023$77,023
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $14,656$14,656
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $176,655 · Management $39,628 · Fundraising $0$216,283
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,078,963 · Management $54,748 · Fundraising $0$2,133,711
Part X · Balance sheet $895,230 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $39,396$87,481
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $17,574$16,054
X-4 Accounts receivable$23,618
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,211$5,222
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $106,999$210,158
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $706,696$552,697
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $875,876$895,230
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,284,430$2,227,799
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,427,338$3,093,022
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,711,768$5,320,821
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$4,835,892−$4,425,591
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$4,835,892−$4,425,591
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $875,876$895,230
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$4,425,591 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,544,012
XI-2 Total expenses$2,133,711
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$410,301
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$4,835,892
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$4,425,591

Form 990 e-file FY2021 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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