Stepforward
89% goes to programs $0 to raise $100 Declining revenue
Stepforward is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Cleveland, Ohio, registered in 1966, with $44,227,967 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 89% of spending to programs.
1801 Superior Ave Ste 400, Cleveland, OH, 44114 EIN 34-0965350 Since 1966
Revenue (FY2024)
$44.2M
▼ 17.0% vs prior year
Human Services median: $293K
Expenses (FY2024)
$43.8M
Net assets
$4.6M
Employees
437
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B+
★★★★
Rated on 4 of 4 criteria.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →A+Program efficiency40% of the rating89% to programs · $0 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Stepforward: 89% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
C+Financial health25% of the rating1 mo reserves · +1% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Stepforward: 1 mo reserves · +1% margin earns a C+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Stepforward: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Stepforward: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
To aid in eliminating poverty in cuyahoga county, ohio.
What they do
Community service and housing assistancestep forward helps individuals and families in cuyahoga county overcome barriers to employment, housing, and financial stability. in 2024, the agency distributed $4 million in remaining covid relief funds, bringing total home relief assistance to more than $36 million since the pandemic. step forward also provided 400 free tax returns, supported 83 mothers through parenting and early childhood education programs, and helped more than 250 clients build job skills and career readiness through partnerships, training, and outreach events.
Energy assistance -step forward helps low-income households maintain essential utility services through the home energy assistance and percentage of income payment plan programs. in 2024, the agency received 34,580 applications and provided services to 34,134 individuals, with 98.7 percent receiving assistance. step forward distributed more than $6.6 million in total aid, including energy, crisis, and water assistance, ensuring households remained safe and connected throughout the year.
Contact & location
- Address
- 1801 Superior Ave Ste 400, Cleveland, OH, 44114
- City
- Cleveland
- State
- Ohio
- Category
- Human Services
- Subcategory
- Human Service Organizations
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $36.7M (FY2013) to $44.2M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $21.8MNet assets $4.6M
Operating margin
0.9%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$26.4M
Total liabilities
$21.8M
Net assets
$4.6M
Salaries & benefits
$25.4M
58% of expenses
Board members
14
14 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $44,227,967▼17.0% | $43,814,075▼18.9% | $4,591,138▲9.9% | $26,376,352▲15.8% | 990 |
| 2023 | $53,256,619▼23.6% | $54,010,201▼22.4% | $4,177,246▼15.3% | $22,778,842▼17.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $69,715,341▲28.6% | $69,631,923▲26.8% | $4,930,828▲1.7% | $27,745,416▲46.1% | 990 |
| 2021 | $54,230,994▲27.5% | $54,908,720▲32.2% | $4,847,410▼12.3% | $18,985,030▲44.0% | 990 |
| 2020 | $42,522,663▲22.1% | $41,537,145▲18.5% | $5,525,136▲21.7% | $13,186,804▲48.3% | 990 |
| 2019 | $34,819,536▲8.5% | $35,067,166▲7.3% | $4,539,618▼5.2% | $8,893,851▼3.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $32,080,182▼7.3% | $32,681,083▼5.8% | $4,787,248▼11.2% | $9,212,274▲4.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $34,600,697▼2.5% | $34,683,087▼3.5% | $5,388,149▼1.5% | $8,832,190▲2.9% | 990 |
| 2016 | $35,504,911▲4.0% | $35,949,469▲5.2% | $5,470,539▼7.5% | $8,582,889▼5.4% | 990 |
| 2015 | $34,133,351▲3.1% | $34,182,655▲4.1% | $5,915,097▼0.8% | $9,074,578▼13.3% | 990 |
| 2014 | $33,104,611▼9.7% | $32,821,330▼9.3% | $5,964,401▲5.0% | $10,471,254▼1.2% | 990 |
| 2013 | $36,663,016 | $36,169,116▼19.3% | $5,681,120▲9.5% | $10,595,818▼11.4% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $44,795,832▲3.2% | $5,187,220 | $11,962,441▲10.2% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $43,397,405▼10.5% | $5,184,751▲0.4% | $10,858,365▼1.6% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $48,506,591 | $5,162,048 | $11,037,046 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Jacklyn Chisholm — $215,719 (0.49% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacklyn Chisholm | President & Ceo | 40 | $215,719 |
| Dr Thea Wilson | Vp of Children & Families | 40 | $186,388 |
| Madeline Corchado | Vp of Human Resources | 40 | $178,483 |
| Jacqueline Boehnlein | Vp of Community Services | 40 | $169,269 |
| Derek Cluse | Chief Financial Officer | 40 | $166,757 |
| Douglas Bennett | Vp of External Affairs | 40 | $155,278 |
| Cheryl Ross Appline | Senior Director, Planning | 40 | $137,573 |
| Adam Roth | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Anthony Peebles | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Ashley Miles | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Cassandra Brown-collier | Board Member (termed September) | 1 | — |
| Cecil Lee | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Christopher Kelly | Board Member (termed November) | 1 | — |
| Deidra Davis | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Eugenia Cash-kirkland | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Jerry Primm | Board Member (termed August) | 1 | — |
| Joyce Walker | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Judge Michael J Ryan | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Kira Kewko | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Larese Purnell | Chair | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio City Security | Security | $453,058 |
| Cleveland Metropolitan School District | Daycare-collaboration Partner | $374,552 |
| Protiviti Inc | Staffing Agency | $244,986 |
| Cleverbee Academy LLC | Daycare-collaboration Partner | $143,797 |
| Wipfli LLP | Auditor | $143,718 |
Grants received · $3.3M total
32 grants to Stepforward totaling $3.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
Grants made · $132K in FY2015
2 grants totaling $132K in FY2015. All grants made by Stepforward →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Near West Side Multi Service Corporation | Grant to provide community block grant services | $101,927 |
| Community Housing Solutions | Grant to provide energy assistance | $30,479 |
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Compare Stepforward
Frequently asked questions
- Is Stepforward a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Stepforward is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 34-0965350, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Stepforward's EIN?
- Stepforward's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 34-0965350.
- How much revenue does Stepforward report?
- Stepforward reported $44,227,967 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Stepforward's spending goes to programs?
- Stepforward spends about 89% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Stepforward have?
- CharityIndex grades Stepforward B+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Stepforward's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Stepforward's latest Form 990 is $215,719, paid to Jacklyn Chisholm (President & Ceo).
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Data for Stepforward (EIN 34-0965350) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.