Nonprofit · EIN 38-3849052
STEPS PROGRAM INC
Tax-exempt (reinstated) · CLARKSBURG, MD 20871
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $3,824,441 | $3,292,974 | $531,467 | $2,822,812 | $326,714 | $2,496,098 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $3,298,389 | $3,068,749 | $229,640 | $2,372,574 | $407,943 | $1,964,631 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $2,961,017 | $2,696,572 | $264,445 | $2,082,030 | $347,039 | $1,734,991 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $392,303
- of which government grants
- $340,296
- Program service revenue
- $3,365,091
- Investment income
- $61,585
- Net income from fundraising events
- $2,008
- Other revenue
- $5,462
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $317,122
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,272,470
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,978,546
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $28,250
- Travel
- $10,467
- Depreciation
- $1,880
- Program services (functional)
- $3,199,918
- Management and general (functional)
- $93,056
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,372,574
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,822,812
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $326,714
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,496,098
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,567
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,609,606
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,496,098
- Gross receipts
- $3,824,441
- Employees
- 289
- Volunteers
- 8
- Year formed
- 2011
- State of legal domicile
- VT
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN MERRITT | COO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $166,417 | $32,071 |
| WILLIAM BLUM | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $112,838 | $10,028 |
| AARON RAKOW | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $107,399 | $180 |
| TED YOUNG | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICIA PRELOCK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE DALY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER MARKOWITZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVE KEARON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN MERRITT | COO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $152,132 | $28,338 |
| WILLIAM BLUM | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 1 | $104,935 | $8,925 |
| AARON RAKOW | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $96,674 | $180 |
| TED YOUNG | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICIA PRELOCK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE DALY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER MARKOWITZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVE KEARON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF SCHULZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM GERTZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN MERRITT | COO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $143,673 | $25,998 |
| AARON RAKOW | CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $111,037 | $180 |
| TED YOUNG | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICIA PRELOCK | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| GEORGE DALY | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNIFER MARKOWITZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVE KEARON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF SCHULZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM GERTZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 23219 STRINGTOWN RD 233, CLARKSBURG, MD 20871-9363
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- AARON RAKOW, 23219 STRINGTOWN ROAD 233, CLARKSBURG, MD 20871
- Signed the 990
- AARON RAKOW, CEO
- Phone
- (888) 732-1022
- Website
- WWW.COLLEGESTEPS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- TSS ADVISORS LLC
Mission
TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY AND EQUAL ACCESSIBILITY IN THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND VOCATIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS WE PROVIDE VIA AN ATMOSPHERE OF ACADEMIC DIGNITY, INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE AND COLLEGE-BASED LEARNING FOR ALL.
Program accomplishments
- COLLEGE STEPS PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS LIVING WITH SOCIAL OR LEARNING CHALLENGES. COLLEGE STEPS OFFERS ITS SUPPORT PROGRAM TO STUDENTS FOR WHOM NAVIGATING COLLEGE IS CHALLENGED BY SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, OR LEARNING BARRIERS. IT PROVIDES SERVICES TO BOTH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT COLLEGE LIFE PRIOR TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AS WELL AS ENROLLED COLLEGE STUDENTS. EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATING IN COLLEGE STEPS RECEIVES AN INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE PLAN THAT HELPS TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR GOALS AND AREAS OF NEEDED SUPPORT WITHIN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND VOCATIONAL CATEGORIES. COLLEGE STEPS' COLLEGE CAMPUS SUPPORTS ARE MANAGED BY A FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR ON EACH CAMPUS WHO SUPPORTS COLLEGE STEPS' STUDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS (A) WORKS WITH STUDENTS TO DEVISE AND REFINE AN INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE PLAN (ICP) THAT OUTLINES THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS AND SERVES AS A WORKING ROAD MAP FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS, (B) MEETS WITH STUDENTS DAILY TO ENSURE ACADEMIC GOALS ARE BEING MET AND SUPPORT IS BEING MOST EFFICIENTLY PROVIDED, (C) INTERFACES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENSURE FREQUENT AND DETAILED FEEDBACK ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE IS CONVEYED, (D) INTERFACES WITH COLLEGE FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF AND STUDENTS TO COORDINATE AND SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT, (E) SUPERVISES COLLEGE STEPS NETWORK OF ON-CAMPUS PEER MENTORS. COLLEGE STEPS ALSO CAREFULLY SELECTS, TRAINS, AND EMPLOYS A TEAM OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE PARTNERING COLLEGE. PEER MENTORS PROVIDE SUPPORT WITH ACADEMICS (E.G. SUPPORTIVE TIME STUDY, ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, ETC) AND VOCATIONAL INTERNSHIPS, AS WELL AS HELP LINK COLLEGE STEPS SCHOLARS TO THE SOCIAL ELEMENT OF COLLEGE LIFE VIA INTRODUCTION TO NEW CLUBS OR ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL GROUPS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS.Expenses $3,199,918 · revenue $3,368,545
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 38-3849052
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2015
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B90)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,822,812
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,824,441
Revocation and reinstatement
- Exemption revoked
- May 15, 2014
- Posted by the IRS
- August 11, 2014
- Reinstated
- Effective May 15, 2014
From the IRS automatic revocation list: organizations that did not file a required return or e-Postcard for three consecutive years.
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $3,824,441 | $3,292,974 | $2,822,812 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $3,298,389 | $3,068,749 | $2,372,574 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $2,961,017 | $2,696,572 | $2,082,030 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 38-3849052).
Questions about STEPS PROGRAM INC
- What is the EIN of STEPS PROGRAM INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of STEPS PROGRAM INC is 38-3849052.
- Is STEPS PROGRAM INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS revoked its exemption on May 15, 2014 and reinstated it effective May 15, 2014.
- Are donations to STEPS PROGRAM INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does STEPS PROGRAM INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of STEPS PROGRAM INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did STEPS PROGRAM INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of STEPS PROGRAM INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names AARON RAKOW.
- Who are the officers and directors of STEPS PROGRAM INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 8 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $166,417 (LAUREN MERRITT, COO).
- How much revenue does STEPS PROGRAM INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,824,441, expenses of $3,292,974 and total assets of $2,822,812 at year end.
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