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Nonprofiteer
← STEP UP FOR STUDENTS - FLORIDA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by STEP UP FOR STUDENTS - FLORIDA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$913,033,619
Total expenses
$755,297,200
Contributions and grants received
$896,372,611
Grants paid
$701,246,384
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$16,661,008
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$1,519,328,624
Total liabilities, end of year
$386,607,584
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,132,721,040
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$745,493,811
Management and general expenses
$7,981,498
Fundraising expenses
$1,821,891
Program service expenses (Part III)
$745,493,811

Program services were 98.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $896,372,611

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $16,661,008 · excluded $16,661,008

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $701,246,384 · program services $701,246,384

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,942,374 · program services $474,889 · management and general $1,467,485

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $18,534,094 · program services $13,473,415 · management and general $4,063,750 · fundraising $996,929

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $804,621 · program services $570,027 · management and general $190,194 · fundraising $44,400

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,465,075 · program services $1,877,100 · management and general $481,344 · fundraising $106,631

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,565,722 · program services $1,073,442 · management and general $415,842 · fundraising $76,438

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $64,726 · program services $9,511 · management and general $55,215

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $142,252 · management and general $142,252

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $439,559 · program services $439,559

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,349,085 · program services $2,080,688 · management and general $226,494 · fundraising $41,903

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $116,194 · program services $87,317 · management and general $7,483 · fundraising $21,394

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $400,010 · program services $400,010

  • 17 · Travel

    total $363,297 · program services $169,862 · management and general $113,576 · fundraising $79,859

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,398,070 · program services $1,398,070

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $332,186 · program services $332,186

  • 24a · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSE

    total $8,982,448 · program services $8,982,448

  • 24b · Other expenses: REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE

    total $1,513,664 · program services $1,465,562 · management and general $47,752 · fundraising $350

  • 24c · Other expenses: OTHER COST

    total $1,286,483 · program services $1,062,123 · management and general $103,026 · fundraising $121,334

  • 24d · Other expenses: BANK FEES

    total $225,684 · program services $176,740 · management and general $44,331 · fundraising $4,613

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $11,125,272 · program services $10,174,478 · management and general $622,754 · fundraising $328,040

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $394,636,091 · end of year $611,217,473

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $116,000 · end of year $116,000

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $606,074,982 · end of year $553,897,108

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $4,749,403 · end of year $5,886,257

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $983,075 · end of year $743,483

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $18,938,845

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $4,964,523

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $8,156,213 · end of year $13,974,322

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $193,204,289 · end of year $333,493,981

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $39,402,548 · end of year $55,527,729

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $191,053,539 · end of year $331,079,855

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,479,345 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $18,888,149 · end of year $28,805,206

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $956,096,472 · end of year $1,103,915,834

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO PURSUE AND ENGAGE IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE LEARNING OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FAMILIES WHO LACK THE INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ACCESS THESE OPTIONS. BY PURSUING THIS MISSION, WE HELP PUBLIC EDUCATION FULFILL THE PROMISE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

  • FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: IN THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, 100,198 UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS ATTENDED 2,090 PRIVATE SCHOOLS ON A STEP UP FOR STUDENTS' TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP. THE K-12 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 2001 TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE ENORMOUS EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN POVERTY, AND IT IS NOW THE LARGEST SUCH SCHOLARSHIP IN THE NATION. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE UP TO A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $10,373, DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR UP TO $750 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

    Expenses $717,171,898 · Grants $695,626,649

  • THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019 TO PROVIDE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHICH HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES WITH EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THEIR EDUCATION. THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP WAS EXPANDED INTO TWO BRANCHES: FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS AND FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES (FORMALLY KNOWN AS GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP). FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS: THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS INTENDED TO HELP REDUCE THE WAIT LIST FOR THE TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND SIMILARILY SERVES STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME AND WORKING-CLASS HOUSEHOLDS. STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA, AS AN APPROVED SFO, ADMINISTERED THIS SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVED 88,584 K-12 STUDENTS FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE UP TO A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $10,373, DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR UP TO $750 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL.FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES (FORMALLY KNOWN AS GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP): IN THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA ADMINISTERED THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES WITH SPECIFIC DIABILITIES THAT INCLUDE: AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, DOWN SYNDROME, SPINA BIFIDA, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, WILLIAMS SYNDROME, AND MORE. THROUGH THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, 17,902 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR AT AN AVERAGE OF $9,773 EACH. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO CHOOSE THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAT BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENT, AND THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT FOR SCHOOLS, THERAPISTS, SPECIALISTS, CURRICULUM, TECHNOLOGY EVEN A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.

    Expenses $15,812,721

  • HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA ADMINISTERS THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH WAS CREATED IN 2018 TO PROVIDE THE OPTION OF PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ACTS OF BULLYING AND INTIMIDATION. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FINANCED BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AUTOMOBILE BUYERS, WHO ARE ALLOWED UNDER THE LAW TO REDIRECT UP TO $105 OF THEIR STATE TAXES ON EACH PURCHASE. THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE USED TO PROVIDE TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO PARTICIPATING PRIVATE SCHOOLS FOR A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $10,373, DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, OR A $750 TRANSPORTATION SCHOLARSHIP TO A ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL. THE SCHOLARSHIP BEGAN IN 2018 AND SERVED 871 STUDENTS DURING THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR. ANY UNUSED FUNDS IN THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CAN BE USED TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS ON THE FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN THE NEXT STATE OF FLORIDA FISCAL YEAR.

    Expenses $6,134,780 · Grants $5,619,735

  • NEW WORLDS READING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THE NEW WORLDS READING SCHOLARSHIP WAS CREATED IN 2018 TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHO STRUGGLE IN READING. STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA, AS AN APPROVED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THIRD- THROUGH FIFTH-GRADE WHO HAVE SCORED A LEVEL 1 OR 2 ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS SECTION OF THE FLORIDA STANDARDS ASSESSMENT. EACH SCHOLARSHIP IS WORTH $500, WHICH THE PARENT CAN USE TO PAY FOR TUITION AND FEES RELATED TO PART-TIME TUTORING, SUMMER AND AFTER-SCHOOL LITERACY PROGRAMS, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND MORE. THROUGH THE NEW WORLDS READING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, 7,447 STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR.

    Expenses $928,631

  • POLICY, INNOVATION AND EMPOWERMENT: THIS DEPARTMENT TAKES THE MESSAGE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS TO CONSTITUENCY GROUPS, COMMUNITY AND POLITICAL LEADERS, AND LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATIONS. IT ISSUES PRESS RELEASES ON TOPICS OF SPECIAL CONCERN AND WRITES COMMENTARY FOR VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS. THE TEAM ANALYZES DEMOGRAPHIC, ACHIEVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION DATA, AND TRENDS IN THE PROGRAM AND EDUCATION CHOICE MOVEMENT. THE TEAM RESPONDS TO NUMEROUS INFORMATION REQUESTS FROM NEWSPAPERS, OTHER MEDIA, AND LEGISLATIVE AND AGENCY OFFICES. THE TEAM ALSO ORGANIZES ADVOCATES AND SUPPORTERS WHO BELIEVE CHILDREN SHOULD BE EDUCATED BASED ON HOW THEY LEARN, RATHER THAN WHERE THEY LIVE. THE TEAM EDUCATES, INFORMS, AND TRAINS PARENTS TO BE ADVOCATES AND SUPPORTERS FOR THE PROTECTIONS AND EXPANSION OF CHOICE OPPORTUNITIES. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE ORGANIZATION AND MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED TO PARENTS UTILIZING OTHER CHOICE OPTIONS.

    Expenses $5,445,781

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • John Kirtley

    CHAIRMAN, SUFS/DIRECTOR, A

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related
  • Alfred Al Lawson

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Richard Outram

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Curtis Stokes

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Terry Jove

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • John Legg

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Denisha Merriweather

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Linh Lam

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Baron Concors

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Karen Hobbs

    DIRECTOR, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 4 related
  • Doug Tuthill

    PRESIDENT, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $320,729
    From this org
    $258,138
    From related orgs
    $28,682
    Other
    $33,909
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $258,138 + $28,682 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $24,300 + $2,700 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,218 + $691 related
    Filer's total
    $288,656 + $32,073 related
  • Joe Pfountz

    TREASURER & CFO, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $260,272
    From this org
    $213,140
    From related orgs
    $23,682
    Other
    $23,450
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $213,140 + $23,682 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,767 + $1,641 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,338 + $704 related
    Filer's total
    $234,245 + $26,027 related
  • Lesley Searcy

    CEAO, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $228,339
    From this org
    $190,880
    From related orgs
    $21,209
    Other
    $16,250
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,880 + $21,209 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,625 + $1,625 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $205,505 + $22,834 related
  • Anne White

    CAO, SUFS (THRU 12/22)

    Total calculated
    $221,536
    From this org
    $182,374
    From related orgs
    $20,264
    Other
    $18,898
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,374 + $20,264 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,349 + $1,483 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,659 + $407 related
    Filer's total
    $199,382 + $22,154 related
  • Alissa Randall Thru 062022

    CMO, SUFS

    Total calculated
    $199,109
    From this org
    $161,981
    From related orgs
    $17,998
    Other
    $19,130
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,981 + $17,998 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $12,825 + $1,425 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,392 + $488 related
    Filer's total
    $179,198 + $19,911 related
  • Jill Larose

    VP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $182,120
    From this org
    $153,543
    From related orgs
    $17,060
    Other
    $11,517
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,543 + $17,060 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,092 + $899 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,273 + $253 related
    Filer's total
    $163,908 + $18,212 related
  • Susan Dugan

    VP FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $186,186
    From this org
    $153,239
    From related orgs
    $17,027
    Other
    $15,920
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $153,239 + $17,027 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,328 + $1,592 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $167,567 + $18,619 related
  • Craig Gonsalves

    VP OF IT SOLUTIONS

    Total calculated
    $189,582
    From this org
    $144,205
    From related orgs
    $16,023
    Other
    $29,354
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,205 + $16,023 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $18,450 + $2,050 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,969 + $885 related
    Filer's total
    $170,624 + $18,958 related
  • Jillian Metz

    VP OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

    Total calculated
    $169,224
    From this org
    $135,371
    From related orgs
    $15,041
    Other
    $18,812
    Hours/week
    36 + 4 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,371 + $15,041 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,153 + $1,461 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,778 + $420 related
    Filer's total
    $152,302 + $16,922 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3
ANNE WHITE - $95,661

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2022
Filed
13 November 2023
IRS schema version
2022v5.0
Source object
202303329349301315

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