Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$904,611,188

Total expenses

$1,241,338,513

Contributions and grants received

$881,567,760

Grants paid

$1,155,593,322

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$23,015,059

Other revenue

$28,369

Total assets, end of year

$1,488,205,086

Total liabilities, end of year

$692,211,371

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$795,993,715

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,221,707,629

Management and general expenses

$17,614,205

Fundraising expenses

$2,016,679

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,221,707,629

Program services were 98.4% 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.

Mission and programs · 2023

• FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, 132,180 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. IN 2023, THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE OPENED THE SCHOLARSHIP TO ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223 DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR A MAXIMUM OF $2,232 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL. FLORIDA TAX CREDIT PERSONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (FTC PEP): K-12 FLORIDA STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL OR A HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM CAN QUALIFY FOR A PERSONALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM THROUGH THE FLORIDA TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO RECEIVE A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223, REGARDLESS OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME, TO RECEIVE PARENT-DIRECTED EDUCATION. THE FUNDS ARE PLACED INTO AN EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT (ESA) AND CAN BE USED TO PAY FOR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/CURRICULUM, CONTRACTED SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL (INCLUDING CLASSES), TUITION FOR AN ELIGIBLE HOME EDUCATION INSTRUCTION PROGRAM, FEES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTING, PRIVATE TUTORING, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND DIGITAL MATERIALS EXCLUSIVE OF DIGITAL DEVICES.

  Expenses $1,177,681,896 · Grants $1,149,326,299

• 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 (FORMERLY 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 145,155 K-12 STUDENTS FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR. IN 2023, THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE OPENED THE SCHOLARSHIP TO ALL ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE UP TO A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223 DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR UP TO $2,232 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 2023-24 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, 96,678 ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR AT AN AVERAGE OF $9,990 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 $32,328,953

• 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. QUALIFIED STUDENTS COULD RECEIVE A MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP OF $11,223 DEPENDING ON GRADE LEVEL AND COUNTY RESIDENCE, FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AND FEES OR A MAXIMUM OF $2,232 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL. THE SCHOLARSHIP BEGAN IN 2018 AND SERVED 893 STUDENTS DURING THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR. UP TO 95% OF 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 $7,024,886 · Grants $6,267,023

• NEW WORLDS READING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: NEW WORLDS SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT PROGRAM: THE NEW WORLDS SCHOLARSHIP WAS CREATED IN 2018 TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHO STRUGGLED IN READING AND WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MATH IN 2023. STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA, AS AN APPROVED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTERS THE PROGRAM. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN K- THROUGH FIFTH-GRADE WHO HAVE SCORED A LEVEL 1 OR 2 ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND/OR MATH SECTIONS OF THE FLORIDA STANDARDS ASSESSMENT. EACH SCHOLARSHIP IS WORTH $500, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE STUDENT NEEDS HELP IN EITHER OR BOTH AREAS OF STUDY. THE PARENT CAN USE THESE FUNDS 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 SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT PROGRAM, 31,764 STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

  Expenses $1,761,321

• 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 PROTECTION 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 $2,910,573

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

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

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.

• STEP UP FOR STUDENTS WEST VIRGINIA INC

  501(C)(3) · SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING · FL

  Directly controlled by STEP UP FOR STUDENTS INC

• STEP UP FOR STUDENTS INC

  501(C)(3) · SUPPORT FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING · FL

  Directly controlled by STEP UP FOR STUDENTS - FLORIDA INC

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

7 May 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202511299349302996

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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