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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: June 2025 Expires: June 2027

STEP

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
Accreditation seal
(714) 444-0075
9915 Businesspark Ave Ste A
San Diego, CA, 92131-1130
https://www.stepsocal.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Stated Purpose:
Improving financial wellness to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health conditions, suicide, and other crises through counseling, education, and financial support for enlisted service members, veterans and their families.

Year, State Incorporated:
2005, CA

Also Known As:
Support The Enlisted Project Inc

Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) is a nonprofit organization that serves junior enlisted service members and recently discharged veterans who are navigating financial crises. Founded in 2012 and based in San Diego, STEP focuses on young military-connected families who are at risk of losing a basic need such as housing, transportation, utilities, or insurance, or who regularly run out of essentials like food or diapers before their next paycheck.

Through its Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) program, STEP provides one-on-one support from professional Social Workers who use a holistic approach to financial counseling. Clients work closely with their counselor to understand their financial situation, build sustainable budgets, and develop personalized plans to meet long-term goals. When appropriate, STEP also provides financial assistance to prevent the loss of a critical basic need.

STEP’s work goes beyond crisis intervention. By helping stabilize a family’s finances, the organization also helps ease the emotional burden of living under constant financial stress. The support brings relief, restores hope, and helps families build lasting stability. Many clients report improvements in their mental health, stronger family dynamics, and renewed confidence as they move forward with greater control and clarity.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, STEP's program expenses were:

Program services $3,058,442
Total Program Expenses $3,058,442

Chief Executive
Tony Teravainen, President/CEO

Chair of the Board
Mr. William Boggs, Board Chairperson

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Pence Wealth Management

Board Size
12

Paid Staff Size
17

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.), Solicitations for Used Cars, Solicitations for Used Clothing

% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 9.46%

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on STEP's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
In-kind goods and services $1,624,858
Grants $1,072,810
Contributions $1,068,540
Special events revenue, net of direct benefits to donors $85,521
Net gain on investments $59,695
Interest income $10,473
Net gain on endowment investments $9,430
Total Income $3,931,327

Programs: 81% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $3,931,327
Total expenses: $3,789,202
  Program expenses $3,058,442
  Fundraising expenses $364,498
  Administrative expenses $366,262
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $142,125
Beginning Net Assets $2,355,289
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $2,497,414
Total Liabilities $344,274
Total Assets $2,841,688

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest