2026-05-12T10:52:09-05:00 2025-06-30 420714325 RSM US LLP 9355 N WICKHAM ROAD SUITE 304 MELBOURNE FL 32940 990 2024-07-01 873825479 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS INC STEP 9043522246 4655 SALISBURY ROAD 400 JACKSONVILLE FL 32256 JOSEPH E PFOUNTZ TREASURER AND CFO 9043522246 2026-05-07 1 1 KELLI PECK P01423033 3217516200 2026-05-07 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z GRETCHEN SCHOENHAAR 4655 SALISBURY ROAD 400 JACKSONVILLE FL 32256 35571813 0 X WWW.STEPUPFORSTUDENTS.ORG X 2021 FL STEP UP FOR STUDENTS, INC. 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. 10 10 197 0 0 0 0 0 27413640 35541326 18037 30487 0 0 27431677 35571813 0 0 0 0 18761416 25415644 0 0 0 6744994 10125682 25506410 35541326 1925267 30487 2914979 3375754 2884721 3315009 30258 60745 X STEP UP FOR STUDENTS, INC. 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. 0 0 35541326 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS, INC. (SUFS) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED ON DECEMBER 3, 2021. SUFS SERVES AS A SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO SUFS-FL AND SUFS-WV. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 23 0 1 197 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 FL X X JOSEPH PFOUNTZ CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 9043522246 4655 SALISBURY ROAD 400 JACKSONVILLE FL 32256 JOHN F KIRTLEY BOARD CHAIR 2.00 38.00 X 0 0 0 PAUL SHERMAN VICE CHAIR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 DENISHA ALLEN MERRIWEATHER DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL CONLIN DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 KAREN HOBBS DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 TERRY JOVE DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 LINH LAM DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 ALFRED AL LAWSON DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD OUTRAM DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 CURTIS STOKES DIRECTOR 2.00 2.00 X 0 0 0 DOUG TUTHILL CHIEF VISION OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 17389 330395 39963 JOE PFOUNTZ TREASURER & CFO 2.00 38.00 X 13751 261273 39117 LESLEY SEARCY SECRETARY, CGO 2.00 38.00 X 13811 262403 14861 JANIE GORDON CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 1839 34941 1251 JILL LAROSE CHIEF CULTURE OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 10941 207877 22330 FRANK E SIKERNITSKY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 10716 203609 31022 JIMMY S ANGLIN CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 2179 41396 7393 RUTH ROSE CHIEF CST. EXP. OFFICER (THRU 09/24) 2.00 38.00 X 17765 337544 33917 ALEXANDER J MANGAN CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER (THRU 12/24) 2.00 38.00 X 12867 244476 48031 SAMANTHA ESPINOSA CHIEF HR OFFICER (THRU 06/25) 2.00 38.00 X 11597 220350 46323 JULEE SANDERSON CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 1526 29001 479 GRETCHEN SCHOENHAAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2.00 38.00 X 17498 332454 24144 KRISTOPHER KILTON ARCHITECT, SOLUTION 2.00 38.00 X 8715 165591 38910 CHARLES A WADE SR DIR, ENTERP. STANDARDS/SYST. ARCHITECT 2.00 38.00 X 9963 189298 42274 SEAN K CHARTIER ARCHITECT, DATA 2.00 38.00 X 10098 191859 25223 DAVID FINCH ARCHITECT, CLOUD 2.00 38.00 X 8981 170632 30116 CRAIG GONSALVES VP OF IT SOLUTIONS 2.00 38.00 X 8676 164847 46397 SHAFAYET IMAM CIO (THRU 05/24) 2.00 38.00 X 6130 116469 21965 184442 3504415 513716 74 1 1 0 MICROSOFT PO BOX 842103 DALLAS TX 752842103 AZURE 1054576 INSIGHT GLOBAL LLC 1224 HAMMOND DR STE 1500 ATLANTA GA 30346 STAFFING AGENCY 718108 STEVEN DOUGLAS ASSOCIATES LLC 13450 W SUNRISE BLVD STE 200 SUNRISE FL 33323 STAFFING AGENCY 564139 CAW DBA VTECH 2338 IMMOKALEE RD 151 NAPLES FL 34110 SYSTEM SECURITY, CLOUD STORAGE, AND SUPP 541143 4 SERVICE FEE REVENUE 561000 35541326 35541326 35541326 30487 30487 35571813 35541326 0 30487 4960087 4960087 16466013 16466013 690997 690997 1782836 1782836 1515711 1515711 134658 134658 333229 333229 770060 770060 150910 150910 513862 513862 474915 474915 288930 288930 399837 399837 CONTRACT SERVICES 3872255 3872255 SOFTWARE LICENSES FEE, 2429391 2429391 REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE 404731 404731 OTHER COST 298463 298463 54441 54441 35541326 0 35541326 0 -12875 1455739 8476 18814 589846 778984 767382 315012 321251 452370 2008281 669847 2914979 3375754 1667209 1153677 1217512 2161332 2884721 3315009 X 30258 60745 30258 60745 2914979 3375754 30487 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X X 2 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA INC 593649371 7 1 0 0 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-WEST VIRGINIA INC 874413159 7 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 767382 315012 452370 452370 RIGHT-OF-USE LEASE ASSETS 669847 669847 RIGHT-OF-USE LEASE OBLIGATION 698182 DUE TO RELATED PARTY 1463150 2161332 X PART X, LINE 2: SUFS-FL, SUFS AND SUFS-WV ARE EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND FROM STATE INCOME TAXES UNDER SIMILAR PROVISIONS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA STATUTES. ACCORDINGLY, NO PROVISION FOR FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES HAS BEEN RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SUFS-FL HAS MADE AN ELECTION UNDER SECTION 501(H) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, WHICH PERMITS CERTAIN ELIGIBLE 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE LIMITED EXPENDITURES TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION. THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE SUBJECT TO AN EXCISE TAX IF IT SPENDS MORE THAN THE AMOUNTS PERMITTED. SUCH LIMITS HAVE NOT BEEN EXCEEDED. THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS ACCOUNTING STANDARDS RELATING TO ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES. MANAGEMENT ASSESSED WHETHER THERE WERE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS WHICH MAY GIVE RISE TO INCOME TAX LIABILITIES AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO SUCH MATTERS REQUIRING RECOGNITION IN THE ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. GENERALLY, THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO U.S. FEDERAL OR STATE INCOME TAX EXAMINATIONS BY TAX AUTHORITIES FOR YEARS BEFORE JUNE 30, 2022. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 RUTH ROSE CHIEF CST. EXP. OFFICER (THRU 09/24) 17765 162544 0 0 0 175000 519 9854 1177 22367 19461 369765 0 0 DOUG TUTHILL CHIEF VISION OFFICER 17389 330395 0 0 0 0 888 16881 1110 21084 19387 368360 0 0 GRETCHEN SCHOENHAAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 17498 332454 0 0 0 0 865 16442 342 6495 18705 355391 0 0 JOE PFOUNTZ TREASURER & CFO 13751 261273 0 0 0 0 820 15577 1136 21584 15707 298434 0 0 ALEXANDER J MANGAN CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER (THRU 12/24) 12867 244476 0 0 0 0 678 12880 1724 32749 15269 290105 0 0 LESLEY SEARCY SECRETARY, CGO 13811 262403 0 0 0 0 739 14040 4 78 14554 276521 0 0 SAMANTHA ESPINOSA CHIEF HR OFFICER (THRU 06/25) 11597 220350 0 0 0 0 610 11592 1706 32415 13913 264357 0 0 FRANK E SIKERNITSKY CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER 10716 203609 0 0 0 0 469 8906 1082 20565 12267 233080 0 0 CHARLES A WADE SR DIR, ENTERP. STANDARDS/SYST. ARCH 9963 189298 0 0 0 0 608 11544 1506 28616 12077 229458 0 0 JILL LAROSE CHIEF CULTURE OFFICER 10941 207877 0 0 0 0 534 10145 583 11068 12058 229090 0 0 SEAN K CHARTIER ARCHITECT, DATA 10098 191859 0 0 0 0 605 11496 656 12466 11359 215821 0 0 CRAIG GONSALVES VP OF IT SOLUTIONS 8676 164847 0 0 0 0 531 10088 1789 33989 10996 208924 0 0 KRISTOPHER KILTON ARCHITECT, SOLUTION 8715 165591 0 0 0 0 521 9895 1425 27069 10661 202555 0 0 DAVID FINCH ARCHITECT, CLOUD 8981 170632 0 0 0 0 471 8951 1035 19659 10487 199242 0 0 SHAFAYET IMAM CIO (THRU 05/24) 6130 111469 0 0 0 5000 326 6190 772 14677 7228 137336 0 0 PART I, LINE 3 ALL COMPENSATION AMOUNTS ARE PAID BY STEP UP FOR STUDENTS - FLORIDA INC. ("SUFS-FL") UNDER A COMMON PAYMASTER ARRANGEMENT. SUFS-FL USES THE FOLLOWING TO ESTABLISH THE COMPENSATION OF THE CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT, FORM 990 OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, COMPENSATION STUDY OR SURVEY, AND APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OR COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. PART I, LINE 4A SEVERENCE PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS: ANDREA THOERMER - $112,350 DANA ANDERSEN - $16,404 MARISSA FARLEY - $17,559 SHELLEY WALSH - $15,600 TODD FINNERTY - $15,193 SHAFAYET IMAM - $5,000 ASHA DESHPANDE - $20,578 JACLYN CONTE - $5,029 RUTH ROSE - $175,000 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S INDEPENDENT CPA FIRM. AFTER BEING REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT, THE FULL FORM 990 INFORMATIONAL RETURN IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ALSO AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE FORM 990 BEFORE THE RETURN IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C STEP UP FOR STUDENTS ENSURES THAT THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS ADHERED TO WITH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: 1) REGULAR EDUCATION WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND KEY STAFF. EACH YEAR, THE POLICY IS REVIEWED WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OFFICER ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLIANCE BY SIGNING A COMPLIANCE STATEMENT. 2) THE FINANCIAL ANALYST AND/OR THE HEAD OF PROCUREMENT REVIEW EACH CONTRACT THE ORGANIZATION ENTERS. THE CFO REVIEWS CONTRACTS AS APPROPRIATE. 3) FINANCE STAFF AND THE CONTROLLER REVIEW ALL PAYMENTS AS THEY ARE MADE FOR POSSIBLE CONFLICTS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS COMPARABLE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS DATA OF SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTING FIRM CONDUCTED A FULL COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE POSITION AND ALL NON-EXECUTIVE JOB GRADES. THE COMMITTEE USES THIS INFORMATION, COMBINED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRESIDENT, TO RECOMMEND THE PRESIDENT'S COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR APPROVAL OF THE FULL BOARD. THE FULL BOARD APPROVES THE PACKAGE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE ON ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. FORM 1023 IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS, INC. MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE, WWW.STEPUPFORSTUDENTS.ORG. PRINTED COPIES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF DISCLOSURE SET FORTH IN IRC SECTION 6104(D). FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: NO CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA INC 4655 SALISBURY ROAD SUITE 400 JACKSONVILLE FL 32256 593649371 PROVIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO RELATED ORGANIZATIONS FL 501(C)(3) LINE 7 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS - FLORIDA INC 0 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-WEST VIRGINIA INC 4655 SALISBURY ROAD SUITE 400 JACKSONVILLE FL 32256 874413159 PROVIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO RELATED ORGANIZATIONS FL 501(C)(3) LINE 7 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS INC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA INC P 1515942 FMV STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-WEST VIRGINIA INC Q 52792 FMV STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-FLORIDA INC O 35459581 FMV STEP UP FOR STUDENTS-WEST VIRGINIA INC O 81745 FMV