TY 2017 Form 990 Schedule O

Instrumentl eFile RenderObject ID: 201843049349301629 - Rendered 2024-05-07 TIN: 59-3649371

SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ

Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
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Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
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Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.

OMB No. 1545-0047

2017

Open to Public
Inspection

Name of the organization

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS INC

Employer identification number

59-3649371

Return Reference	Explanation
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2	STEP UP FOR STUDENTS HAS CONTRACTED WITH EMPOWER ILLINOIS, AN APPROVED 501(C)3, SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATION (SGO) IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THAT ADMINISTERS THE ILLINOIS INVEST IN KIDS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. SINCE NOVEMBER 2017, STEP UP FOR STUDENTS HAS PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR EMPOWER ILLINOIS, BOTH IN-HOUSE AND THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY PARTNER, TADS. THE ILLINOIS INVEST IN KIDS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. EMPOWER ILLINOIS IS ALLOWED TO USE UP TO 5% OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS COLLECTED TO ADMINISTER THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AND STEP UP FOR STUDENTS IS COMPENSATED FOR ITS WORK BY EMPOWER ILLINOIS VIA THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B	FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY THE FUND'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 THE EXECUTIVE TEAM. EACH ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLIANCE BY SIGNING AN ANNUAL COMPLIANCE STATEMENT. 2) THE CFO REVIEWS EACH CONTRACT THE ORGANIZATION ENTERS. 3) FINANCE STAFF AND THE PRESIDENT 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 2016, 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 19	STEP UP FOR STUDENTS MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE, WWW.STEPUPFORSTUDENTS.ORG. PRINTED COPIES ARE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF DISCLOSURE AS SET FORTH IN IRC SECTION 6104(D).
FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C:	THIS PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR.

Return Reference

Explanation

FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS HAS CONTRACTED WITH EMPOWER ILLINOIS, AN APPROVED 501(C)3, SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATION (SGO) IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THAT ADMINISTERS THE ILLINOIS INVEST IN KIDS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. SINCE NOVEMBER 2017, STEP UP FOR STUDENTS HAS PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR EMPOWER ILLINOIS, BOTH IN-HOUSE AND THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY PARTNER, TADS. THE ILLINOIS INVEST IN KIDS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. EMPOWER ILLINOIS IS ALLOWED TO USE UP TO 5% OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS COLLECTED TO ADMINISTER THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AND STEP UP FOR STUDENTS IS COMPENSATED FOR ITS WORK BY EMPOWER ILLINOIS VIA THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS.

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B

FORM 990 IS PREPARED BY THE FUND'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 THE EXECUTIVE TEAM. EACH ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPLIANCE BY SIGNING AN ANNUAL COMPLIANCE STATEMENT. 2) THE CFO REVIEWS EACH CONTRACT THE ORGANIZATION ENTERS. 3) FINANCE STAFF AND THE PRESIDENT 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 2016, 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 19

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE, WWW.STEPUPFORSTUDENTS.ORG. PRINTED COPIES ARE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF DISCLOSURE AS SET FORTH IN IRC SECTION 6104(D).

FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C:

THIS PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR.

For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Cat. No. 51056K

Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2017

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