What Step Up Suncoast does

Step Up Suncoast, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community action agency incorporated in Florida in 1968, designated by the Governor as the official community action agency for a five-county service area covering Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. The organization employs 240-250 staff and operates on an annual budget of $21,000,000, serving over 11,000 low-income individuals, children, and families annually through a whole-family, wraparound service model. Programs are delivered through multiple physical offices (Sarasota and Wauchula), an online appointment scheduling system, and partner sites such as the six Rise and Shine Early Learning centers.

The organization's portfolio spans 11+ integrated programs organized around three pillars: early childhood education and family support (Head Start/Early Head Start, HIPPY, Parents As Teachers, Healthy Families Manatee, CATCH developmental screening, Whole Child Manatee); emergency financial and housing assistance (LIHEAP energy assistance, Season of Sharing, Weatherization, HUD-certified Housing Counseling); and economic self-sufficiency (VITA free tax preparation, Family Self Sufficiency Program, financial literacy counseling). Programs are interconnected through internal referral pathways, allowing clients to transition seamlessly across services.

Revenue is derived from federal grants (primarily Head Start grant numbers 04HP000537, 04HP000493, and 04CH011915 from HHS/ACF), LIHEAP, HUD housing counseling, and VITA-related funding, supplemented by individual donations amplified by a 1:1 match from the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, corporate partnerships, planned giving (bequests, gift annuities, charitable trusts), and a Founding 50 major-donor program. All services are provided free of charge to income-eligible clients; there is no sales motion. Governance is structured under a tripartite board with representation from the private sector, local government, and the low-income community.

Name

Step Up Suncoast

Legal name

Step Up Suncoast, Inc.

Website

https://stepupsuncoast.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Step Up Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community action agency serving over 11,000 low-income individuals, children, and families annually across five Florida counties through integrated early childhood education, emergency assistance, and economic self-sufficiency programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

Keywords

• Community action services
• Early childhood education
• Family self-sufficiency
• Energy assistance programs
• Housing counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary revenue source includes federal grants such as Head Start (Grant Numbers 04HP000537, 04HP000493, and 04CH011915 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals with 1:1 matching from the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust (up to $500/month per household, $3000/year per household).
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partner sponsorships providing marketing, branding, event sponsorship, and speaking engagement opportunities for businesses.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests through wills, gift annuities, charitable remainder and lead trusts, life insurance, and gifts of stock.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Step Up Suncoast is a designated community action agency that delivers free, wraparound social services to low-income individuals, children, and families across five Florida counties. Its core offering combines early childhood education (Head Start/Early Head Start, HIPPY, Parents As Teachers, Healthy Families Manatee), emergency financial assistance (LIHEAP, Season of Sharing, Weatherization), free tax preparation (VITA), HUD-certified housing and financial counseling, and a five-year Family Self-Sufficiency coaching program, all linked through internal referral pathways.

Product overview

Step Up Suncoast is a community action agency offering a portfolio of integrated social service programs designed to help families achieve self-sufficiency through a whole-family approach. The core programs include early childhood education (Head Start/Early Head Start, HIPPY, Parents As Teachers, Healthy Families), financial assistance (VITA Tax Preparation, LIHEAP/SOS utility assistance, Weatherization), housing support (Housing Counseling, Family Self Sufficiency), and community coordination (Whole Child Manatee, CATCH). These programs work together through internal referrals to address the interconnected needs of families across five Florida counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VITA Tax Preparation Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program providing tax preparation and filing services for individuals or households earning up to $85,000 annually, delivered by IRS-trained and certified volunteers.
• Weatherization Assistance Energy efficiency program delivering services to low-income households to reduce energy costs, improve home energy efficiency, and ensure health and safety through measures including insulation, duct sealing, and HVAC replacement.
• Housing and Financial Literacy Counseling HUD-certified one-on-one counseling providing pre-purchase/home buying guidance, first-time home buyer workshops, budget counseling, credit counseling, and fraud avoidance information for at-risk families.
• Head Start and Early Head Start at Rise and Shine Early Learning Comprehensive early childhood education and family engagement services at six Rise and Shine Early Learning centers serving children from birth to five years, including children with disabilities, preparing them for kindergarten.
• Healthy Families Manatee Voluntary home visiting program providing family support, parent education, and child development assistance from pregnancy through early childhood years, with home-based family support workers.
• Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Parent involvement school readiness program helping parents prepare two through six-year-old children for school success through provided curriculum and materials strengthening cognitive, literacy, social/emotional, and physical development.
• Parents As Teachers (PAT) Family support program providing home visits, group events, health and developmental screenings, and community resource networking to improve parental knowledge of child development and school readiness.
• Family Self Sufficiency Five-year program empowering families toward economic independence through needs assessment, goal setting, mentoring, and employment pathway discovery with emphasis on educational attainment and part-time employment.
• Utility and Housing Assistance (LIHEAP/SOS) Emergency assistance program combining LIHEAP services for immediate home energy needs and Season of Sharing Fund for housing stability, serving low-income households in Manatee, Hardee, and DeSoto counties.
• Whole Child Manatee Community service utilizing a computerized Whole Child Profile to help families with children under 18 identify needs and receive information about community services, with Whole Child Advisors assisting through the process.
• Collaborative Action Therapy for Children's Health (CATCH) Developmental screening, evaluation, and therapy services for preschoolers to support early identification and intervention for developmental concerns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 individuals, children and families connected to programs annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Healthy Families AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy Families Manatee is sponsored by Healthy Families America, providing the program framework and accreditation for the voluntary home visiting program serving new parents.
• Ounce of Prevention Fund of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Healthy Families Manatee program, providing additional funding and programmatic support for family home visiting services.
• Manatee County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government sponsor of Healthy Families Manatee program, providing essential funding for the voluntary home visiting initiative.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government sponsor providing funding and oversight for Healthy Families Manatee program.
• Rise and Shine Early LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization operating 6 early learning centers where Step Up Suncoast delivers Head Start and Early Head Start services.
• United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner acknowledged on the organization website, supporting community initiatives and resource coordination.
• Florida Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState initiative supporting the Parents As Teachers (PAT) program through funding and programmatic guidance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Children's Home Society of Florida: Florida-wide nonprofit providing family support, early childhood, and wraparound services — directly comparable to Step Up Suncoast's family self-sufficiency, Healthy Families-style home visiting, and Head Start-adjacent programming, though operating at greater geographic scale.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice: Regional Catholic Charities agency serving the same Florida Suncoast footprint with counseling, emergency assistance, pregnancy, and family support services — comparable wraparound social-service model and target population.
• Salvation Army of Manatee County: Local Salvation Army providing emergency utility, rent, and family assistance in the same service area — directly comparable to Step Up Suncoast's LIHEAP/Season of Sharing and emergency financial aid programs.
• Suncoast Center for Community Development (formerly Boley Centers): Florida-based community action and human services nonprofit providing family, housing, and self-sufficiency services — directly comparable wraparound model and CAA-style service portfolio.
• Healthy Start Coalition of Manatee County: Local Healthy Start coalition providing prenatal and early childhood home visiting services — comparable to Step Up Suncoast's Healthy Families Manatee and Parents As Teachers programs targeting the same client base.
• Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County: Local early-childhood coordinating entity administering school readiness and VPK funding — closely comparable to Step Up Suncoast's Head Start/Early Head Start enrollment pathway and child development focus.
• United Way Suncoast: Regional United Way covering Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties — directly comparable service area and an existing Step Up Suncoast community partner that funder-fellows and refers clients.
• Manatee Children's Services: Local nonprofit serving Manatee County children and families with counseling, prevention, and family support — comparable target population and service mix to Step Up Suncoast's family support programs.
• Easter Seals Southwest Florida: Regional Easter Seals affiliate providing early childhood education, developmental therapy, and family services — directly comparable to Step Up Suncoast's Head Start inclusion programs and CATCH developmental screening.

Regional players

• Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Regional philanthropic foundation serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties — comparable geography and donor base; competes for the same philanthropic dollars Step Up Suncoast pursues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/step-up-suncoast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Step Up Suncoast