What A Step Ahead Foundation does

A Step Ahead Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, that provides free-of-cost long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) — including hormonal IUDs, the Paragard non-hormonal IUD, the Nexplanon implant, and the Depo-Provera injection — to women in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. The organization operates an asset-light clinical model: it does not own clinical facilities, instead routing clients through a 24/7 call center (901-320-STEP) to a contracted network of more than 20 partner clinics spanning Christ Community Health Services, Regional One Health, the Shelby County Health Department, Church Health Center, Memphis Health Center, Tri-State Community Health Center, and UT LeBonheur Pediatric Specialists, with complimentary Lyft rides provided to and from appointments.

Beyond clinical access, A Step Ahead Foundation operates three integrated program lines: (1) a health education product suite (Teen Talk for ages 12-18, Parent Talk for parents and guardians, Community Talk for adults, and a Setting Up for Success orientation), delivered through partnerships with more than 80 community organizations and schools; (2) the Step Ahead Scholarship program, launched in 2014, which has awarded over $2.3 million to more than 600 women ages 17-35 pursuing post-secondary education; and (3) a Partners in Prevention (PiP) outreach channel that trains institutional partners to disseminate awareness. The organization explicitly serves uninsured and underinsured women regardless of legal status, including minors aged 14+ under Tennessee's parental-consent statute.

The organization is funded entirely by charitable contributions — individual donations, workplace/corporate giving, planned/legacy gifts, and grants — and explicitly receives no government funding. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Nikki Gibbs, with a staff of 11-50 employees including a COO (Amy Mulroy), founder/Director of Donor Relations (Claudia Haltom), and functional directors covering marketing and communications, community education, clinic partnerships, and grants.

Name

A Step Ahead Foundation

Legal name

A Step Ahead Foundation

Website

https://astepaheadfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A Step Ahead Foundation is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2011, that provides free long-acting reversible contraception, reproductive health education, and post-secondary scholarships to uninsured and underinsured women in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reproductive Health Services

NAICS

Family Planning Centers (621410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual & Reproductive Health (STI Care, Vulvovaginal Disorders) (HLAKAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAH), Sexual & Reproductive Health Services (EDALAFAG)

Keywords

• Reproductive health services
• Free contraception access
• Community health education
• Women's health programs
• Nonprofit health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization receives contributions from individual donors. It is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax-deductible. Donors can give via its Kindful donation page, and the organization states that every dollar stays in the Memphis and Shelby County community.
2. Corporate and Workplace Giving: The organization accepts donations through workplace giving programs and encourages donors to inquire with employers about matching gift programs. Stock option donations and in-kind gifts are also accepted.
3. Legacy/Planned Gifts: The organization accepts legacy gifts and planned giving arrangements, working with donors' estate planners to facilitate legacy contributions.
4. Grant Funding: The organization has a Finance and Grants Manager position, indicating pursuit of grant funding from foundations and government or non-governmental sources to support operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

A Step Ahead Foundation provides free long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including hormonal IUDs, the copper IUD, the Nexplanon implant, and Depo-Provera injections, to women in Memphis and Shelby County regardless of insurance status, citizenship, or ability to pay. It complements these clinical services with free reproductive health education programs (Teen Talk, Parent Talk, Community Talk, and Setting Up for Success) and the Step Ahead Scholarship program for women pursuing post-secondary education.

Product overview

A Step Ahead Foundation is a nonprofit healthcare organization in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee, offering a coordinated suite of free reproductive health services. The core offering is Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), providing hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, Skyla), the non-hormonal Paragard IUD, the Nexplanon implant, and Depo-Provera injections at no cost to eligible women. This is supported by complementary health education programs including Teen Talk (for youth ages 12-18), Parent Talk (for parents and guardians), Community Talk (for adults), and Setting Up for Success (required orientation for school groups). The organization also operates the Step Ahead Scholarship Program for women pursuing post-secondary education, the Partners in Prevention introductory outreach program, speaking engagements, tabling events, and volunteer training. Transportation assistance via Lyft is provided for birth control appointments. These programs work together to empower women to plan their lives, futures, and babies through access to contraception, education, and financial support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Free-of-cost birth control service providing all LARC methods — hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, Skyla), non-hormonal Paragard IUD, Nexplanon implant, and Depo-Provera injection — for women in Memphis and Shelby County regardless of insurance or citizenship status. Covers device, clinical visits, well-woman exams, pap smears, pregnancy tests, follow-up visits, removal, and Lyft transportation to and from appointments.
• Teen Talk Health Education Program Free, interactive 50–60 minute reproductive health education session for youth ages 12–18, covering goal setting, reproductive systems, puberty, hygiene, menstrual cycles, abstinence, contraception, STI prevention, consent, and healthy relationships.
• Parent Talk Health Education Program Free education program helping parents, grandparents, and trusted adults have supportive conversations about reproductive health with teens, covering open communication strategies and healthy boundaries.
• Community Talk Health Education Program Free, adult-focused reproductive health education session providing foundational knowledge for healthy decision-making, designed for colleges, workplaces, and community organizations for adults 18+.
• Setting Up for Success Orientation Session Free 60-minute introductory session providing an overview of A Step Ahead Foundation and its health education programming; required orientation for all high school Teen Talk groups.
• Step Ahead Scholarship Program Financial scholarship program awarding funds (up to $2,000 per recipient, up to twice) to women ages 17–35 in Memphis and Shelby County pursuing post-secondary education at accredited colleges, universities, or trade/technical schools. Approximately 100 scholarships awarded annually; recipients serve as ambassadors for the foundation and participate in volunteer activities.
• Partners in Prevention (PiP) Free flagship 60-minute introductory outreach session introducing organizations to A Step Ahead Foundation's mission, services, free contraception access, health education, and scholarship programs, equipping participants to share information within their own constituencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Provided FREE birth control to over 8,000 women since 2011 through 20+ partner clinics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hub Hall (Hospitality Hub)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHub Hall (Hospitality Hub) is listed as a trusted community partner collaborating with A Step Ahead to deliver educational sessions in Memphis and Shelby County.
• Girls Inc. of MemphisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGirls Inc. of Memphis is listed as a trusted community partner working with A Step Ahead to deliver health education sessions to youth in the Memphis area.
• Memphis Inner City RugbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMemphis Inner City Rugby is listed as a trusted community partner collaborating with A Step Ahead on educational outreach.
• Restore CorpsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestore Corps is listed as a trusted community partner working with A Step Ahead to deliver educational sessions in Memphis.
• Memphis AlliesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMemphis Allies is listed as a trusted community partner collaborating with A Step Ahead on community education and outreach.
• Christ Community Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChrist Community Health Services operates 7 clinic locations across Memphis and Shelby County (Broad Ave, Frayser, Hickory Hill, Orange Mound, Raleigh, Women's Health Clinic, South Third Street) as A Step Ahead's primary partner for delivering free LARC services. These federally qualified health centers serve as the main clinical delivery channel for A Step Ahead's birth control program.
• Regional One HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional One Health operates 4 locations (East Campus, Hollywood, South Third Street, Outpatient Clinic/Medplex) as a clinic partner providing free LARC services for A Step Ahead clients in Memphis.
• Shelby County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Shelby County Health Department operates 5 clinic locations (Cawthon, Downtown, Hickory Hill, Millington, Shelby Crossing) as a partner providing free LARC services for A Step Ahead clients.
• Church Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch Health Center, located at Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, is a clinic partner providing free LARC services for A Step Ahead clients.
• Memphis Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemphis Health Center operates 2 locations (Downtown and Whitehaven) as a clinic partner providing free LARC services for A Step Ahead clients.
• Tri-State Community Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-State Community Health Center (located at 4041 Knight Arnold Rd, Memphis) is a clinic partner providing free LARC services for A Step Ahead clients.
• UT LeBonheur Pediatric SpecialistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUT LeBonheur Pediatric Specialists operates 2 locations (Downtown and East) as a clinic partner, providing free LARC services for A Step Ahead clients. Also listed under Christ Community Health Services as a collaborative provider.
• Shelby County Health DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelby County Health Department is also referenced as a resource for STI/STD testing services that A Step Ahead refers clients to, as A Step Ahead does not provide standalone STI/STD testing.
• Friends for AllminorOthersFriends for All is listed as a FREE STI/STD testing resource referred to A Step Ahead clients on the Helpful Links page.
• AHF Healthcare CenterminorOthersAHF Healthcare Center is listed as a FREE STI/STD testing resource referred to A Step Ahead clients on the Helpful Links page.
• A Step Ahead Foundation Affiliates (Tennessee)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of A Step Ahead affiliates across Tennessee (accessible through getfreebirthcontrol.org) extends the organization's model beyond Memphis and Shelby County, serving women throughout the state.
• Hattiloo TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHattiloo Theatre hosted A Step Ahead Foundation's Spring Fundraiser (April 2024 and April 2026), featuring theatrical productions. The partnership includes production viewings and original artwork displays to engage supporters and raise funds.
• Memphis GrizzliesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Memphis Grizzlies partnered with A Step Ahead through the 'Welcome to Memphis Tour' at FedEx Forum in September 2022, where Grizzlies players, coaches, and staff learned about nonprofits in the city. Lauren Carnell, VP of Marketing at Memphis Grizzlies, also serves on A Step Ahead's Board of Directors.
• Playback MemphisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlayback Memphis, a community-based theater company, performed improvisational theater at A Step Ahead events in September 2023, bringing to life stories of women helped by the organization.
• Lindenwood Christian ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLindenwood Christian Church served as the venue for A Step Ahead's Scholarship Drive-Thru celebration in July 2022, hosting the event that distributed scholarships to young women.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Upstream USA: Upstream USA is a national nonprofit focused on expanding access to all contraceptive methods, including LARC, for women in the U.S. — directly comparable to A Step Ahead's mission of free LARC access, with a similar emphasis on provider training and patient education rather than direct clinical service delivery.
• Power to Decide: Power to Decide (formerly The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy) runs the Bedsider platform and focuses on contraceptive access and reproductive health education nationally — closely aligned with A Step Ahead's combined contraception-plus-education mission, though at a national advocacy and information scale.
• CHOICES Memphis Center for Reproductive Health: CHOICES is a Memphis-based reproductive health clinic providing contraception, STI testing, and abortion care — overlapping with A Step Ahead's contraception and education focus in the exact same Memphis/Shelby County market and serving a similar low-income, uninsured population.
• SisterReach: SisterReach is a Memphis-based reproductive justice organization serving women and girls of color in the Mid-South — directly comparable to A Step Ahead in geography, target population, and reproductive health/community-education mission, with overlapping focus on SRH access and health equity.

Broad incumbents

• Planned Parenthood Federation of America: Planned Parenthood is the largest U.S. provider of reproductive health services including contraception, STI testing, and education — a broad incumbent that overlaps substantially with A Step Ahead's service categories but operates at national scale and through owned clinics rather than a referral/partner-clinic model.

Emerging players

• Nurx: Nurx is a telehealth platform providing online contraceptive prescribing and home delivery — addressing the same contraception-access problem as A Step Ahead but via a direct-to-consumer digital model rather than community-based clinic referrals, and serves insured as well as uninsured patients.
• The Pill Club: The Pill Club is an online birth control prescription and delivery service — comparable to A Step Ahead in solving contraceptive access barriers, but as a venture-backed commercial telehealth company rather than a community nonprofit.

Others

• National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA): NFPRHA is the national membership organization for family planning providers, including Title X-funded clinics — comparable as an ecosystem peer to A Step Ahead's network of 20+ partner clinics, though operating as an industry association rather than a direct service provider.
• SisterSong: SisterSong is a national reproductive justice organization led by women of color — thematically comparable to A Step Ahead's mission of advancing reproductive autonomy for underserved women, though focused on coalition-building and advocacy rather than direct contraception delivery.
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance: Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a national coalition advancing Black maternal health — comparable to A Step Ahead's emphasis on improving maternal and infant outcomes in underserved Memphis communities, though focused on maternal health policy and advocacy rather than direct contraception service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/astepaheadfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-step-ahead-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/astepaheadfoundation
• Xx.com/stepaheadmed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about A Step Ahead Foundation