What Step Denver does

Step Denver is a 501(c)(3) residential addiction recovery program serving men aged 18 and older who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1983 (originally as Step 13) and headquartered in a converted department store at 2029 Larimer Street, the program operates a 60-bed main residential facility plus six sober living homes in metro Denver, serving 330+ men annually with an average of 114 nights of sober housing per resident. Its core product is the "Steps for Success" four-phase curriculum (Stability, Development, Transition, Community/Sober Living) built on four pillars — Sobriety, Work, Accountability, and Community — and delivered through a Peer Recovery Support Model in which 17 of 22 staff members are program alumni with lived recovery experience.

The business model is donation-led: Step accepts no government funding, instead generating revenue from individual monthly giving, vehicle donations resold under a dealer license, corporate partnerships, foundation grants (Daniels Fund, Caring for Denver, El Pomar, Anschutz, Coors, and others), and modest resident program fees ($15/day, $75/week, or $200/month after employment). The FY2024-2025 operating budget is $2,839,613, with reported fundraising efficiency of 8 cents spent per dollar raised and a Charity Navigator score of 24/25. Step recently expanded to Colorado Springs with Step Springs, a 50-bed facility opened October 2025 at a total project cost of $6.5 million, operated under parent entity Step Recovery alongside Step Denver.

Step Denver's go-to-market relies on same-day walk-in admission with no waiting list, street-level outreach at libraries and detox facilities, judicial system referrals, and alumni word-of-mouth, with no paid advertising. Outcome metrics include 87% sustained sobriety among contacted alumni, 74% full-time employment within 45 days, and an estimated $17.3 million in 2025-2026 local economic impact. The organization produces the GRIT podcast, annual impact reports, and maintains active social channels; merchandise is sold through third-party DT Logos.

Name

Step Denver

Legal name

Step Denver

Website

https://stepdenver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Step Denver is a 501(c)(3) residential addiction recovery program serving 330+ homeless and addicted men annually in Denver via a four-phase peer-led curriculum, recently expanded to Colorado Springs with a new 50-bed facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Addiction Recovery

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Residential recovery program
• Addiction recovery services
• Peer recovery support
• Sober living housing
• Men's recovery program

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting the mission. Step offers monthly giving (Upstander Monthly Giving Club), spare change rounding programs, and personal fundraising pages. Every $1 donated is reportedly turned into $5 of local impact.
2. Vehicle Donation Program: Donated vehicles are sold using Step's dealer license; proceeds fund the residential facility and sober living homes. Every one vehicle donated provides one man the opportunity to enter the program.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide financial and in-kind support. Step offers customized partnership opportunities for businesses aligned with its mission. Includes corporate employee matching programs.
4. Resident Program Fees: No cost to enter. Once employed, residents pay $15/day, $75/week, or $200/month in program fees as part of the accountability component.
5. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including Daniels Fund, Caring for Denver Foundation, Recovery Foundation, The Anschutz Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, and others. Step does not accept government funding.
6. Merchandise Sales: Step-branded apparel (shirts, sweatshirts, hats) sold through third-party partner DT Logos.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Step Denver is a residential addiction recovery program for men that provides free entry into a four-phase Steps for Success program (Stability, Development, Transition, Community/Sober Living) anchored on the four pillars of sobriety, work, accountability, and community. The program delivers 60-bed residential housing plus six sober living homes (90 beds total), peer-based recovery support from staff who are program alumni, sobriety testing, career counseling, life-skills training, and family restoration services. The organization also operates a vehicle donation resale program that funds operations and a free GRIT podcast sharing recovery stories.

Product overview

Step Denver is a residential addiction recovery program offering a comprehensive four-phase "Steps for Success" program based on four pillars: Sobriety, Work, Accountability, and Community. The program provides residential housing, peer recovery support, career counseling, life-skills training, and extended sober living homes. Additional offerings include a vehicle donation program and the GRIT podcast. The program is free to enter and funded entirely through private donations, with residents paying modest fees once employed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steps for Success Program A free, four-phase residential recovery program for men with addiction anchored on the four pillars of Sobriety, Work, Accountability, and Community, combining residential housing, peer recovery support, sobriety testing, recovery education, life-skills classes, and career counseling. Delivered to men aged 18+ who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with same-day admission and no waiting list.
• Sober Living Homes Extended sober living housing in six metro Denver homes providing Phase Four (Community/Sober Living) of the Steps for Success program. Provides a soft landing back into the community with continued peer accountability and additional privileges for men transitioning out of the main residential facility.
• Career Counseling Services Individual career counseling and classes teaching residents how to prepare for, search for, interview for, and land a full-time job, with continued support through employment. Career outcomes are a documented program strength (74% obtain a full-time, tax-paying job within 45 days).

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of alumni contacted report sustained sobriety
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, minor, data/research and historical.

• Step Denver (parent organization for replication)coreOthers · 1 January 1983Step Denver serves as the founding program and parent organization for Step Springs in Colorado Springs and future program replications. Meghan Shay became CEO of Step Recovery (parent) overseeing both Step Denver and Step Springs. CEO Paul Scudo leads expansion across communities.
• Serenity Recovery ConnectionregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Springs-based recovery organization referenced as a local partner collaborating with Step Springs. Praised Step Springs' potential to fill gaps in men's recovery services in the region.
• Springs Rescue MissionregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Springs' largest shelter, welcomes Step Springs as a collaborative partner to fill transitional housing needs. Board member Alison Murray testified at Colorado Springs Planning Commission in support of Step.
• Steve Schuck (Community Leader)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity leader instrumental in catalyzing Step Springs expansion to Colorado Springs. Referenced in Gazette editorial as a key champion for the program.
• King Soopers RewardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStep Denver is enrolled in the King Soopers Community Rewards program, where shoppers can designate Step as their charity of choice and King Soopers donates a percentage of purchases to the organization.
• DT LogosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThird-party apparel partner that produces and sells Step-branded merchandise (shirts, sweatshirts, hats) through its own storefront.
• Facebook FundraisersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStep is registered as a charity on Facebook's fundraising platform, allowing supporters to create and share fundraising campaigns for Step Denver.
• MortensonregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver. Mortenson is a major construction and real estate development company.
• Ent Credit UnionregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver. Colorado-based credit union listed among corporate partners on the news page.
• Exact TitleregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver. Title company providing partnership support.
• High 5 PlumbingregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Step Denver. Mentioned in corporate giving page.
• YardiregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver. Yardi provides property management software and services.
• Modus Real EstateregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver.
• M&M Excavation CompanyregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver.
• Asphalt Specialties Co.regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver.
• DEALER AUTO AUCTIONregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver.
• Foundation for Drug Policy SolutionsregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver.
• STRUCTURES Inc.regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Step Denver.
• Denver Office of the Medical Examinerdata/researchOthersData source referenced in Step Denver reporting; their data showed 70% of homeless deaths in Denver were caused by drugs and alcohol, a 10% increase from the prior year.
• Sutherland's Home Improvement CenterhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped residents build out the original Larimer Street facility in 1987, transforming a former department store into the Step home that exists today.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oxford House: National network of sober living homes (democratically-run, peer-supported) with similar resident-led recovery ethos. Operates a much larger footprint of sober living units; comparable model across community-phase housing.
• Cornerstone of Recovery: Residential and outpatient addiction treatment in Colorado with collegiate recovery and sober living options. Comparable residential program structure and emphasis on community/peer support.
• The Ranch at Dove Tree: Residential and outpatient addiction treatment in Colorado with sober living options. Comparable intensity of residential services and Colorado footprint, though Step's nonprofit status differentiates cost structure.
• Jaywalker Lodge: Men-only residential recovery program in Colorado serving men with addiction, very similar demographic and four-phase model. Directly comparable in target population, geography, and program structure.
• Angela House: Peer-driven residential recovery house for women in recovery in Denver — same peer-recovery, no-government-funding philosophy, but for women. Closest gender-mirror peer to Step Denver.

Emerging players

• Phoenix Multisport: Denver-based sober-active community providing free fitness, sober events, and peer support for people in recovery. Complementary rather than direct but serves the same population with a non-residential community focus.

Broad incumbents

• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: National, established nonprofit provider of addiction treatment and recovery services. Much larger scale, broader continuum of care, and insurance-funded; provides the upper-bound benchmark on outcomes and brand.
• The Salvation Army: National nonprofit operating residential recovery programs (Adult Rehabilitation Centers) across the U.S. Purely donation-funded, with work-driven program structure very similar to Step's pillars.
• Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit operating residential recovery and reentry programs across multiple states. Differs in scale and breadth, but directly comparable in residential recovery service model and vulnerable populations.

Regional players

• Springs Rescue Mission: Colorado Springs' largest shelter and supportive services provider, partner to Step Springs. Overlaps in transitional housing and recovery services for the same regional population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/stepdenver_co
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwSt_ugpj9j_h58TDCPEOCw
• Facebookfacebook.com/StepDenver
• Instagraminstagram.com/StepDenver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Denver