LOS ANGELES – April 2, 2015 – National mentorship organization Step Up has been selected as one of the nation’s Best Nonprofits to Work For in a new list compiled by The Nonprofit Times and released on April 1.
One of the smaller organizations to receive the distinction, Step Up was selected in part for its staff acknowledgement strategy, team-building initatives, employee flex time program, and for its focus on clarifying staff roles and responsibilities. This year’s list marks the first inclusion for Step Up.
The list recognized 50 nonprofits, with Step Up earning the number 17 spot. With 16 full-time employees, it was one of just three nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees to crack the top-20. Among nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees, Step Up ranked number 12 nationally.
“This is a very proud moment for the organization,” Step Up CEO Jenni Luke said. “I’m grateful to our leadership team for helping us create and sustain a culture that is very special, and one where our staff feels valued.”
Founded in Los Angeles in 1998, Step Up added offices in New York and Chicago, and just announced expansion to Dallas and Atlanta by 2017. The nonprofit is led by Luke (based in New York), Chair of the National Board of Directors Angela Elbert (Chicago), and Founder Kaye Popofsky Kramer (Los Angeles).
The organization propels girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused and ready to join the next generation of professional women. With 13 partner high schools nationwide, the organization runs after-school programs for high school girls and uses a group mentorship model to pair the girls with various professional women mentors during the students’ four years in the program. Alumnae of the program have gone on to attend more than 100 colleges nationwide, with 100% of seniors active in Step Up graduating high school and securing admission to college for five straight school years. Each graduate also acknowledged having access to multiple female mentors as a support system.
The complete list compiled by The Nonprofit Times is available here: http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/4-1-15_BestPlacesToWork.pdf with additional analysis from Step Up CEO Jenni Luke available via audio interview here: http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/2015-best-places-to-work-in-their-own-words/
ABOUT STEP UP
Step Up propels girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused and ready to join the next generation of professional women. Connect at suwn.org.
TESTIMONIALS FROM STEP UP STAFF
“I love that I get to work with a group of women who have diverse opinions but all passionately agree on one thing: that all girls deserve the opportunity to fulfill their potential!” – Chicago Managing Director Cassandra Gaddo
“My favorite thing about working at Step Up is meeting amazing women who are invested in helping the next generation of female leaders. The work we do in the present will surely help our future.” – New York Manager of Member Programs Robin Beck
“My favorite thing about working for Step Up is witnessing powerful professional women value teen girls as intellectual peers.” – New York Manager of Teen Programs Cleopatra LaMothe
“My favorite part about working at Step Up is seeing how motivated the team is to do its best and make all events for teens and members top quality and memorable! Everyone is a consummate professional and it shows. It is also wonderful that as an organization this dedication is recognized, thanked, appreciated and celebrated!” – New York Managing Director Sarah Wendt
