Mission
Our mission is to empower underserved communities by expanding access to opportunities, creating pathways to success, and driving sustainable growth for all.
Vision
Step Up Savannah envisions a community where everyone has hope and opportunity, where we stand against injustice, and where all members work together to build a more financially stable and thriving future.
Step Up Savannah promotes financial opportunity and financial security in Chatham County, GA and surrounding counties. While more than a quarter of Savannah’s residents live in poverty, that percentage jumps to 50% and higher in some neighborhoods. Such high rates have persisted for more than 30 years.
Established in 2005 by a group of community leaders who recognized that the city’s pockets of concentrated poverty impair the economic development of the entire community, Step Up incorporated as an independent nonprofit in 2008 and now has a 39-member board of directors.
Step Up Savannah serves as a catalyst for change by attracting resources, developing and implementing effective programs, training community and nonprofit leaders, and advocating for policies that improve the lives of financially struggling families. As a convener, the organization works through a collaborative, community-driven approach, engaging a broad network of partners and its dedicated board of directors to create lasting solutions. By adapting programs to meet evolving needs, Step Up Savannah empowers individuals and families to achieve financial independence and long-term stability.
When we reference “poverty,” we align with the federal poverty threshold set for government programs. However, we recognize the limitations of this measurement, as it was established in the 1960s and does not fully reflect modern financial realities. The formula tends to overestimate the portion of a family’s budget required for food while underestimating the rising costs of housing, healthcare, and childcare. To provide a more accurate picture, we also consider the “self-sufficiency wage”—the income level at which individuals and families can afford essential needs such as housing, food, transportation, childcare, and healthcare without financial assistance.
Please email media@stepupsavannah.org.