Is Shining Star School Legit?

Strengths

Strong and consistent revenue growth, nearly doubling from 2021 to 2023 ($382,100 to $757,314).
Consistent positive net income in recent years, indicating sound financial management (e.g., $27,866 in 2023).
No reported officer compensation, suggesting a high proportion of funds may be directed towards mission-related activities.
Robust filing history with 12 IRS 990 filings, demonstrating good compliance and transparency.
Significant asset growth, increasing the organization's capacity and financial resilience.

Spending Breakdown

How Shining Star School allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.

85%

Program Spending

Healthy — majority goes to mission

10%

Admin Costs

Reasonable — admin costs in check

Fundraising

Within typical range

How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.

How to Interpret This Report

What Red Flags Mean

Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.

What Mission Score Measures

The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.

Using This Data for Donation Decisions

Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shining Star School

Is Shining Star School a legitimate charity?

Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Shining Star School (EIN: 201103586) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 1 red flag identified, 5 strengths noted.

Is Shining Star School a good charity to donate to?

Shining Star School has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $838K. Assets: $379K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.

What is the EIN for Shining Star School?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Shining Star School is 201103586. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.

What is a Mission Score?

The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.

How does Shining Star School spend its money?

Shining Star School allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.

How can I verify Shining Star School's tax-exempt status?

You can verify Shining Star School's tax-exempt status using EIN 201103586 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.

AI Transparency Report

Shining Star School demonstrates a generally healthy financial trajectory, with significant revenue growth observed over the past few years, from $382,100 in 2021 to $757,314 in 2023. The organization consistently operates with a positive net income, as seen in 2023 where revenue of $757,314 exceeded expenses of $729,448, indicating sound financial management. Asset growth has also been notable, increasing from $142,042 in 2020 to $364,136 in 2023, suggesting a growing capacity to support its mission.

The organization's spending efficiency appears strong, particularly given the reported 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This indicates that executive leadership is either unpaid or compensated through other means not reported as officer compensation, which can be a positive sign for donor confidence regarding administrative overhead. While a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses is not explicitly provided in the summary data, the consistent positive net income and lack of reported officer compensation suggest a focus on mission delivery.

In terms of transparency, the organization has a robust filing history with 12 IRS 990 filings, demonstrating consistent compliance with reporting requirements. The absence of reported officer compensation, while potentially positive, also means that the specific allocation of funds towards leadership salaries is not immediately clear from this data, which could be an area for deeper inquiry for complete transparency.

Verdict: Shining Star School appears trustworthy

Red Flags