Quick charity verification for Starfish Group (EIN: 134128526)
Verdict: Starfish Group appears trustworthy
70/100Mission Score
$1.2MRevenue
$813KAssets
4Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Extreme year-over-year financial volatility in revenue and expenses, making consistent operational planning difficult.
Significant discrepancy between the provided 'Latest Revenue' and the most recent individual filing's revenue, requiring clarification.
Consistent 0% officer compensation, which, while potentially positive, can also indicate reliance on external support or an unsustainable volunteer model for an organization of this scale.
Lack of detailed expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided data, hindering a full assessment of spending efficiency.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds away from executive salaries.
Low liabilities across all reported periods, indicating good financial management of debt.
Long filing history (10 filings), demonstrating sustained operation and compliance.
Positive net assets in most recent periods, showing financial solvency.
Spending Breakdown
How Starfish Group allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
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 Starfish Group
Is Starfish Group a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Starfish Group (EIN: 134128526) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 70/100. 4 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Starfish Group a good charity to donate to?
Starfish Group has a Mission Score of 70/100. Revenue: $1.2M. Assets: $813K. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Starfish Group?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Starfish Group is 134128526. 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 Starfish Group spend its money?
Starfish Group allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Starfish Group's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Starfish Group's tax-exempt status using EIN 134128526 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
Starfish Group's financial health appears highly volatile, with significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses over its filing history. While the latest reported revenue of $1,150,148 and assets of $812,550 suggest a substantial organization, the individual filing periods show a much smaller operational scale, with 2023 revenue at $122,735 and expenses at $104,600. This discrepancy between the 'latest revenue' provided and the most recent individual filing data makes a clear assessment challenging. The organization consistently reports minimal liabilities, indicating a healthy balance sheet in that regard.
Spending efficiency is difficult to ascertain without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in the provided data. However, the consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a lean operational structure at the executive level, which is a positive indicator for donor funds being directed towards the mission rather than high salaries. The organization's ability to maintain positive net assets in most recent periods, albeit small, shows some financial stability.
Transparency is generally good given the availability of 10 years of IRS 990 filings. However, the lack of specific expense category breakdowns (program, admin, fundraising) in the provided summary limits a deeper analysis of how funds are allocated. The significant swings in revenue and expenses year-over-year, such as revenue dropping from $343,499 in 2012 to $8 in 2013, then jumping to $948 in 2021 and $122,735 in 2023, warrant further investigation to understand the underlying operational model and funding sources.