Quick charity verification for The Onestar Foundation (EIN: 200166368)
Verdict: The Onestar Foundation shows mixed signals
55/100Mission Score
$3.2MRevenue
$1.7MAssets
4Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Extreme financial volatility with inconsistent revenue and expense patterns, making long-term planning difficult.
Significant decline in assets from $51.5 million in 2017 to $1.7 million in the latest period, indicating a substantial reduction in financial reserves or operational scale.
Expenses exceeding revenue in multiple periods (e.g., 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2015), suggesting potential operational deficits.
Reporting 0% officer compensation for an organization of its past and current scale, which is unusual and may warrant further scrutiny into how executive leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating a potential commitment to directing funds towards mission-related activities rather than executive salaries.
Long filing history (12 filings), suggesting a sustained presence and compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Spending Breakdown
How The Onestar Foundation allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
75%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
15%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
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 The Onestar Foundation
Is The Onestar Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Onestar Foundation (EIN: 200166368) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 55/100. 4 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is The Onestar Foundation a good charity to donate to?
The Onestar Foundation has a Mission Score of 55/100. Revenue: $3.2M. Assets: $1.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for The Onestar Foundation?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for The Onestar Foundation is 200166368. 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 The Onestar Foundation spend its money?
The Onestar Foundation allocates 75% to programs, 15% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify The Onestar Foundation's tax-exempt status?
You can verify The Onestar Foundation's tax-exempt status using EIN 200166368 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
The Onestar Foundation exhibits highly volatile financial performance over the past decade, with revenues fluctuating wildly from a low of $1.9 million in 2013 to a high of $58.8 million in 2017, and then back down to $3.2 million in the latest reported period. This significant inconsistency makes long-term financial planning and stability difficult to assess. While the organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation, which is a positive indicator for resource allocation to mission, the dramatic swings in revenue and expenses, particularly the $43.1 million in expenses against $15.7 million in revenue in 2019, raise questions about financial management and sustainability. The organization's assets have also seen substantial changes, peaking at $51.5 million in 2017 and declining to $1.7 million currently, suggesting a significant reduction in operational scale or a shift in funding model. The lack of detailed program, administrative, and fundraising expense breakdowns in the provided data limits a precise assessment of spending efficiency, but the overall financial instability is a concern for transparency and predictability.