Starfish Group

Starfish Group exhibits highly inconsistent revenue and expense patterns with zero reported officer compensation.

EIN: 134128526 · Lopez Island, WA · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28

$1.2MRevenue

$813KAssets

70/100Mission Score (Good)

T20

About Starfish Group

Starfish Group (EIN: 134128526) is a nonprofit organization based in Lopez Island, WA, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $1.2M and total assets of $813K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Starfish Group's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

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.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Starfish Group with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

admin: 10%
programs: 85%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Starfish Group allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees received compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an organization with over $100,000 in annual expenses and suggests a volunteer-led or externally funded leadership structure.

Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.

Red Flags

The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Starfish Group's IRS 990 filings:

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

The following positive indicators were identified for Starfish Group:

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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Starfish Group

Why is there such extreme volatility in Starfish Group's annual revenue and expenses?

The filings show revenue ranging from $1 to $499,660 and expenses from $0 to $493,708 across different years. This suggests an inconsistent funding model or project-based operations that vary significantly year-to-year.

How does Starfish Group operate with 0% officer compensation?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation implies that leadership is entirely volunteer-based or compensated through other means not reported on the 990, which is a notable operational characteristic for an organization of its size.

What is the nature of the 'latest revenue' figure ($1,150,148) compared to the individual filing period revenues (e.g., $122,735 in 2023)?

There is a significant discrepancy between the provided 'latest revenue' and the most recent individual filing's revenue. Clarification is needed to understand if the 'latest revenue' represents a cumulative figure, a different reporting period, or an error in data presentation.

What are the primary program activities of Starfish Group given its NTEE code T20 (Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations)?

With an NTEE code of T20, Starfish Group is categorized as a grantmaking or philanthropic organization. Understanding its specific grant recipients or programmatic initiatives would provide insight into its mission impact.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Starfish Group showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:

Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Starfish Group's revenue has declined by 75.4%, moving from $500K to $123K. Total assets decreased by 93% over the same period, from $350K to $24K. Total functional expenses fell by 78.8%, from $494K to $105K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Starfish Group reported a surplus of $18K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $24K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $24K.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$123K	$105K	$24K	$1	—	View 990
2022	$101K	$101K	$6K	$1	—	View 990
2021	$948	$947	$6K	$1	—	View 990
2020	$1K	$26K	$6K	$1	—	—
2019	$1K	$768	$31K	$1	—	—
2015	$1	$2K	$5K	$1	—	View 990
2014	$1	$0	$6K	$1	—	View 990
2013	$8	$210K	$942	$1	—	View 990
2012	$343K	$483K	$211K	$0	—	View 990
2011	$500K	$494K	$350K	$0	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $123K, expenses of $105K, and assets of $24K (revenue +21.0% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $101K, expenses of $101K, and assets of $6K (revenue +10597.2% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $948, expenses of $947, and assets of $6K (revenue -7.3% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $1K, expenses of $26K, and assets of $6K (revenue -23.9% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $1K, expenses of $768, and assets of $31K (revenue +134400.0% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $1, expenses of $2K, and assets of $5K (revenue +0.0% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $1, expenses of $0, and assets of $6K (revenue -87.5% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $8, expenses of $210K, and assets of $942 (revenue -100.0% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $343K, expenses of $483K, and assets of $211K (revenue -31.3% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $500K, expenses of $494K, and assets of $350K.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Starfish Group is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.

IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.