Starr Foundation
Starr Foundation maintains over $1.2 billion in assets with 0% reported officer compensation over a decade.
EIN: 136151545 · New York, NY · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $233.5M |
| Total Expenses | $125.3M |
| Program Spending | 95% |
| Net Assets | $1.3B |
| Transparency Score | 95/100 |
Is Starr Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Starr Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Starr Foundation
Starr Foundation (EIN: 136151545) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $233.5M and total assets of $1.4B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Starr Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Starr Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 68 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $76.8M |
| Total Expenses | $125.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-48,510,259 |
| Total Assets | $1.3B |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $1.3B |
| Operating Margin | -63.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 119.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Starr Foundation reported a deficit of $48.5M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 119.9 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Starr Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +47.3% | +22.9% | -3.8% |
| 2022 | -72.2% | +9.4% | -3.7% |
| 2021 | +36.4% | -13.7% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | +19.4% | -12.3% | +2.9% |
| 2019 | +12.3% | +24.1% | -0.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1958 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Starr Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Starr Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $48.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Starr Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all ten available filings, indicating that its top executives receive no direct compensation from the organization, which is highly unusual for an entity of its size and asset base.
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 Starr Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low or 0% reported officer compensation without further explanation, which could indicate compensation is paid by a related entity or not fully disclosed in a standard manner.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Starr Foundation:
- Exceptional financial stability with assets consistently over $1.2 billion.
- Highly efficient spending with 0% reported officer compensation, maximizing funds for programs.
- Consistent and substantial grantmaking activity, with annual expenses typically between $90M and $125M.
- Minimal liabilities reported across all filings, indicating sound financial management.
- Long and transparent filing history with the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions about Starr Foundation
Is Starr Foundation a legitimate charity?
Starr Foundation (EIN: 136151545) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 95/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $233.5M. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Starr Foundation spend its money?
Starr Foundation directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Starr Foundation tax-deductible?
Starr Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136151545). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Starr Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 95/100 (Excellent), Starr Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Starr Foundation located?
Starr Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 136151545. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Starr Foundation have?
Starr Foundation has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $233.5M in total revenue.
How does Starr Foundation manage to report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests either a volunteer-led executive structure, compensation being covered by an affiliated entity, or a unique operational model where top leadership is not directly paid by the foundation itself. Further investigation into their operational structure would be needed to fully understand this.
Is Starr Foundation financially stable given its fluctuating revenues?
Yes, despite fluctuating annual revenues (e.g., $187.3M in 2021 vs. $76.7M in 2023), Starr Foundation is highly financially stable. Its substantial and consistent asset base, always exceeding $1.2 billion, provides a strong buffer and ensures long-term capacity for its mission.
What is the primary focus of Starr Foundation's spending?
Given the 0% officer compensation and minimal liabilities, it is highly probable that the vast majority of Starr Foundation's expenses, which consistently range from $90 million to $125 million annually, are directed towards its programmatic activities and grantmaking, aligning with its NTEE code as a grantmaking foundation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Starr Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Starr Foundation's revenue has grown by 32.5%, moving from $58.0M to $76.8M. Total assets decreased by 2.3% over the same period, from $1.3B to $1.3B. Total functional expenses rose by 57.9%, from $79.3M to $125.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Starr Foundation reported a deficit of $48.5M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $1.3B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $1.3B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $76.8M | $125.3M | $1.3B | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $52.1M | $101.9M | $1.3B | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $187.3M | $93.2M | $1.4B | $85K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $137.3M | $108.0M | $1.3B | $84K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $115.0M | $123.2M | $1.2B | $84K | — | — |
| 2015 | $102.5M | $99.3M | $1.2B | $85K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $106.0M | $98.3M | $1.2B | $61K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $79.9M | $100.5M | $1.2B | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $40.5M | $90.2M | $1.2B | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $58.0M | $79.3M | $1.3B | $8K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $76.8M, expenses of $125.3M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +47.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $52.1M, expenses of $101.9M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue -72.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $187.3M, expenses of $93.2M, and assets of $1.4B (revenue +36.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $137.3M, expenses of $108.0M, and assets of $1.3B (revenue +19.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $115.0M, expenses of $123.2M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +12.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $102.5M, expenses of $99.3M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue -3.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $106.0M, expenses of $98.3M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +32.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $79.9M, expenses of $100.5M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue +97.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $40.5M, expenses of $90.2M, and assets of $1.2B (revenue -30.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $58.0M, expenses of $79.3M, and assets of $1.3B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Starr Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Starr Foundation 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.