North Star Family Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE STABLE HOUSING, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF SUPPORT.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -42.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $203,110, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $405,582 spent. BONNIE'S PLACE:THE NORTH STAR SHELTER OFFERS CONSISTENT, PERSONALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. SPECIFICALLY, OUR STAFF PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:EMERGENCY SHELTER AND MEALS:PROVIDE WHATEVER NEEDS A FAMILY REQUIRE WHETHER THAT BE CLOTHING, TOILETRIES, BEDDING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND EVEN BIRTHDAY PRESENTS FOR THE CHILDREN. WARM MEALS ARE PROVIDED DAILY BY A ROTATION OF 300 VOLUNTEERS.INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT:PROVIDE INTENSIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILIES TO HELP THEM GAIN STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE. THIS INCLUDES AIDING FAMILIES WITH EMPLOYMENT, LOCATING CHILDCARE, OBTAINING TRANSPORTATION, LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE THEIR FINANCES AND BUDGET APPROPRIATELY, DIRECTING THEM TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES, AND MORE.EDUCATIONAL TRAINING:PROVIDE TRAININGS FOR THE FAMILIES TO HELP THEM BUILD LIFE SKILLS THAT THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM WHEN THEY EXIT THE SHELTER. TRAININGS INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS BUDGETING, NUTRITION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, RESUME WRITING, POSITIVE PARENTING, JOB SEARCHING, INTERVIEWING FOR JOBS, TENANT RIGHTS, ETC.
- $376,013 spent. JOURNEY HOME:THE NORTH STAR FAMILY SERVICES - JOURNEY HOME HOUSING OFFERS SUPPORTIVE, PERMANENT, SUBSIDIZED HOUSING TO 15 FAMILIES. NORTH STAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 350 FAMILIES APPLY FOR THESE APARTMENTS. AN ELECTRONIC LOTTERY WAS PERFORMED BY OUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY MAKING OPPORTUNITIES COUNT. THE CHOSEN FAMILIES TRANSITIONED INTO THEIR APARTMENTS IN AUGUST 2025.EACH JOURNEY HOME FAMILY HAS THEIR OWN LEASE AND HAS A PARKING SPOT AVAILABLE IF THEY HAVE A VEHICLE. FAMILIES MEET WITH OUR SERVICE COORDINATOR ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO GAIN SUPPORT, RESOURCES, IDENTIFY NEEDS AND TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH NORTH STAR. ADDITIONALLY, MONTHLY "CIRCLE MEETINGS" ARE SCHEDULED THAT ARE INFORMATION-BASED SESSIONS THAT ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.