Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Onestar Foundation

EIN 20-0445492 · Austin, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ONESTAR STRENGTHENS TEXAS COMMUNITIES BY CREATING PATHWAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE, CONNECT, AND ACCELERATE THEIR IMPACT.

Income
$31.3 million
Spending
$31.3 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$265,369, president/ce

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $29.4 million spent. AMERICORPS: PASS-THROUGH GRANTS TO TEXAS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. AMERICORPS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: GRANTS FROM AMERICORPS AND THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER AND OPERATE AMERICORPS PASS-THROUGH GRANTS AND PERFORM OTHER SERVICES THAT FURTHER VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
  3. $394,509 spent. VISTA GRANT: TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA PROJECT TO RECRUIT AND PLACE CAPACITY-BUILDING AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS AT ELIGIBLE NONPROFITS ACROSS THE STATE THAT SEEK TO FIGHT POVERTY ACROSS MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS, INCLUDING DISASTER SERVICES, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, HEALTHY FUTURES, NON-PROFIT CAPACITY-BUILDING, AND VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.