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A Million Stars Inc

EIN 20-4768985 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH AN INDIVIDUALIZED, HOLISTIC, AND MULTI-YEAR COMMITTMENT, COLLEGE BOUND EMPOWERS PROMISING STUDENTS FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS TO ACHIEVE BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND FULFILLING CAREERS.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
20.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
34
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$200,509, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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, 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)
  1. $1.8 million spent. COLLEGE BOUND'S TO AND THROUGH IS A COMPREHENSIVE, SEVEN-TO-NINE YEAR PROGRAM THAT HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING PROMISING LOW-INCOME FIRST-GENERATION (NEITHER PARENT GRADUATED FROM A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE) STUDENTS GET INTO AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AT OVER FIVE TIMES THE RATE OF THEIR PEERS.COLLEGE BOUND'S TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE PREPARATION PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BUILDS A FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS AT SELECTIVE FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACADEMIC COMPETENCIES AND SOCIAL SKILLS. BEGINNING AT THE END OF 9TH GRADE, COLLEGE BOUND PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES, WEEK-LONG INTENSIVES, AND SUMMER INSTITUTES AND WORKSHOPS THAT STRENGTHEN CAPACITIES IN MATH, WRITING, CRITICAL THINKING AND TEST TAKING. DURING JUNIOR YEAR, STUDENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE ACT PREPARATION AND TAKE THE ACT. COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS ALSO REGULARLY PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS COMMUNITY SERVICE AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES, TO DEVELOP NON-COGNITIVE SKILLS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND DGREE COMPLETION IN SCHOOL.ADDITIONALLY, COLLEGE BOUND'S COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMMING PREPARES STUDENTS FOR APPLICATION AND ENTRY AT SELECTIVE COLLEGES THAT CLOSELY MATCH THEIR INTERESTS, APTITUDE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES A COMPENTENCY-BASED COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE CURRICULUM, FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSEWORK, PRE-COLLEGIATE SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES, COLLEGE TOURS, RESIDENTIAL APPLICATION INSTITUTES, 1:1 COMPLETION SESSIONS FOR THE FEDERAL APPLICATION FOR STUDENT AID (FAFSA), AND ONE-ON-ONE COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING SESSIONS.
  2. $362,075 spent. AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, COMPLETE U IS THE PRIMARY TO AND THROUGH PROGRAM. COMPLETE U BEGINS IN THE SECOND SEMESTER OF 12TH GRADE AND REMAINS AN ACTIVE PART OF STUDENTS' LIVES UNTIL THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. IN THE HIGH SCHOOL PORTION OF COMPLETE U, STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF TRANSITION; THEY PARTICIPATE IN A FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM AND LEARN THE HIDDEN RULES OF CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE FROM EXPERIENCED COLLEGE ADVISORS. AFTER STUDENTS MATRICULATE TO COLLEGE, THEY RECEIVE A BROAD SAFETY NET OF HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE GOAL OF COMPLETE U IS TO ENSURE THAT COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO COLLEGE ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND BECOME STRONG CONTRIBUTORS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORKFORCE.

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

  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? 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.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2006.

    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.