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Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania Order of the Eastern Star Inc

EIN 23-2775720 · Elizabethtown, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRAND CHAPTER, AND THE SUBORDINATE CHAPTERS CONSTITUTED BY AND UNDER ITS AUTHORITY, IS TO PROMOTE THE PRACTICE OF CHARITY AND FRATERNITY, EXCLUSIVELY WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 AS AMENDED.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
6
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$24,441, grand secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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 April 30, 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 (4)
  1. $440,361 spent. THE SPECIAL PURPOSE FUND IS USED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE MASONIC VILLAGES, WHERE WE ASK THEM TO PURCHASE SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE RESIDENTS' LIFE OR SPECIALTY ITEMS NEEDED IN THE HEALTH CARE AREA. THE FUND ALSO COVERS THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY, WHICH IS OUR SPECIAL SERVICE PROJECT, AND THE 14 VETERANS' FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE WE PROVIDE MONETARY DONATIONS ALONG WITH OVER 10,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS AT EACH OF THE FACILITIES ANNUALLY. WE PROVIDE MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS ANNUALLY TO OUR YOUTH AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL. THESE FUNDS ARE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND DONATIONS PRESENTED BY OUR CHAPTERS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO GO TO SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE ALSO GIVEN TO SUSQUEHANNA SERVICE DOGS, ALZHEIMER'S AND BELLAS BUMBAS OVER THIS PAST YEAR.
  2. $399,000 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND ESTARL AWARDS ANNUALLY. 133 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM SERVICE THIS PAST YEAR. THE APPLICANTS MUST PRESENT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT IS REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS BY APRIL 1ST, AT WHICH TIME THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REVIEWS EACH APPLICATION. THE APPLICANTS AND THE CHAPTERS ARE THEN NOTIFIED IF THEY WERE ACCEPTED TO RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FROM OUR ORGANIZATION. THE ONLY TIME APPLICANTS ARE REFUSED IS WHEN THEY DO NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT IS REQUESTED. THE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY THAT WAS PRESENTED IN JUNE 2025 TO THOSE ELIGIBLE WAS IN THE AMOUNTS OF $3,000.00 EACH AND CAN BE USED IN ANY WAY THE STUDENT DESIRES. THE MONEY THAT IS RAISED FOR THESE FUNDS COMES FROM OUR CHAPTER DONATIONS ALONG WITH DIRECT GIFTS FROM OUR MEMBERS.
  3. $229,374 spent. THE FRATERNAL AND EMERGENCY FRATERNAL FUNDS ARE USED TO HELP THOSE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE EMERGENCY FRATERNAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED AT REQUEST BY EITHER THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE CHAPTER ON BEHALF OF THE INDIVIDUAL FOR NEEDS THAT REQUIRE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FOR PAYMENT. THE FRATERNAL FUND PROVIDES MONTHLY ASSISTANCE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HELP THEM MEET THEIR MONTHLY BILLS. THESE FUNDS ARE GIVEN AND THEY NEVER NEED TO BE REPAID BY THE INDIVIDUALS. AN ANNUAL REASSESSMENT IS DONE ON ALL RECIPIENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY FALL UNDER THE GUIDELINES TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS. THE MONTHLY AMOUNTS VARY PER INDIVIDUAL AND NEED AND ARE REVIEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS BY THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE MORE MONEY ISN'T NEEDED OR THAT LIFESTYLES HAVE CHANGED.
  4. $320,766 spent. REVENUE THAT IS GENERATED AS PART OF THE GENERAL FUND OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED BUT IS ALLOCATED WHEREVER THE NEED IS GREATEST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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 April 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 April 1995.

    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.