South Shore Stars Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
STARS PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EARLY EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE OPTIMAL GROWTH OF CHILDREN FROM ECONOMICALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE FAMILIES, USING A FAMILY SUPPORT APPROACH IN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOLS AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS.
- Income
- $15.2 million
- Spending
- $13.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 229
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $181,738, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 June 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 (5)
- $4.9 million spent. EARLY EDUCATION/PRESCHOOL:OUR THREE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED EARLY EDUCATION/PRESCHOOL CENTERS SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN, INCLUDING TODDLERS, INFANTS, AND PRESCHOOLERS AT OUR WEYMOUTH LOCATION, PRESCHOOLERS AT OUR RANDOLPH LOCATION, AND PRESCHOOLERS AND TODDLERS AT OUR QUINCY LOCATION. ALL CHILDREN ARE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN A SAFE, NURTURING, AND EDUCATIONALLY RICH ENVIRONMENT. TEACHERS PLAN CHILD-CENTERED ACTIVITIES THAT ARE FUN AND SPARK EXPLORATION, CREATIVITY, AND THE MASTERY OF NEW SKILLS. THE FOUNDATION OF OUR PROGRAM STRUCTURE IS HIGHSCOPE CURRICULUM, WHICH EMPHASIZES CHILD-CENTERED LEARNING. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IS MOST EFFECTIVE IN HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN REACH APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES. TEACHERS FREQUENTLY ASSESS CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT AND USE THE DATA TO PLAN CURRICULUM AND DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES.SUPPORTING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS THE HEART OF STARS' PROGRAMMING AND INTEGRATED INTO OUR DAILY PRACTICE. LOW CHILD STAFF RATIOS, SMALL GROUP SIZE, AND SPECIALIZED TRAINING ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR SUCCESS. ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED IN WEEKLY CLASSROOM PLANS THAT SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS, EMPATHY, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND THE ABILITY TO SELF-REGULATE.WE PLACE GREAT VALUE ON THE PARTNERSHIPS WE FORM WITH OUR FAMILIES, BELIEVING THAT PARENT INVOLVEMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO CHILDREN'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WE BUILD TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES, INCORPORATING RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION THAT CONSIDERS DIVERSE FAMILY STRUCTURE, VALUES AND TRADITIONS. OUR PRESCHOOL FAMILY SUPPORT CLINICIAN HELPS STAFF AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS WITH BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT, COPING WITH FAMILY STRESS AND FINDING NEEDED RESOURCES.OUR TEACHERS ARE VERY DIVERSE, SPEAKING MANY LANGUAGES, REFLECTING OUR FAMILIES' BACKGROUNDS. OUR CULTURALLY COMPETENT, MULTICULTURAL APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EACH CHILD'S CONSTRUCTION OF A KNOWLEDGEABLE, CONFIDENT SELF-IDENTITY, ALONG WITH AN APPRECIATION OF DIFFERENT CULTURES.
- $3.0 million spent. SCHOOL AGE AND YOUTH:SINCE 1970, STARS HAS PROVIDED THE HIGHEST QUALITY SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE INVESTED OUR RESOURCES IN DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE, RESEARCH BASED, BEST PRACTICES THAT SUPPORTS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL SUCCESS WITH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: INCREASED RESILIENCY; DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE VALUES; IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, HOMEWORK COMPLETION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; AND INCREASED ASPIRATION FOR A POSITIVE FUTURE.IN OUR CENTERS, CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO GROW IN SELF-RELIANCE AND SELF-EXPRESSION AS THEY ENJOY MANY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ATHLETICS, ARTS, GAMES, DRAMA, COOKING AND FIELD TRIPS. WE AIM TO EXCITE CHILDREN ABOUT READING AND WRITING BY INTEGRATING LITERACY ACTIVITIES INTO EACH CENTER'S DAILY SCHEDULE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THERE ARE MANY SPECIAL OFFERINGS WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE: DRUMMING, DIGITAL MEDIA AND ROBOTICS. STAFF WORK WITH PARENTS TO DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUAL HOMEWORK PLAN, AND HOMEWORK TIME IS A PART OF EACH DAY'S SCHEDULE. THE STRENGTH OF OUR SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAM IS THE STRONG POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS STAFF DEVELOP WITH CHILDREN. WE SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS AND RESOLVE DISPUTES WHILE DEVELOPING PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS AND EMPATHY. BY BUILDING A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY, OUR CHILDREN FEEL SUPPORTED BY STAFF AND THEIR PEERS.
- $388,289 spent. SUMMER PROGRAMS & CAMPS:EXPERIENCED STAFF MEET SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF YOUNGER CAMPERS WITH AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES. STARS SUMMER PROGRAM PROVIDES GAMES, ATHLETICS, SUPPLEMENTAL MATH AND ELA INSTRUCTION, ARTS AND CRAFTS, THEME WEEKS, FIELD TRIPS AND MORE.
- $106,700 spent. STARS SCHOOL & LEARNING CENTER:THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CHILDREN GRADES 1 - 6 WITH LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DIFFERENCES, LIKE DYSLEXIA AND CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS. EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE LEARNING PLAN THAT LINKS SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION, WITH SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION, MODIFIED CURRICULA AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES. THEY'LL RECEIVE ASSISTANCE USING STATE-OF-THE-ART MATERIALS AND METHODS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFFERENCES BY ORTON-GILLINGHAM TRAINED AND CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND STAFF. EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING TO ASSIST THEM TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC GOALS.
- $116,766 spent. FAMILY CHILD CARE:RESEARCH SUPPORTS FAMILY CHILD CARE BEING THE IDEAL CHILD CARE SETTING FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A CLOSE BOND WITH CAREGIVERS, A COMFORTABLE HOME SETTING AND FLEXIBILITY IN SCHEDULING. STARS HAS OPERATED A FAMILY CHILD CARE SYSTEM SINCE 1975. OUR TEAM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALISTS, A FAMILY SUPPORT CLINICIAN, AND A NUTRITIONIST SUPPORTS EACH FAMILY PROVIDER TO CREATE A WARM, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WITH THE STRUCTURE AND INDIVIDUAL PLANNING THAT ARE THE HALLMARKS OF QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION SETTINGS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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