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Sertoma Star Services Inc

EIN 23-7294685 · Chicago Hts, IL

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

PROVIDES PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING, WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES AND OTHER REHABILITATIVE SERVICES TO DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO EMPOWER THEM TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL SUCCESS BY PROVIDING CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITIES. DAY SERVICES INCLUDE DEVELOPMENTAL TRAINING AND SENIOR SERVICES AND OFFERS SUPPORTIVE AND COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT. ALSO OFFERED ARE 24 HOUR RESIDENTIAL CARE AND INTERMIITENT RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

Income
$44.9 million
Spending
$44.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
892
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$196,543, president/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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (7)
  1. $21.8 million spent. COMMUNITY LIVING: PROVIDES DAY TO DAY SUPPORT TO CONSUMERS LIVING IN A HOME THAT IS LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY. SERTOMA STAR SERVICES HAS THIRTY-TWO RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES WITH THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT 185 CONSUMERS.
  2. $7.0 million spent. COMMUNITY DAY SERVICES: PROVIDES SUPPORT TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN NEW SKILLS, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. THESE SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING, CASE MANAGEMENT, LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED CLASSES AND PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS. SENIOR SERVICES OFFERS OLDER INDIVIDUALS A UNIQUE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL DAY PROGRAM SERVICES BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND SOCIALIZE WITH THEIR PEERS. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS SENIORS TO REMAIN ACTIVE, HEALTHY, AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. IT ALSO SPECIALIZES IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES LATER IN LIFE.
  3. $5.9 million spent. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING (CMHC) OFFERS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS TO REDUCE MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS WHILE LEARNING COPING SKILLS TO ADAPT AND THRIVE IN DIFFERENT SYSTEMS INCLUDING FAMILY, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY SETTINGS: INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, GROUP THERAPY, PSYCHO-SOCIAL REHABILITATION DAY PROGRAM, YOUTH SERVICES COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM, TELEPSYCHIATRY, CASE MANAGEMENT ALONG WITH OFFERING COMMUNITY EDUCATION. CMHC PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OVER 500 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR ALONG WITH PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TO OVER 2,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY.
  4. $3.7 million spent. INDIANA SERVICES: PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S HOME OR COMMUNITY TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE AND SUPPORT LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE BASED ON THE INDIVIDUALS WANTS AND NEEDS.
  5. $606,318 spent. INTERMITTENT RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES: IN HOME INTERMITTENT SERVICES PROVIDES SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN FAMILY SUPPORTED HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE EMPHASIS IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL REMAINS IN A FAMILY SETTING. STAFF WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 15 HOURS PER WEEK ON INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES SUCH AS SOCIALIZATION, COMMUNITY OUTINGS, SELF-CARE, SKILL ENHANCEMENT, ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION.
  6. $488,084 spent. SPECIAL RECREATION DEPARTMENT: PROVIDES ASSESSMENT, PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITATES THERAPEUTIC RECREATION PROGRAMS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE VARIED NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
  7. $384,923 spent. COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT: PROVIDES SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. THIS SUPPORT STARTS WITH DISCOVERY TO IDENTIFY CAREER INTERESTS AND THEN WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS TO LEARN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS. THIS SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES ON THE JOB COACHING TO SUPPORT AN INDIVIDUAL TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

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

  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 June 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 November 1973.

    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.