Bright Star Community Outreach Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OFBUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH POOLING RESOURCES AND FORMING PARTNERSHIPS.WE WILL ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION BY DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCEBASED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, CHILDREN/YOUTH AND FAMILY.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $6.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 167
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $154,752, executive director
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
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 86% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 30 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)
- $1.4 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH:THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS COMPRISED OF A TRAUMA HELPLINE, COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AND ADVOCATES, CARING AND RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT ROOMS (CARE), AND THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER.THE HELPLINE IS A TELEHEALTH TEAM OF MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS AND ADVOCATES TRAINED IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO ANY PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 13 ON A RECURRING OR AS NEEDED BASIS. THERE IS NO LENGTH OF TIME FOR SERVICES AND NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS. HELPLINE ADVOCATES SUPPORT NEARLY 1,500 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS MONTHLY. COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS ARE TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINERS WHO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH TO DESTIGMATIZE, INFORM, AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY TO SEEK OUT HELP. THEY ARE ALSO PART OF BSCO'S COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE AND ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED TRAUMA SERVICES TO HELP WITH THE GRIEVING AND HEALING PROCESS. THEY HAVE EDUCATED OVER 42,000 INDIVIDUALS ON TRAUMA. CARE ROOMS ARE SCHOOL BASED SERVICES PROVIDED BY BSCO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BRONZEVILLE AREA. A DEDICATED SPACE IS CREATED WITHIN THE SCHOOL, AND 1 TO 2 CARE ROOM ADVOCATES WHO ARE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TRAINED IN TRAUMA INTERVENTION, PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ANYONE WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THEY OFFER INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP SESSIONS AND CAN MANAGE A CASELOAD OF UP TO15 RECURRING CLIENTS. THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER (FAC) IS A DEDICATED TEAM OF EXPERIENCED THERAPISTS AND COUNSELORS WHO PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY/COUNSELING, COUNSELING FOR ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG (AOD) ISSUES, FAMILY COUNSELING, COUPLES COUNSELING, COMPREHENSIVE PARENTING CLASSES, AND EFFECTIVE ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES THAT ARE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICIPANTS. THE CENTER SERVED MORE THAN 2,000 FAMILIES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
- $1.2 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:ALONG WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT INCLUDES THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS' (CPS) SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM, THE CORRIDOR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT CONDUCTS TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT RIGOROUSLY PREPARE PARTICIPANTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE WORKFORCE. THIS INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON ENHANCING JOB READINESS SKILLS, IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT RATES, AND FOSTERING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AMONG PARTICIPANTS. THE EMPHASIS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION EQUIPS INDIVIDUALS WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE AND GROW THEIR FINANCES. THE DEPARTMENT INTRODUCED QUARTERLY ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING SESSIONS THAT IMPACTED MORE THAN 25 RESIDENTS EACH QUARTER. IN ADDITION TO THE TRAINING PROGRAMS, THE DEPARTMENT HOSTS LARGE SCALE HIRING FAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, OVER 30 PARTNERS HAVE DEDICATED YEARS TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, FROM JOB READINESS TRAINING TO JOB PLACEMENT AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, HAS SIGNIFICANTLY SUPPORTED RESIDENTS' EMPLOYMENT JOURNEYS.THE SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SAFE ROUTES FOR STUDENTS TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE, DECREASE VIOLENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING CPS STUDENTS, AND INCREASE STUDENT PERCEPTION OF SAFETY WHILE TRAVELING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BSCO ENSURES THE SAFETY OF AN AVERAGE OF 2,500 YOUTH ANNUALLY TRAVELING TO AND FROM SCHOOL YEAR AROUND. THE CORRIDOR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM ENABLES COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE THEIR SUPPORT FOR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS ACROSS CHICAGO. THE PROGRAM INVOLVES PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BSCO THAT WORK WITH THE CITY TO HIRE AND TRAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SERVE AS AMBASSADORS, CREATING A VISIBLE, WELCOMING PRESENCE AT NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL CENTERS FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
- $773,994 spent. EDUCATION: THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INCLUDES PROGRAMS SUCH AS "CHOOSE TO CHANGE", THE STEAM PROGRAM, AND PARENT UNIVERSITY. THE "CHOOSE TO CHANGE" PROGRAM IS A COMPONENT OF BSCO'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES YOUTH HEAVILY IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA BY CONNECTING THEM WITH INTENSIVE ADVOCATE AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT ALONG WITH TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY TO HELP THEM LIVE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES.THE STEAM PROGRAMS HAVE EMPOWERED OVER 300 YOUNG INDIVIDUALS TO ENHANCE THEIR STEM SKILLS. THE STEAM TEACHER INSTITUTE HAS ENRICHED THE PROFESSIONAL LIVES OF OVER 40 TEACHERS, ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO DELIVER ENGAGING STEAM EDUCATION. PARENT UNIVERSITY IS A COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE THAT SUPPORTS FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM HAS BENEFITED MORE THAN 100 PARENTS ANNUALLY, PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON PARENTING, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY.
- $437,525 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:BSCO'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OFFER VARIOUS SERVICES TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, BSCO LEADS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT INVOLVING OVER 95 PARTNERS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE "HARVEST FEST, TURKEY GIVEAWAY, P.O.W.E.R. AND A TOY DRIVE, WHICH COLLECTIVELY SUPPORT OVER 500 FAMILIES EACH YEAR, ADDRESSING CRITICAL GAPS IN FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTH LITERACY IN THE COMMUNITY.
- $434,269 spent. HEALTH & WELLNESS:THE HEALTH & WELLNESS DEPARTMENT RESPONDS WITH TARGETED INTERVENTIONS THAT LEVERAGE COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH AND PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS PRESSING COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS. COLLABORATIONS WITH PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS HAVE ENRICHED THE DEPARTMENT'S CAPABILITIES WHICH ENABLED BSCO TO PROVIDE FREE VACCINES TO THE COMMUNITY, DISSEMINATE HEALTH RELATED INFORMATION THAT EDUCATED RESIDENTS AND BROKE DOWN STIGMAS ABOUT VARIOUS HEALTH ISSUES IMPACTING 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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on October 15, 2011.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 July 2012.
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 November 4, 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.