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The Star Center Foundation

EIN 27-4386097 · Centennial, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak6 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 108 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

STAR INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF SENSORY PROCESSING AND PROMOTING SENSORY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL. WE PROVIDE NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN AND ARE RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY AS A LEADER IN SENSORY PROCESSING RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND THERAPY. OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A WORLD IN WHICH SENSORY DIFFERENCES ARE UNDERSTOOD, ACCEPTED, AND SUPPORTED.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-18.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
29
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$109,449, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 6 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 92% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 108 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $672,838 spent. THERAPY SERVICES - WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WE SERVE ARE BASED IN COLORADO, STAR INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THERAPY, CONSULTATION, AND SUPPORT TO CLIENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. OUR THERAPY TEAM DELIVERS PERSONALIZED, NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CARE THAT ADDRESSES SENSORY PROCESSING AND REGULATION DIFFERENCES IN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS. IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, WE OFFER GROUP PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER CONNECTION, SELF-REGULATION, AND EVERYDAY PARTICIPATION.TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE, STAR HAS EXPANDED ITS SERVICES FOR MEDICAID CLIENTS AND PARTNERED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THERAPY AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, STAR CONTINUES TO MAKE HIGH-QUALITY, EVIDENCE-INFORMED CARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO MAY OTHERWISE FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING SENSORY-INFORMED SUPPORT.
  2. $427,578 spent. EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - STAR INSTITUTE'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO EXPAND GLOBAL ACCESS TO SENSORY-INFORMED KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE. THROUGH ONLINE COURSES, LIVE WORKSHOPS, AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE EVENTS, WE EQUIP PROFESSIONALS, CAREGIVERS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT SENSORY PROCESSING AND REGULATION. OUR ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM AND ONLINE SUMMITS FEATURE LEADING VOICES IN RESEARCH, CLINICAL PRACTICE, AND LIVED EXPERIENCE-BRIDGING SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL AWARENESS OF SENSORY HEALTH.OVER THE PAST YEAR, THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ENGAGED IN STAR'S EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF SENSORY PROCESSING AND CONTRIBUTING TO A MORE INCLUSIVE, AFFIRMING APPROACH TO NEURODIVERSITY ACROSS SETTINGS.
  3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY - STAR INSTITUTE IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BUILDING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND BELONGING THROUGH SENSORY-INFORMED OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY. OUR TEAM HOSTS INCLUSIVE EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND INITIATIVES THAT INVITE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND PROFESSIONALS TO LEARN, CONNECT, AND CELEBRATE SENSORY DIVERSITY.FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE LOW-SENSORY TRUNK OR TREAT AND LET'S TALK SENSE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY FIND TRADITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OVERWHELMING. THESE EVENTS FOSTER CONNECTION, UNDERSTANDING, AND SHARED REGULATION-EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EMBRACE SENSORY DIFFERENCES AS PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE.THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND MUNICIPALITIES, STAR CONTINUES TO CHAMPION SENSORY INCLUSION IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS AND ADVOCATE FOR A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE FULLY, SAFELY, AND AUTHENTICALLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.