Starbase Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EXPOSE OUR NATION'S YOUTH TO THE TECHNOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS AND POSITIVE CIVILIAN AND MILITARY ROLE MODELS FOUND ON ACTIVE, GUARD, AND RESERVE MILITARY BASES AND INSTALLATIONS, NURTURE A WINNING NETWORK OF COLLABORATORS, AND BUILD MUTUAL LOYALTY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, BY PROVIDING 25 HOURS OF EXEMPLARY HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES THAT MEET OR EXCEED THE NATIONAL STANDARDS.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 25
- Highest pay
- $130,390, vice preside
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (1)
- $1.8 million spent. STARBASE OFFERS SCHOOL CLASSROOM GROUPS OF STUDENTS A HANDS-ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH (STEAM) PROGRAM OVER A FIVE-WEEK, 25 -HOUR EXPERIENCE. THE ALPENA LOCATION REACHES APPROXIMATELY 750 STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, WITH THE BATTLE CREEK AND SELFRIDGE LOCATIONS REACHING 1,600 AND 1,800 STUDENTS, RESPECTIVELY. EACH SITE ALSO OFFERS SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS IN THE SUMMER, INCLUDING THE CORE ACADEMY AND ADVANCED ACADEMIES FOR PRIOR ATTENDEES. ALL THREE LOCATIONS ALSO PROVIDE STARBASE ADVANCED AT LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS. STARBASE ADVANCED COMBINES STEAM ACTIVITIES WITH A RELATIONSHIP-RICH, SCHOOL-BASED AFTER-SCHOOL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ENVIRONMENT TO EXTEND THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE STARBASE PROGRAM THAT SOLIDIFIES STUDENT ATTACHMENT TO AND ENGAGEMENT WITH SCHOOL. STARBASE OFFERS SCHOOL CLASSROOM GROUPS OF STUDENTS A HANDS-ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH (STEAM) PROGRAM OVER A FIVE-WEEK, 25 -HOUR EXPERIENCE. THE ALPENA LOCATION REACHES APPROXIMATELY 750 STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, WITH THE BATTLE CREEK AND SELFRIDGE LOCATIONS REACHING 1,600 AND 1,800 STUDENTS, RESPECTIVELY. EACH SITE ALSO OFFERS SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS IN THE SUMMER, INCLUDING THE CORE ACADEMY AND ADVANCED ACADEMIES FOR PRIOR ATTENDEES. ALL THREE LOCATIONS ALSO PROVIDE STARBASE ADVANCED AT LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS. STARBASE ADVANCED COMBINES STEAM ACTIVITIES WITH A RELATIONSHIP-RICH, SCHOOL-BASED AFTER-SCHOOL AND EXTRACURRICULAR ENVIRONMENT TO EXTEND THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE STARBASE PROGRAM THAT SOLIDIFIES STUDENT ATTACHMENT TO AND ENGAGEMENT WITH SCHOOL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 2024.
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 April 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.
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.