Bright Star of Bethlehem NFP
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BRIGHT STARS OF BETHLEHEM, NFP (BSB) IS A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT CHARITY INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING FUNDING, SUPPORT, AND AWARENESS NATIONWIDE FOR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE BY FURTHERING EDUCATIONAL, WELLNESS, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 12.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 57
- Highest pay
- $103,825, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 31, 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 (3)
- $767,836 spent. Dar al-Kalima University is the first and only arts and culture university in all of Palestine to offer advanced education in the arts, multimedia, communications, culinary, design, architecture, and tourism studies. The University provides a vital accredited resource for higher education in nontraditional artistic and cultural disciplines. Serving as the only university out of 54 institutions in Bethlehem, with a sole focus on arts, culture, and design. It is also the only West Bank campuswith a program in Gaza, which has reached over 37,000 youth through art therapy programming in the past 2 1/2 years.
- $232,491 spent. BRIGHT STARS OF BETHLEHEM EDUCATES AND BUILDS AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS BY PROVIDING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE USA. BSB STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PRESENT EDUCATIONAL FORUMS, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS.
- $37,162 spent. Dar al-Kalima Benevolent Society offers programs from womb to tomb in the West Bank, with an emphasis on children, youth, women, and the elderly.a.The Diyar Academy for children offers after-school and summer classes and activities for children ages 6-16.b. The Ajyal Generations Elder Care program reaches out to residents (65+) in the West Bank with educational, recreational, and wellness servicesc. The Azwaj Young Families program serves young families living in the West Bank with counseling, activities, and lectures.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 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 February 2005.
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.