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Mountainstar Family Relief Nursery

EIN 42-1560891 · Bend, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILY RELIEF NURSERY'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THAT HELP VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUCCEED. WE ARE THE ONLY PROGRAM IN DESCHUTES, JEFFERSON, AND CROOK COUNTIES (CONTINUED ON SCH O)PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC CLASSROOMS, PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICES, AND FAMILY SUPPORT TARGETED AT PROTECTING BABIES AND TODDLERS WHO ARE AT SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT. WE ENVISION COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT EACH PARENT'S EFFORTS TO NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
63
Volunteers
510
Highest pay
$101,018, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (2)
  1. $2.3 million spent. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT: WE SERVED 313 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH OUR RELIEF NURSERY IN FYE 2025. 97% OF ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR RELIEF NURSERY SERVICES REMAINED SAFE FROM CONFIRMED REPORTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. IN ADDITION, 80% OF CHILDREN IN THE THERAPEUTIC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM MET OR EXCEEDED WIDELY-HELD EXPECTATIONS FOR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 72% OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE TECP REPORTED IMPROVEMENTS IN FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND RESILIENCY. ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN OUR CLASSROOMS WERE OFFERED DENTAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS ON-SITE. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)IN FY2024-25, WE BEGAN OFFERING CONSISTENT RESOURCE SUPPORT IN THE WARM SPRINGS COMMUNITY VIA OUR MOBILE RESOURCE BUS. BETWEEN JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2025 WE CONNECTED 67 YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS DIAPERS, WIPES, HYGIENE KITS, CLOTHING, TOYS AND BOOKS. WE NOW HAVE A TOTAL OF 28 STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDING RELIEF NURSERY SERVICES ACROSS 5 LOCATIONS IN THE THREE COUNTIES OF CENTRAL OREGON.AS ALWAYS, WE CONTINUE TO BE VERY CONCERNED FOR THE VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE. THE CHALLENGES FACED BY MOUNTAINSTAR FAMILIES - SUCH AS POVERTY, FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESSES - CONTINUE TO BE PRESSING ISSUES AND HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATED THIS YEAR BY MULTIPLE CHANGES (AND THREATS OF CHANGES) AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, SUPPORT, AND SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE PROVIDE CONTINUE TO BE CRITICAL TO KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE AND HELPING FAMILIES SUCCEED.
  2. $671,009 spent. WE CONTINUED OUR 4 PRESCHOOL PROMISE CLASSROOMS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND SERVED 40 CHILDREN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. THESE CLASSROOMS SERVED CHILDREN WHO WOULD HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN SENT TO OTHER PRESCHOOLS AFTER "GRADUATING" FROM RELIEF NURSERY SERVICES. SINCE ADDING THESE CLASSROOMS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FAMILIES AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, 89% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THESE CLASSROOMS MET WIDELY HELD EXPECTATIONS FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND 82% MET THE EXPECTATIONS FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THESE TWO AREAS ARE CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN, THROUGHOUT SCHOOL, AND INTO ADULT LIFE. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)MOUNTAINSTAR CONTINUES TO WORK WITH REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INCREASING NEEDS THAT CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING. OUR STAFF SERVE ON ADVISORY GROUPS AND COUNCILS THAT HELP ADDRESS BARRIERS AND CREATE PLANS THAT WILL BENEFIT CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 February 2003.

    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 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.