Mission Starfish Haiti
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The primary mission is to support a school in Gonaives, Haiti. We pay teachers, security staff and kitchen staff and supply necessary materials for classes, hot meals every day and school uniforms. We have incrementally expanded our classes to include K1-K3, Elementary and High School (through grade 12). We have a nursing program for student and family health care and are using the school for some adult and community improvement classes.
- Income
- $71,960
- Spending
- $107,251
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 36.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $36,000, director
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 49% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% 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 December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- Mission Trips & Housing/Travel -- As a result of continuing political unrest, all of mission outreach visits from the US volunteers continue to be temporarily on hold.
- Building and Projects: No major projects were undertaken during 2025 due to the continued unrest in Haiti. The costs included for this category include those related to shipments of various equipment and supplies from the US to the school.
- $107,251 spent. Operations: Paying the staff (teachers, kitchen and security). We supply a hot meal everyday to students and try to make sufficient quantities to feed any neighbor who brings their own bowls. This is a critical effort in times of weather emergencies. We supply uniforms, study materials and other supplies for the students. We are finding used computers and other technical items for the students to learn repairs and understand those technologies. Our sewing program is in place for older girls and women to learn and use for small business efforts. We are teaching auto mechanics to men and older boys for self help. We have a nursing program to provide students with health care and this is open to the community for small fees. We have self help supplies for community housing improvement projects. We have a garden project to teach those skills and provide food for the school. We do pay our Directors salary and related expenses. Travel has been much lower due to COVID and political unrest. This category also includes administrative expenses such as wire transfer and bank fees.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.