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Daystar Counseling Ministries Inc

EIN 62-1244203 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood82 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.

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

What it says it does

DAYSTAR COUNSELING MINISTRIES, INC. SEEKS TO OFFER THE HOPE OF CHRIST TO CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND FAMILIES IN NEED. COUNSELING SERVICES ARE OFFERED ON A SLIDING SCALE SYSTEM, BASED ON A FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO PAY. THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PARENTING SEMINARS, DAYSTAR IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE GREATER NASHVILLE AREA, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WITH ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
47
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$151,662, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (1)
  1. $2.7 million spent. DAYSTAR COUNSELING MINISTRIES IS A COUNSELING AGENCY THAT PROVIDES A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES TO BOTH ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP COUNSELING, SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDING RETREATS, SUMMER PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITY NIGHTS AND SEMINARS AND TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ADULTS AND THE COMMUNITY.FISCAL YEAR 8/1/2024 - 7/31/2025 STATISTICS OF INTEREST-NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED: 2,236 (LAST YEAR: 2,123)-SLIDING SCALE CLIENTS: 376 INCLUDES 96 COVENANT CLIENTS =16.81% (LAST YEAR: 367/2,123 = 17.29%)BREAKDOWN: 2024/2025 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 ASSESSMENTS: 545 465 351 331PARENT CONSULTS: 425 539 491 330INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS: 11,954 10,439 9,733 10,559CAMPERS: 248(22 COV) 196(26 COV) 182 176DAY CAMPERS: 43(3 COV) 36(5 COV) 43 0UNBILLABLE CANCELS: 3,362 3,714 3,207 3,147 -BILLABLE MISSED SESSIONS: NO SHOWS/SAME DAY: 334 (LAST YEAR 434)-INTERN SESSIONS: 317; - 3 INTERNS (LAST YEAR 384 - 5 INTERNS)-SESSIONS CANCELED DUE TO SICKNESS OR EMERGENCY: 345 (LAST YEAR 335)GROUPS:-GROUPS SCHEDULED FALL 17, SPRING 16 -PARTICIPANTS: 149-$101,77.00 BILLED INCOME (LAST YEAR $106,81.00)-$14,407.50 IN SLIDING SCALE ADJUSTMENTS (LAST YEAR $11,480) SLIDING SCALE TOTALS:-INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SLIDING SCALE DOLLARS: $194,482.50. -INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS, INTERN SESSIONS, NS'S, PC'S (DOES NOT INCLUDE COVENANT SCHOOL SESSIONS) (LAST YEAR $168,060.50)-GROUP SLIDING SCALE DOLLARS: $11,480 (LAST YEAR $9,755)-HOPETOWN SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS: $16,850 + $4,000 FOR CIT LEADERS = $20,850 (LAST YEAR $22,660), -DAY CAMPS: $4,050 (LAST YEAR $1,200) -TOTAL SLIDING SCALE DOLLARS: $241,134.00 (LAST YEAR $243,452)-APPOINTMENTS AT NO CHARGE: $990 (LAST YEAR $900) - DOES NOT INCLUDE COVENANT

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 September 1987.

    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.