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Stars Nashville

EIN 62-1285699 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STARS HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE BY OFFERING ACCESS TO PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, & TREATMENT SERVICES IN SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES.

Income
$15.5 million
Spending
$14.0 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
330
Volunteers
325
Highest pay
$254,831, ceo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $9.3 million spent. OUR SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES REACHED OVER 90,000 YOUNG PEOPLE. WE PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO INCLUDE SCHOOL-WIDE ASSEMBLIES, CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS, CRISIS SUPPORT, SMALL GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY. OUR SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES SUPPORT STUDENTS DEALING WITH VARIOUS CHALLENGES LIKE TRAUMA, VIOLENCE, PTSD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DEPRESSION, GRIEF, LOSS, & BULLYING. MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES ARE ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF).
  2. $1.8 million spent. STARS RESTORATIVE PRACTICE ASSISTANTS PROVIDE SERVICES AT 39 METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDING OVER 15,000 RESTORATIVE INTERVENTIONS. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE THE COORDINATION OF THE RE-ENTRY OF STUDENTS FROM DISCIPLINE AND EXPULSION TO INCREASE ACCESS TO WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS AND CONNECTION TO SCHOOL STAFF. STARS ALSO PROVIDES INTERVENTIONS IN RESTORATIVE CENTERS FOR STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS EXPERIENCING AND/OR CAUSING HARM TO RESOLVE THE HARM AND RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS AND WORK TO REDUCE RACIALLY DISPROPORTIONATE DISCIPLINE. RESTORATIVE PRACTICES CLASSROOMS ARE CREATED TO SUPPORT STUDENT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING NEEDS, WHILE TEACHING CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND PRO-SOCIAL SKILLS.
  3. $388,546 spent. YODA - OUR INTENSIVE ADOLESCENT OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES ARE LICENSED BY THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF). THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 3:30 P.M. TO 6:30 P.M. AUGUST THROUGH MAY. SUMMER HOURS ARE 11:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. JUNE THROUGH JULY. OUR PHILOSOPHY OF TREATMENT IS BASED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ADDICTION IS A CHRONIC AND PROGRESSIVE DISEASE, AFFECTING THE INDIVIDUAL ACROSS MULTIPLE DOMAINS; SOCIAL, MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT TREATMENT MUST BE HOLISTIC IN NATURE, HEALING THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. 50 CLIENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR TREATMENT PROGRAM WITH 21 GRADUATING.
  4. $1.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: POWER YOUTH THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND ON THE JOB TRAINING FOR DAVIDSON COUNTY COLLEGE STUDENTS TEACHING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS; OPIOID AWARENESS PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INCREASE AWARENESS ON THE DANGERS OF OPIOIDS AND STIMULANTS, AND THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION. THE VAPING AWARENESS/COALITION IS ALSO INCLUDED IN OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES. THE GOAL OF THE SAMHSA FUNDED VAPING AWARENESS COALITION, NASHVILLE THRIVES, IS TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TO PREVENT THE ONSET AND DECREASE THE PROGRESSION OF ECIGARETTE AND OTHER SUBSTANCE MISUSE AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH AGES 25 AND UNDER. THE COALITION WORKS TO ENSURE EVERY NASHVILLIAN CAN IMPROVE, ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BY ADVOCATING, FACILITATING AND CREATING COMMUNITY-DRIVEN POLICIES, SYSTEMS, RESOURCES AND SERVICES. STARS TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE A LEADER IN TENNESSEE PROVIDING YOUTH PREVENTION CURRICULUM & RESOURCES TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND OTHER SCHOOL SUPPORT PERSONNEL TO ADDRESS NONACADEMIC BARRIERS THAT CHALLENGE STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS, SUCH AS BULLYING PREVENTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, MOVE 2 STAND AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY. 43,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH ALL THESE PROGRAMS.

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 October 13, 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 2001.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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