Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Family Star Inc

EIN 84-1114455 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DISCOVER THE CHILD IN INCLUSIVE MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENTS AND INSPIRE A MOVEMENT FOR EDUCATING THE HUMAN POTENTIAL.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$7.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
113
Highest pay
$152,030, sr dir partn

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 November 30, 2024, 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. $6.5 million spent. HOME TO ONE OF THE RARE CENTER-BASED EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS FIRMLY GROUNDED IN THE MONTESSORI METHOD, FAMILY STAR EFFECTIVELY UNIFIES THE BEST PRACTICES OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION WITH ROBUST COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TYPICALLY INTEGRATED INTO HEAD START PROGRAMS. THE PRESENT-DAY CAPACITY ALLOWS FAMILY STAR TO SERVE 250 CHILDREN AT A TIME, 180 IN CENTER-BASED CLASSROOMS IN NORTHEAST AND NORTHWEST DENVER AND AN ADDITIONAL 70 IN THE HOME-BASED PROGRAM. OVER 70% OF THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES LIVE AT OR NEAR THE POVERTY LEVEL, AND 13% OF STUDENTS HAVE AN IDENTIFIED DISABILITY OR SPECIAL NEED. FAMILY STAR LEVELS THE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIETAL PLAYING FIELD BY GIVING THESE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION THEY NEED TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THEIR PEERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending November 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.