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Staar Ovarian Cancer

EIN 84-4672869 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STAAR EXISTS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND RAISE FUNDS FOR RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY ON THE LOW-GRADE SEROUS CARCINOMA SUB-TYPE OF OVARIAN CANCER IN THE UNTED STATES. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE DROVE AWARENESS OF THE SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER AND THE UNDER-FUNDING OF RESEARCH FOR THE LGSC SUB-TYPE. WE MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH RESEARCHERS AND ULTIMATELY HAVE MADE THREE GRANTS, SOOME WITH FUNDS RAISED IN 2021.

Income
$299,828
Spending
$56,165
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
83.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 83.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 81% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (5)
  1. $47,515 spent. CONTINUING SUPPORTING AND EXPANDING AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN OF LGSOC.
  2. AWARDED RESEARCH GRANTS FOR LGSOC
  3. $8,650 spent. CREATED AND CONDUCTED A SURVERY OF LGSOC PATIENTS PERPECTIVES ON TREATMENTS AND DOCTOR INTERACTIONS WHICH ARE PRESENTED AT LGSOC RESEARCH CONFERENCE. PLAN, SUPPORT, AND HOLD AN EXTERNALLY-LED PATIENT FOCUSED DRUG DEVELOPMENT MEETING AS DIRECTED BY THE US FDA FOR PATIENTS TO PRESENT THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON LIVING WITH THEIR RARE DISEASE AND THEIR DAILY LIFE WITH THE CURRENT TREATMENTS. PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR PATIENTS TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND SIDE EFFECTS.
  4. ANY OTHER MARKETING RESEARCH SUPPORT SERVICES THAT BENEFITS AWARENESS OF LGSC SUB-TYPE.
  5. ANY OTHER MARKETING RESEARCH SUPPORT SERVICES THAT BENEFITS AWARENESS OF LGSC SUB-TYPE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 2024.

    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 March 2020.

    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.

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.