Passes our checks

Starfish Ministries

EIN 91-1866833 · Lynden, WA

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

What it says it does

PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AND SPIRITUAL SERVICES FOR ORPHANS IN HAITI.

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
99% 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
6 of 6 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
0 of 10
Did not give 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$320,358 spent. EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION HAS NINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN NORTHWEST HAITI. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CLASSROOMS, TEACHERS, TEXTBOOKS, UNIFORM TO STUDENTS, A FEEDING PROGRAM, AND TEACHER TRAINING.
$25,212 spent. CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MATERIALS AND LABOR TO CONSTRUCT SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND ORPHANAGES AS NEEDED FOR THEIR PROGRAMS TO HELP IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE IN HAITI. IN 2025, THERE IS ONE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE ORGANIZATION WHICH IS AN ELEMENTARY BUILDING LOCATED IN TRICOTTE.
$138,564 spent. ORPHANAGE - THE ORGANIZATION IS INVOLVED IN THE FUNDING OF AN ORPHANAGE AND RELATED PROGRAMS WHICH HOUSES 42 CHILDREN FROM AGE FOUR TO SEVENTEEN. THE ORPHANAGE PROVIDES FOR THE CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL NEEDS SUCH AS: FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING AS WELL AS THEIR EMOTIONAL AND SPRITUAL NEEDS TO PROVIDE A NURTURING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
$294,145 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS.

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

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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.