Starvista
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
StarVista's mission is to deliver high impact services through counseling, skill development and crisis prevention to children, youth, adults and families. At StarVista, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to be healthy and strong. We provide a variety of programs throughout San Mateo County to help children, youth, adults and families who are struggling with substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, relationship, and communication issues.
- Income
- $17.4 million
- Spending
- $18.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 87%
- Employees
- 233
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $292,490, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (4)
- $8.3 million spent. Early Childhood, Family and Youth Services: Provides education and crisis intervention for schools, 24-hour suicide crisis hotline, online teen support and chatroom, alcohol and drug helpline, and parent support helpline. Home visiting and case management for families with young children referred to Child Protective Services but screened as low-risk. Provides clinical services for children and families in San Mateo County's most vulnerable communities and collaborates with school administrators and educators to identify which students would most benefit from these services. Seeks to train youth ages 16-24 to become health ambassadors: training on common challenges in mental wellness, learning the signs and risks of suicide, suicide prevention, and how to access resources to mental health services. Strives to foster healthy cognitive, emotional, and social development for children prenatal to age five, with a special focus on infants and children under three.
- $3.1 million spent. Wellness and Recovery Services: Programs provide court mandated and voluntary substance abuse and mental health counseling for youth and adults convicted or referred for domestic violence, drug possession, driving under the influence, or struggling with substance abuse issues. Offers inpatient and outpatient services to these individuals, with follow-up support to help them deal with addiction, anger management, and change their circumstances in life. School Based program sends qualified mental health clinicians in various elementary and high schools to provide a variety of services such as: individual and group therapy, assessment, psycho-education, crisis intervention, and consultation. The goal is to improve student's lives to enhance their school performance and engagement in learning.
- $2.3 million spent. Youth Empowerment Services: Provides services including respite from hunger and homelessness with transitional housing, emergency overnight, shared housing with host families, crisis care, mental health counseling, independent living skills training, family counseling and family reunification, if appropriate, and case management services for runaway, homeless, former foster and probation youth aged 10-24. Other programs offer group, individual, mental health and substance abuse counseling services for incarcerated adolescent girls; voluntary or probation-referred outpatient drug and alcohol recovery programs for adolescents; and youth development programming at Sequoia High School. Offers individual, group, and case management services for youth currently incarcerated. Provides after-care case management services for youths that have been released on probation. Providing services to individuals improve their overall wellness by helping them overcome stress, anxiety, and substance use.
- $2.6 million spent. Clinical and Community Services: Counseling services which includes working closely with many local elementary and high schools, providing much needed counseling services, including counseling for K-8 children of addicted parents, and also an early intervention program for youth referred for first time misdemeanor offenses in schools throughout the county. We also provide training for counselors earning Master's and Doctoral degrees. Provides intensive services for individuals and families in the LGBTQ+ community.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 June 2024.
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 October 1993.
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.