Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2021-11-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 2024.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
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Who runs it and what they're paid
6 people listed on the 990; $57K paid to officers and key staff.
Mam-Yassin Sarr’s $28K as President is at the 21st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1612 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Mam-Yassin Sarr | $28,492 | $20,000 |
| David Fox | $28,492 | $20,000 |
Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.
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Questions the 990 asks
The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.
- Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
Programs and updates
Starfish International is an education nonprofit based in Brewerton, NY, formed in 2010.
Questions for Starfish International
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Medical Clinic Infrastructure & Support
Facilitated the acquisition of land and construction of a medical clinic in The Gambia. The organization provided a direct grant of $173,000 to its sister organization to fund the purchase of two specific parcels of land and for construction and estimated $8,872 in technical oversight and coordination to ensure project sustainability.
Mentor Training & Peer Leadership Program
Empowers graduates to serve as mentors for younger students. Includes $23,940 in monthly and annual educational stipends and estimated $39,923 in intensive leadership training and daily oversight. These mentors are contribute greatly to the successful execution of student-led community service projects.
Middle & High School Service & Education Program
Supports the core education and service-learning of middle and high school students in The Gambia. Includes $5,000 in direct school fees and estimated $39,923 in curriculum development and program management for the educational programming and community service projects conducted by students under mentor guidance.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2025 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY25 | End FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $34K | $19K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $0 | $0 |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $34K | $19K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $34K | $19K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $50 | $50 | ||
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $11K | $11K | ||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $202K | $202K | ||
| Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4 | $0 | $0 | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $84K | $27K | $46K | $11K |
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $4K | $1K | $2K | $486 |
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $0 | $0 | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $390 | $0 | $0 | $390 |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $855 | $0 | $855 | $0 |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $544 | $0 | $544 | $0 |
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $3K | $3K | $656 | $0 |
| TravelLn 17 | $35K | $32K | $3K | $0 |
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $2K | $101 | $2K | $227 |
| InterestLn 20 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $7K | $6K | $1K | $0 |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $20K | $9K | $2K | $9K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $370K | $291K | $58K | $21K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest Viewing | $354K | $370K | −$16K | $19K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024 | $123K | $34K | 990 PDF |
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Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $353,716 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $353,716 across 10 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $369,541 across 31 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $18,640 assets, 22 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $18,640 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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