Starlight delivers happiness to seriously ill children and their families.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$751K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.6M a year · 11% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$751K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
19
named funders · $3.0M
Looks good: 19 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$681K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.2M
+26% vs prior year
Spent
$11.7M
To programs
82%
Net assets
$14.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$12.2M
FY2021▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.7M
FY2021$12.2M
FY2022$16.3M
FY2023$17.7M
FY2024$19.8M
Expenses
$11.7M
FY2021▲ +44%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.1M
FY2021$11.7M
FY2022$12.8M
FY2023$17.8M
FY2024$17.3M
Net assets
$14.8M
FY2021▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$14.2M
FY2021$14.8M
FY2022$18.3M
FY2023$18.2M
FY2024$20.8M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 1987.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $9.6M Management & general 5% · $600K Fundraising 13% · $1.5M

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

21 people listed on the 990; $751K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$353,031Pt VII · Sec A
$166,750Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$125,520Pt VII · Sec A
(staff) SR. Director McE
$105,976Pt VII · Sec A
Director (thru 12/21)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (thru 12/21)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Adam Garone$352,296$362,818$343,184$353,031$303,900
Mike Olson CPA$192,140$192,123$180,983$166,750$114,150
Cindee Starkie$179,600$149,018———
Lisa Potter————$140,819
Ross Miller——$134,415$125,520—
Aimee Finn$122,430$128,109$115,398$105,976—
Christine Soldner—$124,328$111,132—$102,000
Sandra Neill-Gerstel$107,776————

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.

See Starlight Childrens Foundation executive salaries →

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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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Brings joy and comfort to children facing serious illnesses and their families.

Questions for Starlight Childrens Foundation

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $7.7M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Starlight Deliveries

Starlight offers an easy-to-use online platform where hospitals can order items directly from our inventory of donated (gift in-kind) toys, books, games, crafting materials, and other urgently needed products that deliver happiness to hospitalized kids and their families.

$5.1Mprogram expense
02

Starlight Hospital Wear

Starlight gowns are high-quality, fun, soft, and colorful hospital gowns that kids love to wear. The gowns tie on the side (instead of down the back) to better accommodate a child's need for privacy and comfort, and include plastic snaps on both sleeves to allow easy access for medical procedures.

$1.9Mprogram expense
03

Starlight Gaming

Starlight gaming delivers happiness to seriously ill children by providing them a sense of normalcy and distraction from the stress and anxiety that often comes with being a child in a hospital.

$698Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 19 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.9M
Other incomeLn 4–11$307K
Investment incomeLn 3$11K
Money outPt IX
$11.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.6M
Managementcol C$600K
Fundraisingcol D$1.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$14.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.4M
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$681K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$553K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$11K
Other incomeLn 4–11$307K
Total revenueLn 12$12.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$6.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$331K
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$681K
Net assetsLn 32$14.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 533
VolunteersI 616
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.1M$6.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$426K$331K
Total assetsLn 16$15.3M$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M$681K
Net assetsLn 32$14.2M$14.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$520K$251K$83K$186K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$790K$290K$593K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$43K$21K$7K$15K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$186K$89K$30K$67K
Payroll taxesLn 10$156K$75K$25K$56K
Legal feesLn 11b$22K$22K
Accounting feesLn 11c$38K$38K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$300$300
Advertising and promotionLn 12$480K$240K$240K
Office expensesLn 13$25K$5K$4K$16K
Information technologyLn 14$217K$144K$30K$43K
OccupancyLn 16$151K$73K$24K$54K
TravelLn 17$8K$2K$2K$5K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$54K$100$54K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$103K$55K$20K$28K
InsuranceLn 23$19K$19K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$7.8M$7.8M
All other expensesLn 24e$199K$66K$6K$127K
Total functional expensesLn 25$11.7M$9.6M$600K$1.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $19.8M$17.3M$2.5M$20.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $17.7M$17.8M−$123K$18.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $16.3M$12.8M$3.5M$18.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $12.2M$11.7M$554K$14.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.7M$8.1M$1.6M$14.2M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,239,496 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $9,579,837$11,920,916
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$3,181$11,253
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $107,054$307,327
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,683,710$12,239,496
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,797,952$2,578,357
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,309,561$9,107,162
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $8,107,513$11,685,519
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,576,197$553,977
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $12,239,496 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $306,000 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$553,340
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$11,367,576
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,300,281
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,920,916
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $11,253$11,253
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $1,327$1,327
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $306,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $12,580$12,239,496
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,685,519 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $250,758 · Management $83,186 · Fundraising $185,838$519,782
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $790,136 · Management $290,204 · Fundraising $592,920$1,673,260
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $20,552 · Management $6,818 · Fundraising $15,231$42,601
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $88,843 · Management $30,375 · Fundraising $67,055$186,273
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $75,472 · Management $25,037 · Fundraising $55,932$156,441
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $22,072$22,072
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $38,350$38,350
IX-11g Other fees for servicesFundraising $300$300
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $240,210 · Fundraising $240,210$480,420
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,922 · Management $3,598 · Fundraising $16,100$24,620
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $143,866 · Management $30,210 · Fundraising $42,940$217,016
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $72,937 · Management $24,196 · Fundraising $54,054$151,187
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,525 · Management $1,584 · Fundraising $4,628$7,737
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $100 · Fundraising $54,221$54,321
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $55,314 · Management $19,619 · Fundraising $28,048$102,981
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $18,941$18,941
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $7,790,159$7,790,159
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $65,618 · Management $6,296 · Fundraising $127,144$199,058
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,600,412 · Management $600,486 · Fundraising $1,484,621$11,685,519
Part X · Balance sheet $15,437,142 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $8,147,331$6,411,120
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $777,510$1,794,846
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $5,218,846$3,448,201
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $775,789$1,439,993
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $425,834$330,779
X-11 Publicly traded securities$5,980
X-12 Other securities$2,006,223
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $15,345,310$15,437,142
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $862,102$338,111
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $6,843$28,600
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $273,816$313,905
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,142,761$680,616
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,489,943$8,514,422
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $5,712,606$6,242,104
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $14,202,549$14,756,526
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $15,345,310$15,437,142
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $14,756,526 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,239,496
XI-2 Total expenses$11,685,519
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$553,977
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$14,202,549
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$249,951
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$249,951
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$14,756,526

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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