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Human Services : Social Services

Blue Star Families

We know military families, we are military families

four stars

93.55

P.O. Box 230637 Encinitas, CA 92023
tel: (202) 630-2583   Web Site
EIN: 80-0369895

Board Leadership
Sheila Casey
Chair

CEO
Kathy Roth-Douquet
Chief Executive Officer

 
 

This organization has shared information about their results and/or practices to help inform your giving. Click to view this data.

  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 93.55 four stars
  Financial 94.17 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 03/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Blue Star Families (BSF) strengthens military families every day. Through career development, caregiving, and our leading research on military family life, we're striving to better understand and provide solutions to the challenges facing today's military families. In April of 2009, a group of military spouses got together in the hopes of making a difference in the lives of military families. They knew the issues surrounding military families and saw a need for a platform where military family members could join forces with the general public and their communities to address the challenges of military life. Since then, BSF has grown from a few military spouses around a kitchen table to more than 150,000 members and over 35 communities and chapters around the globe. Our programs and services reach more than 1.5 million military family members every year.

Blue Star Families (BSF) strengthens military families every day. Through career development, caregiving, and our leading research on military family life, we're striving to better understand and provide solutions to the challenges facing today's military families. In April of 2009, a group of military spouses got together in the hopes of making a difference in the lives of military families. They knew the issues surrounding military families and saw a need for a platform where military family members could join forces with the general public and their communities to address the challenges of military life. Since then, BSF has grown from a few military spouses around a kitchen table to more than 150,000 members and over 35 communities and chapters around the globe. Our programs and services reach more than 1.5 million military family members every year.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Total in 2019
Military Spouse Income Impact from Obtaining a Job Through Our Resources
55,091,600
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of March 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

94.17

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 03/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 82.1%
  Administrative Expenses 8.9%
  Fundraising Expenses 8.8%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.07
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.85
  Program Expenses Growth 22.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 7.4%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Blue Star Families on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Blue Star Families on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Constituent Voice

Charity Navigator believes collecting feedback from the people an organization serves can make it more effective. That is why we're partnering with GuideStar by Candid to share Constituent Voice information with you. Here's how this organization is listening and learning from its constituents:
How is the organization collecting feedback?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email
How is the organization using feedback?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to get honest feedback from our clients
Describe a recent change in your organization that resulted from feedback.
Note: This organization did not answer this question
This Constituent Voice information is provided to us by Candid. At this time, Constituent Voice information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Blue Star Families (CA) 93.55 four stars
Fisher House Foundation (MD) 94.10 four stars
Project Sanctuary (CO) 93.98 four stars
The Mission Continues (MO) 100.00 four stars
Army Emergency Relief (VA) 94.15 four stars

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REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $6,001,577
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $168,734
Total Contributions $6,170,311
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $6,170,311
   Other Revenue $38,937
TOTAL REVENUE $6,209,248
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $3,800,735
   Administrative Expenses $367,120
   Fundraising Expenses $535,947
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $4,703,802
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $1,505,446
   
Net Assets $3,628,173

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Community Development $2,580,357 67.9%
Research and Policy $826,399 21.7%
Technology Engagement for Members $393,979 10.4%

Ratings History
Blue Star Families has received 3 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-12 03/01/2020 93.55 four stars
2017-12 12/20/2019 96.04 four stars
2017-12 03/01/2019 95.13 four stars
2016-12 06/01/2018 95.14 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 80-0369895
Name in IRS Master File BLUE STAR FAMILIES INC
NTEE Code W30
NTEE Classification Military, Veterans' Organizations
NTEE Type Public, Society Benefit - Multipurpose and Other
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date September, 2009
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$194,759 4.14% Kathy Roth-Douquet President, CEO

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Blue Star Families (CA) 93.55 four stars
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (MD) 95.17 four stars
Air Force Aid Society (VA) 99.87 four stars
Warrior Canine Connection (MD) 97.87 four stars
Bob Woodruff Family Foundation (NY) 95.83 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Constituent Voice

This organization is sharing information on how they communicate with stakeholders to better inform your giving.

Charity Contact Info

Blue Star Families
P.O. Box 230637
Encinitas, CA 92023
tel: (202) 630-2583
EIN: 80-0369895

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Sheila Casey
Chair

CEO

Kathy Roth-Douquet
Chief Executive Officer

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