Star Inc. - Lighting the Way
Star Inc. - Lighting the Way reported $19.5 million in revenue and $18.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.42 went to program services, $12.04 to management and general costs and $1.54 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 85.7% of the total. Government grants made up 5.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $204,052 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 31% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $20MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.4% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.12 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 11.7% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.4% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 85.7% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $204,052 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.12% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.9 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseStar, inc., lighting the way provides comprehensive licensed residential services that support 79 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 16 locations in fairfield county, connecticut. The programs include: 12 dds licensed group homes (cla's), 7 dds licensed condos and 1 dds licensed apartment. All residential setting provides up to 24-hour supervision, person centered support, and individualized planning to promote independence, safety and community integration. Services focus on daily living skills, personal care, behavioral supports, health management, and…
Star's employment program supported 55 jobs for 47 individuals with idd (several working multiple jobs). The group worked an average of 564 hours per week in local towns, supported through job coaches. The average tenure of jobs supported in the community is 9.37 years. Star's day program supports 179 individuals across four locations, providing individualized, person-centered supports. These programs offer a structured and supportive environment focusing on enhancing life skills, social engagement, volunteerism, and community inclusion. Our services are tailored to meet a wide range of…
The star rubino pediatric therapy center is a center for early therapies and education to children from birth eight years of age, utilizing husky, private pay and insurance billing. The center supports about 34 children monthly, supporting 31 unique diagnosis and provided 975 therapy sessions. The center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hippotherapy. There is a strong emphasis on individualized supports with strong collaboration between therapist and family members
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $192,185 | $0 | $11,867 | $204,052 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $114,007 | $0 | $23,527 | $137,534 |
| FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $106,328 | $0 | $12,769 | $119,097 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Star Inc. - Lighting the Way (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $344K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5294
- Volunteers Part I, line 617
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PJW NURSING CONSULTANTS LLC Nursing services | $385,966 |
| THE NETWORK SUPPORT It services | $205,067 |
| LOTUS BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION LLC Behavorial consultants | $145,544 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Star Inc. - Lighting the Way totaling $10,766 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Star Inc. - Lighting the Way's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Star Inc. - Lighting the Way, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Star Inc. - Lighting the Way spent in FY2025, $86.42 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Star Inc. - Lighting the Way's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Star Inc. - Lighting the Way reported that 86.4% of its $18.3 million in expenses went to program services, 12.0% to management and general and 1.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Star Inc. - Lighting the Way pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Star Inc. - Lighting the Way reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $204,052, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Star Inc. - Lighting the Way get its money?
Of $19.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 11.7% came from contributions and grants (including 5.4% from government grants) and 85.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Star Inc. - Lighting the Way a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 06-0726489 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621329349307397 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511359349316936 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401369349318215 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341359349319754 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231369349307308 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101349349302185 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 06-0726489: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.