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Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families reported $41.6 million in revenue and $23.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $85.07 went to program services, $9.91 to management and general costs and $5.02 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.1% of the total. Government grants made up 10.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $485,418 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 396% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $23MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $42MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.1% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.1% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 10.8% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $485,418 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.10% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 21 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.0 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 13 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCommunities - Blue Star Families, inc. Designs and delivers innovative programs that are geared for the military community. Spouse employment and the bsf careers program supports spouses through their career journey and provides opportunity for military spouses to develop networks and access employment and training resources. Blue Star museums offers free admission to more than 2,000 museums across the country from memorial day through labor day each summer. Blue Star books on bases donates books to military children, base libraries,department of defense schools, and military-impacted public…
Research and policy - Blue Star Families, inc., as part of its central mission to connect, engage, and empower military families, conducts in-depth research on the issue that affect the military family community. Annual military lifestyle survey: the Blue Star Families annual military family lifestyle survey (amfls) provides deep and valuable insight into the true costs of sustaining our nation's all-volunteer force and provides the vehicle for military families' voices to be heard by key decision-makers. White oak: the purpose of the white oak retreats is to encourage creative thinking and…
Technology engagement - Blue Star Families, inc. Leverages state of the art outreach and information channels to connect with military families around the world. Military families are engaged through our online resources, online webinars, online mentoring, virtual hang-outs,facebook live and streaming events, and, a variety of other technology points. This allows military families to access Blue Star Families and its resources anywhere in the world
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $468,172 | $0 | $17,246 | $485,418 |
| CHIEF TRANSFORMATION OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $355,828 | $0 | $17,204 | $373,032 |
| COO, TREASURER, SECRETARY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $288,846 | $0 | $12,942 | $301,788 |
| CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,539 | $0 | $9,692 | $221,231 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $205,831 | $0 | $10,350 | $216,181 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,539 | $0 | $0 | $186,539 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,781 | $0 | $8,500 | $175,281 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYTICS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,312 | $0 | $8,527 | $174,839 |
21 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Blue Star Families (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (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
2024 · 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–1b13 · 12 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 5111
- Volunteers Part I, line 6289
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ORIGINAL STRATEGIES LLC Communications and pr strategy support | $325,708 |
| LEBLANC STRATEGIES Program outreach-advocacy support | $172,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
21 private foundations reported grants to Blue Star Families totaling $8.2M 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 Blue Star Families's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Blue Star Families, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Blue Star Families spent in 2024, $85.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Center for Popular DemocracyBrooklyn, NY · revenue $41M · programs 83.2% · 2024
- Wreaths Across AmericaColumbia Falls, ME · revenue $43M · programs 84.9% · 2024
- Multi-State Lottery AssociationJohnston, IA · revenue $41M · programs 0.0% · FY2025
- Institute for Building Technology and SafetyAshburn, VA · revenue $43M · programs 70.9% · FY2025
- Swords to Plowshares Veterans Rights OrganizationSan Francisco, CA · revenue $39M · programs 86.1% · FY2025
All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Blue Star Families's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Blue Star Families reported that 85.1% of its $23.1 million in expenses went to program services, 9.9% to management and general and 5.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Blue Star Families pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Blue Star Families reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $485,418, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Blue Star Families get its money?
Of $41.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 99.1% came from contributions and grants (including 10.8% from government grants) and 0.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Blue Star Families a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 80-0369895 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202522979349300437 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403209349309735 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343179349304669 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222649349300327 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202122859349301687 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042739349301539 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 80-0369895: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.