STAR INC - LIGHTING THE WAY Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

STAR INC - LIGHTING THE WAY

EIN 06-0726489 · Developmentally Disabled Centers (P82)

What they do

STAR, INC., LIGHTING THE WAY, is A NOT for PROFIT THAT PROVIDES SERVICES and SUPPORTS to INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL and DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) and THEIR FAMILIES, HELPING THEM REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS of THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $86.40 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders20 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

80.88%of revenue went to mission work86.4% of expenses · Program services

1.44%of revenue went to fundraising1.5% of expenses

$93.59spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

11.27%of revenue went to management and office costs12.0% of expenses

$0.66in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

11.7%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $204,052 for MARYGRACE GIULIANO (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$19,549,953

Mission workProgram services$15,811,31180.88% of revenue86.4% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,203,39211.27% of revenue12.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$281,8121.44% of revenue1.5% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$1,253,4386.41% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$18,296,51593.59% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 86.4% mission · 12.0% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 93.59% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 86.7% mission · 11.2% management · 2.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.91% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 87.0% mission · 11.1% management · 2.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.67% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 86.8% mission · 11.3% management · 1.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.22% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 85.5% mission · 12.6% management · 1.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.29% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 86.7% mission · 11.6% management · 1.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.57% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 87.5% mission · 11.0% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.05% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 88.9% mission · 9.5% management · 1.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 92.64% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$19,549,953

Expenses$18,296,515

Annual surplus $1,253,438 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$15,811,311 · 86.4% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,203,392 · 12.0% of expenses

Fundraising$281,812 · 1.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$19,549,953

Expenses$18,296,515

Assets$12,138,242

Income$19,749,742

Contributions$2,289,049

Mission work (program services)$15,811,311

Fundraising$281,812

Management and general$2,203,392

Accounting fees$53,300

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MARYGRACE GIULIANOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $204,052Base $192,185 · Other $11,867

DENISE OAKLEYDIRECTOR OF FINANCE · 40 hrs/week $137,534Base $114,007 · Other $23,527

KATHRYN JOSEPHINE BANZHAFFORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR $119,097Base $106,328 · Other $12,769

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (20)

MARYGRACE GIULIANOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DENISE OAKLEYDIRECTOR OF FINANCE

KATHRYN JOSEPHINE BANZHAFFORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

YVONNE OKANEDIRECTOR

BARRY BOSWORTH2ND VICE PRESIDENT

VICTORIA MURNOZRECORDING SECRETARY

SHAMAIN JOHNSONDIRECTOR

PETER MOELLER1ST VICE PRESIDENT

PAT OCONNORDIRECTOR

MICKEY HERBSTDIRECTOR

MEGHAN CIOFFIPAST PRESIDENT

LAURYL SCHEMBRIDIRECTOR

JOHN DANAHERTREASURER

JOANNA GALVINDIRECTOR

ED PIORKOWSKIDIRECTOR

DOREE LEVYPRESIDENT

DARCY MCALISTERDIRECTOR

DANIELLE HENESCORRESPONDING SECRETARY

CHARLIE SHERMANDIRECTOR

CAROLINE HOFFMANDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1954
Location: 182 WOLFPIT AVENUE, NORWALK, CT 06851
County: Fairfield
In care of: MARYGRACE GIULIANO
Primary officer: MARYGRACE GIULIANO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(203) 846-9581

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: COHNREZNICK ADVISORY LLC
NTEE classification: Developmentally Disabled Centers (P82)
IRS tax category: Developmentally Disabled Centers