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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: September 2025 Expires: September 2026

Shining Stars Foundation

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
11
(970) 726-8009
Tabernash, CO, 80478
https://www.shiningstarsfoundation.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Shining Stars Foundation does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 11 (Financial Statements)
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

Shining Stars Foundation does not meet this standard because:

The organization does not have audited financial statements. 

Shining Stars Foundation meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
To transform lives through year-round recreational and social programs for children and their families challenged with pediatric cancer or another life-threatening illness.

Year, State Incorporated:
2001, CO

Shining Stars Foundation serves children who have pediatric cancer or another life-threatening illness, and their immediate family. The organization offers long-term, year-round care for children and their families, through recreational programming at any stage in their cancer battle, including treatment, relapse, or remission. These programs are provided at no cost to the child, their families, or medical community. The organization also works to bring community awareness services that educate the public about the challenges faced by children with cancer and their families.  Shining Stars Foundation has served over 1,200 families since its founding.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Shining Stars Foundation's program expenses were:

Programs $1,542,465
Total Program Expenses $1,542,465

Chief Executive
Kathy Gingery , Executive Director

Compensation*
$91,927

Chair of the Board
Dr. Larry McCleary MD, Retired Chief of Neurosurgery

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Children’s Hospital Colorado

Board Size
11

Paid Staff Size
5

* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.)

% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 3.76%

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Shining Stars Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
In-Kind Contributions $766,885
Contributions $436,623
Special Events $320,279
Honorariums and Bequests $302,037
Grants $151,125
Investment Income $77,569
Cares Act $12,028
Other Income $6,000
Total Income $2,072,546

Programs: 92% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 4%

Total Income $2,072,546
Total expenses: $1,683,269
  Program expenses $1,542,465
  Fundraising expenses $74,872
  Administrative expenses $65,932
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $389,277
Beginning Net Assets $1,645,174
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $2,034,451
Total Liabilities $64,047
Total Assets $2,098,498

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming