Skip to content
Star Fire Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Star Fire Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$8k
Granted FY2025still arriving
7
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$2k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2021 to 2024.

Human Services$23kReligion$10kFood & Nutrition$9kHealth$5kPhilanthropy$4kPublic Safety & Disaster$3kRecreation & Sports$2kHousing & Shelter$2kOther$0
02FY2025 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$1,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$998k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS$2,000
ST LOUIS AREA FOODBANK$2,000
OPERATION FOOD SEARCH$1,000
HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE OF WESTERN KENTUCKY$1,000
SALVATION ARMY$750
WOUNDED WARRIER PROJECT$550
STAGES$500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–25, $25k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 98% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%WOUNDED WARRIER PROJECT: $3k → 14%HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE OF WESTERN KENTUCKY: $1k → 13%WOUNDED WARRIER PROJECT: $550 → 14%LOAVES & FISHES: $500 → 7%ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $8k → 11%ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $4k → 11%ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $3k → 11%ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $3k → 11%ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $2k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
IA
MO
VA
DC
OK
GA
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$62k · 16 repeat orgs$7k to everyone else

16 repeat relationships: 5 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
10

Total granted

$62k
$5k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+12%
+24%

Still filing today

69%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 81% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesEnvironmentHealthPhilanthropyArts & CultureCommunity ImprovementOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • AL
    ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS
    5× · 2021–2025 · $20k · revenue +61%
  • OF
    OPERATION FOOD SEARCH INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $6k · revenue +22%
  • WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC
    2× · 2024–2025 · $3k · revenue +12%

Funded once

  • AA
    ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
    one grant, 2024 · $2k
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2024 · $1k
  • LF
    LOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY SERVICESgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $500 · revenue +56%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri

The food bank for central & northeast missouri is a regional disaster and hunger relief network that acquires and distributes millions of meals each year to help neighbors get the food they need to thrive. (continued on schedule o)the…

Food & Nutrition
2
American Water Works Association

To promote public health, safety, and welfare through the improvement of the quality and quantity of drinking water and the development and furtherance of understanding of the problems relating thereto.

Public Benefit
3
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
4
Northern Illinois Food Bank

With the support of our community, we provide over 90 million meals annually through our network of over 900 member food pantries and programs across thirteen counties, currently reaching over a half million individuals each month with…

Food & Nutrition
5
Partnership for Public Service Inc

Making our government work better is a daunting task, and we are a small organization seeking to transform a government that employs millions of civilians and manages trillions of dollars in taxpayer revenue needed to protect public…

Employment
6
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
7
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Our mission is to solve hunger in central pennsylvania by ensuring that everyone struggling with hunger has access to enough wholesome food every day. we will achieve this bold goal with the help of our generous donors, volunteers and…

Food & Nutrition
8
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc

The fsmb serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best…

Health
9
The Saint Louis Zoo Association

The saint louis zoo association was established to support and enhance the saint louis zoo by providing facilities, funds, and advice. the association provides direct financial support to the zoo for renovations, new facilities, programs,…

Animals
10
Jefferson National Parks Association

Jefferson national parks association provides quality educational products and related services that enhance public understanding and appreciation of america's national parks, public lands and historic places.

Arts & Culture
11
United Way Worldwide

To improve lives by mobilizing caring power of communities around the world to advance common good.

Philanthropy
12
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Foundation

Supporting planned parenthood of the heartland, inc.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Operation Food Search Inc; the most unlike its peers is Wounded Warrior Project Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

18 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 18 of the 28 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
17/18
Grantees still filing
13/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $20,100 · Human ServicesASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUISWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $3,050 · Human ServicesWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INCAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $3,000 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent…HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE OF THE OHIO VALLEY INC: $1,000 · Human Services+1 more: $500 · Human ServicesST ANSELM PARISH: $8,000 · OtherST ANSELM PARISHST LOUIS AREA FOOD BANK INC: $5,250 · OtherST LOUIS AREA FOOD BANK INCSALVATION ARMY: $2,800 · OtherSALVATION ARMYALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION: $1,500 · OtherALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATIONHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $1,500 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INCST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL: $1,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $1,000 · OtherHUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI: $850 · Other+8 more: $3,400 · Other+8 moreOPERATION FOOD SEARCH INC: $6,250 · Food & NutritionOPERATION …UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST LOUIS INC: $4,000 · PhilanthropyForest Park Forever Inc: $2,100 · EnvironmentNATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $500 · EnvironmentMARCH OF DIMES INC: $1,250 · HealthAmerican Heart Association Inc: $200 · HealthST LOUIS REGIONAL PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $1,300 · Arts & Culture
Human Services$27,650Other$25,300Food & Nutrition$6,250Philanthropy$4,000Environment$2,600Health$1,450Arts & Culture$1,300

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST LOUIS: $20,100 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetOPERATION FOOD SEARCH INC: $6,250 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetST LOUIS AREA FOOD BANK INC: $5,250 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER ST LOUIS INC: $4,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $3,050 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetForest Park Forever Inc: $2,100 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetST LOUIS REGIONAL PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $1,300 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMARCH OF DIMES INC: $1,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI: $850 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGREAT RIVERS GREENWAY FOUNDATION: $800 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY SERVICES: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRURAL PARISH CLINIC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Edward Jones Foundati…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Edward Jones FoundationMO12.5× affinity4 shared granteesties to 3 of 3Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Edward Jones Foundation · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Star Fire Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Star Fire Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Wounded Warrior Project Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–10%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 28 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Star Fire’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home