PLATINUM2023

Starlight Children's Foundation HQ

Delivering happiness to hospitalized kids.

aka Starlight   |   Culver City, CA   |  http://www.starlight.org

Mission

Starlight Children's Foundation delivers happiness to hospitalized kids and their families.

Ruling year info

1987

CEO

Mr. Adam Garone

Main address

5855 Green Valley Circle Suite 107

Culver City, CA 90230 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

95-3802159

NTEE code info

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (E12)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

When a child is hospitalized, it can be a scary and lonely experience. Everything that makes being a kid is out of reach. That’s where Starlight comes in. Innovative and inspiring programs like Starlight Virtual Reality, Starlight Hospital Wear, and Starlight Gaming bring the very best in technology, play, and other fun experiences to distract and entertain pediatric patients as they navigate the stress and pain that can come along with illnesses. Since 1982, Starlight’s programs have positively impacted 21 million seriously ill or injured children across the US.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Starlight Hospital Wear

Transitioning from regular clothes to a hospital gown is one of the most stressful moments of the pediatric patient's journey. However, when a child puts on a Starlight Gown, that moment can be magically transformative. Starlight Hospital Wear — gowns and pants — replaces less comfortable ones with high-quality, pajamalike fabric and features QR codes that provide interactive games,
digital content, and more to sick kids during their hospital stay. Starlight Gowns are specially designed with snaps on the sleeves and ties down the side to provide better coverage for kids and
easier access for hospital staff during medical procedures. Kids love wearing them!

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Starlight Virtual Reality is a state-of-the-art technology program that provides pediatric patients the opportunity to “escape” the walls of their hospital room into new worlds. While Starlight VR
can be used to help distract kids during complicated medical procedures or as a resource to reduce stress and anxiety caused by hospitalization, in some instances, it can also offer a drug-free alternative to ease pain in patients. One of the first general-use VR programs for hospitals, Starlight VR includes a wipeable, hospital-ready headset with kid-friendly content. Even patients with limited mobility can enjoy the experience just by using head movements.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Starlight Gaming Stations provide hospitalized kids a sense of normalcy and distraction from the stress and anxiety that often comes with being in a hospital. Powered by Nintendo systems, Starlight Gaming Stations are designed so they can roll anywhere in the hospital, enabling children to play video games from the comfort of their hospital bed or in a playroom with a group of kids. They have become even more portable with the Starlight Gaming Handheld, which can go wherever a child must go without needing extra space or an outlet. In addition, both Starlight Gaming Stations and Handhelds are manufactured to meet strict infection safety protocols.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Since 2003, Starlight has been transforming hospital spaces into state-of-the-art, interactive, and relaxing environments that children and their families can enjoy. Starlight Spaces improve the psycho-social and emotional wellness of hospitalized pediatric patients and their families by providing a treatment-free space for play, social interaction, and meaningful activities. These playrooms, teen lounges, therapy gyms, healing gardens, and playgrounds offer a variety of diversions, including video games, computers, toys, crafts, music, and best of all, the company of other children.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Starlight Deliveries provide hundreds of thousands of books, toys, games, arts & crafts, and other items directly to seriously ill and hospitalized kids. Thanks to the generosity of our corporate
partners, individual donors, foundations, and other groups and organizations, we’re able to deliver these products at no cost to our network of more than 800 hospitals across the US.

Each Starlight hospital can order what they need, when they need it, and the amount they want from our inventory free of charge. Our custom, easy-to-use, secure platform makes it simple and fun
to request Starlight Deliveries.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Where we work

Awards

Halo Award Finalist: Best Business Model Integration: Starlight Children's Foundation & CBS EcoMedia 2014

Cause Marketing Forum

Spirit of Giving Award 2010

Child Life Council

International Health & Medical Media Awards 2009

The Freddie Awards

Editor’s Choice Award 2009

Children's Technology Review

Health Care of Standard Excellence Award 2008

WebAwards

Silver Honor Award 2008

Parents' Choice Awards

Scoring Health Charities on Efficient Use of Money - High Marks 2008

The Oprah Magazine

Halo Award: Best National/Local Integration 2007

Cause Marketing Forum

Kid’s Game of the Year 2007

Game Tunnel

Standard of Excellence Award 2007

WebAwards

Gold Summit Creative Award 2005

Summit International Awards (submitted by Matrix Group)

Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics 2005

The Webbys

Belding Award (The Oscars of Advertising) 2005

The Advertising Club

Halo Award: Best Print Creative 2004

Cause Marketing Forum

Silver Anvil 2003

Public Relations Society of America

Merit Award 2005

The One Show

Best of Category Award 2005

Horizon Interactive

Business Innovation Award Finalist (Social Impact) 2014

BritWeek

Gold Participant 2014

GuideStar Exchange Seal

Gold Participant 2013

GuideStar Exchange Seal

Gold Participant 2012

GuideStar Exchange Seal

Gold Participant 2011

GuideStar Exchange Seal

Top-Rated Nonprofit 2011

GreatNonprofits

Top-Rated Nonprofit 2012

GreatNonprofits

Top-Rated Nonprofit 2013

GreatNonprofits

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Percentage of our programs distributed into healthcare providers who meet our criteria of serving majority medically underserved and vulnerable populations

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Goal is to meet the target of 50%+ of programs being distributed into these populations.

Number of hospital partners within our program network

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Rating for impact of each of our programs, as measured by feedback surveys completed by recipients

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Scored as average rating out of 5 stars.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

At Starlight, we know happy kids heal faster. That’s why we aspire to have all young patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities experience moments of fun and joy through Starlight programs.

We collaborate with individuals, families, foundations, organizations, small businesses and corporations to invest in Starlight’s ground-breaking and innovative programs to be distributed to over 800+ U.S. children’s hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Clinicians and child life teams use Starlight programs as entertainment and distraction tools to help reduce anxiety and stress associated with hospitalization and medical procedures. Studies have shown that improving patients’ emotional and social well-being can positively impact their outcomes when coping with injuries, surgeries, and illnesses.

Additionally, we are committed to distributing 50 percent of Starlight programs to hospitals and facilities caring for vulnerable and underserved children.

We understand the power of play and its role in promoting the well-being of children, especially those coping with sickness or injury in hospitals and healthcare facilities. At no cost to hospital partners, our state-of-the-art programs — like Starlight Virtual Reality, Starlight Gaming, and Hospital Wear — provide entertainment, comfort, and distraction to help kids get through the pain and stress of medical procedures and conditions. Our programs are available through our Starlight Hub to a network of over 800 children’s hospitals and facilities across the U.S.

Since 1982, Starlight has brought smiles to over 21 million seriously ill kids and their families in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

At Starlight, we are committed to continuing to deliver our innovative programs to impact more kids while helping improve pediatric patients’ emotional and social well-being so that they heal and thrive. Additionally, we will continue to focus on delivering 50 percent of our programs to hospitals and facilities caring for vulnerable and underserved children.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Starlight Children's Foundation
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Starlight Children's Foundation

Board of directors
as of 04/14/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

John Rosenberg

Henry M Fields

Morrison & Foerster

John Rosenberg

g-Net Media

Peter Samuelson

Samuelson Productions

Cara Natterson

Worry Proof MD

Debra Johnson

Shawn Harpen

Alisa Bown

Kira Goldberg

Howard Cohl

Rechelle Porter

Arnie Mendoze

Dawn Wilcox

Chris Helfrich

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 4/12/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/30/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.