Darren Star Foundation
Darren Star Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $360K. Net investment income was $599K.
Darren Star Foundation at a glance
In short: Darren Star Foundation gave $360K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $51K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $360,000
- -27.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -46.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $51,429
- +35.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $5,288,035
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Darren Star Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Project Angel Food ($250K). Together the top 6 received $360K.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 54 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Darren Star Foundation gives
- Giving grew 555% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2022) to $494K (2024). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $360K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Project Angel Food Los Angeles, CA | Capital Campaign for Project Angel Food | $250,000 |
| Hamptons International Film Festival Inc East Hampton, NY | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Charitable Event | $25,000 |
| Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| National Rehabilitation Hospital Inc Columbia, MD | Charitable Event | $15,000 |
| Trinity Episcopal Schools Corporation New York, NY | Trinity Fund | $15,000 |
| Family Equality New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,288,035 | $619,623 | $407,966 | $360,000 | 7 | $374,820 | $599,251 | $308,820 |
| 2024 | $5,076,378 | $1,224,893 | $540,251 | $494,000 | 13 | $508,429 | $292,311 | $258,585 |
| 2023 | $4,391,736 | $179,958 | $427,433 | $387,000 | 13 | $402,480 | $542,233 | $246,789 |
| 2022 | $4,639,211 | $1,087,077 | $91,044 | $55,000 | 6 | $68,670 | $181,088 | $190,934 |
| 2021 | $3,643,178 | $737,405 | $236,940 | $205,000 | 15 | $218,538 | $418,407 | $175,786 |
| 2020 | $3,142,713 | $544,064 | $155,926 | $135,000 | 10 | — | $93,291 | $143,044 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Darren Star Foundation reported a distributable amount of $309K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Darren Star Foundation is led by Darren B Star, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Darren B Star
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Darren Star Foundation
How much does Darren Star Foundation give each year?
Darren Star Foundation gave $360K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $494K across 13 grants.
What is Darren Star Foundation's typical grant size?
Darren Star Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $51,429, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Darren Star Foundation give grants?
Darren Star Foundation gives mostly in California: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Darren Star Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 43% of Darren Star Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Darren Star Foundation's largest grantees?
Darren Star Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Project Angel Food ($250,000), Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles ($45,000 across 2 grants) and Hamptons International Film Festival Inc ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Darren Star Foundation?
Darren Star Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $375K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $309K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Darren Star Foundation's EIN?
Darren Star Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0858748. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
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