Star-K Certification Inc
STAR-K Certification Inc. is a Baltimore, Maryland-based public charity, formed in 1947. Its work centers on kosher supervision, education, and technical and religious-law resources; it also makes grants to organizations, including Baltimore-area and other Jewish community institutions.
Star-K Certification Inc at a glance
In short: Star-K Certification Inc gave $316K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Maryland. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $315,630
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,782
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,250
- Total assets
- $18,080,095
- +11.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (6 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Star-K Certification Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 122 Slade Ave 300, Baltimore, MD 21208
Phone: (410) 484-4110
Website: https://star-k.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Star-K Certification Inc
Chananya Backer Memorial Fund Grant
Star-K Certification Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Kashrus Training Program
Star-K Certification Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Mashgicha Enrichment Program
Star-K Certification Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Star-K Certification Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kosher Mehadrin Montreal ($35K). Together the top 10 received $226K.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 75 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 18% to New York, and 13% to New Jersey. The recipient-state information assigns the remaining 11% to an unspecified state. The listed recipients also include KOSHER MEHADRIN MONTREAL, but no location is provided for that recipient in the grant listing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Star-K Certification Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 20 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $16K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $99K (2021) to $320K (2023). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $316K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kosher Mehadrin Montreal | Educational | $35,000 |
| Mikvah of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Agudath Israel of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Educational | $26,115 |
| Agudath Israel of MD Baltimore, MD | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Cheswolde Mikvah Baltimore, MD | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Yeshivas Rabbi Chaim Berlin Brooklyn, NY | Educational | $20,000 |
| Baltimore Bais Din Inc Baltimore, MD | To Support Religious Arbitration | $19,500 |
| Bais Yaakov of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | Educational | $16,000 |
| Lakewood Cheder Lakewood, NJ | Educational | $15,675 |
| Nishmas Bais Yaakov Lakewood, NJ | Educational | $14,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $18,080,095 | $19,147,657 | $17,030,306 | $315,630 | 20 | $1,216,591 |
| 2023 | $16,159,113 | $16,495,068 | $15,559,880 | $319,612 | 21 | $2,160 |
| 2022 | $15,181,623 | $15,252,540 | $14,637,710 | $298,686 | 15 | $109,966 |
| 2021 | $13,119,889 | $14,968,391 | $12,483,606 | $98,803 | 10 | $356,727 |
| 2020 | $11,418,313 | $12,249,634 | $12,244,065 | $122,733 | 9 | $129,390 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
STAR-K’s stated mission is to supervise kosher products for people who follow Jewish kosher dietary guidelines and to serve as a resource center for rabbinical academies and inquiries about Jewish law. Its program description also identifies international service to kosher food consumers, responses to technical inquiries about kosher and related laws, and publication of Kashrus Kurrents.
Its grants include awards designated for educational and charitable purposes and support for religious arbitration. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations receiving support: ACHIM says it provides Jewish educational and cultural programming and religious services to immigrant communities, synagogues, and schools; REBBE TALMID says it works to transmit religious education through teacher-student relationships and training; and YESHIVA OF OCEAN describes itself as a prayer house and study hall for post-high-school students studying Torah and Jewish law.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, STAR-K reported 20 grants totaling $315,630. Grants ranged from $5,250 to $35,000, with a median of $13,250. Listed awards included $35,000 to KOSHER MEHADRIN MONTREAL for educational purposes; $30,000 to MIKVAH OF BALTIMORE for charitable purposes; $26,115 to AGUDATH ISRAEL OF BALTIMORE for educational purposes; and $25,000 each to AGUDATH ISRAEL OF MD and CHESWOLDE MIKVAH for charitable purposes. Other notable awards included $20,000 to YESHIVAS RABBI CHAIM BERLIN for educational purposes and $19,500 to BALTIMORE BAIS DIN INC to support religious arbitration.
STAR-K’s website describes a Shidduch Incentive Program that ran from 2004 to 2009 and paid $367,000 to people who arranged matches for 152 local women. Those payments were program awards to participants, not grants to outside organizations. The website also describes kashrus training and mashgicha enrichment programs; it reports the kashrus training program was held annually through at least 2014 and documents a mashgicha enrichment program held in 2008.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists AVROM POLLAK as President. It lists RABBI MOSHE HEINEMANN, RABBI JONAH GEWIRTZ, RABBI DAVID HEBER, and RABBI JUDAH HOLLAND as directors. It also lists RABBI A MUSHELL, RABBI S HEINEMANN, RABBI M KURCFELD, RABBI T ROSEN, and RABBI M FRANKEL as rabbis.
Star-K Certification Inc is led by Avrom Pollak, President on every filing since 2020; 9 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Avrom Pollak
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$221K (2020) → $249K (2024)
Rabbi David Heber
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$171K (2020) → $213K (2024)
Rabbi Jonah Gewirtz
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$182K (2020) → $229K (2024)
Rabbi Judah Holland
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$103K (2020) → $174K (2024)
Rabbi S. Heinemann
Director & Rabbi
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$225K (2020) → $262K (2024)
Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Rabbi A. Mushell
Rabbi
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $210K (2024)
Rabbi M. Frankel
Rabbi
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$136K (2020) → $157K (2024)
Rabbi M. Kurcfeld
Rabbi
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $165K (2024)
Rabbi T. Rosen
Rabbi
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $179K (2024)
Daniel Katibian
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Hayim Pollack (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Aj Levin (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Marvin Sober (2020–2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $262K, to Rabbi Moshe Heinemann (Director). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Star-K Certification Inc
How much does Star-K Certification Inc give each year?
Star-K Certification Inc gave $316K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $320K across 21 grants.
What is Star-K Certification Inc's typical grant size?
Star-K Certification Inc's median grant in 2024 was $13,250, and its average grant was $15,782, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Star-K Certification Inc that year got $11K on average.
Where does Star-K Certification Inc give grants?
Star-K Certification Inc gives mostly in Maryland: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (18%) and New Jersey (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (10 grants), Brooklyn, NY (4 grants) and Lakewood, NJ (3 grants).
Does Star-K Certification Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Star-K Certification Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (9 grants) and "Educational" (9 grants).
Who are Star-K Certification Inc's largest grantees?
Star-K Certification Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Kosher Mehadrin Montreal ($35,000), Mikvah of Baltimore ($30,000) and Agudath Israel of Baltimore ($26,115), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Star-K Certification Inc?
Star-K Certification Inc reported $18.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $19.1M.
What does Star-K Certification Inc fund?
STAR-K’s stated mission is to supervise kosher products for people who follow Jewish kosher dietary guidelines and to serve as a resource center for rabbinical academies and inquiries about Jewish law. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Star-K Certification Inc?
Star-K Certification Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check star-k.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Star-K Certification Inc's EIN?
Star-K Certification Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0566794. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Star-K Certification Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/star-k-certification-inc-morg_742ce2461a3d4f9889ade809d8ade9bc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_520566794_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Star-K Certification Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/star-k-certification-inc-morg_742ce2461a3d4f9889ade809d8ade9bc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Star-K Certification Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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