Starfish Fund is a private independent foundation located in Naples, Florida. Established in February 2015, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to funding programs focused on emotional trauma healing, with particular emphasis on supporting military veterans, sexual abuse survivors, and others recovering from various forms of trauma.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$436K
-9.1% YoY
Grant Count
32
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-9.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Starfish Fund reported a distributable amount of $359K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on funding the healing of emotional trauma through scholarships and sponsorships of dedicated healing programs. Key focus areas include:
- Trauma healing programs for military veterans, sexual abuse survivors, and others
- Scholarships to help individuals attend healing retreats and programs
- Sponsorships of free programs for veterans with PTSD and other emotional difficulties
- Grants to nonprofit organizations supporting similar missions
The foundation has funded over $250,000 in scholarships to date, supporting programs including Healing Warrior Hearts (free retreats for military veterans), the Renewal weekend (for sexual abuse survivors), and the Taking It Lightly weekend (for those who have experienced various trauma).
Grantmaking
The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Individuals seeking scholarships complete a simple financial statement with a letter explaining their request and how they intend to pay it forward to help others heal.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, though it also supports programs nationally, including Camp American Legion in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024):
- Total Assets: $5,426,736
- Total Revenues: $744,017
- Total Expenses: $486,783
- Total Giving: $436,000
- Number of Employees: 0
Revenue Composition (FY 2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $200,318
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $548,617
Historical Assets:
- June 2023: $5,169,502
- June 2023 Income: $333,181
The foundation maintains no liabilities and generates revenue primarily through investment income and asset sales rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,426,736 | $5,169,502 | $5,385,722 |
| Revenue | $744,017 | $333,181 | $1,137,747 |
| Expenses | $486,783 | $549,401 | $396,201 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $445,000 | $479,600 | $336,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $731,226 | $319,841 | $824,363 |
| Distributable Amount | $358,523 | $384,310 | $438,696 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
154 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for American Liberty ($200,000), Drexel University ($50,000), Special Olympics Pa ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRIDGES OUTREACH INC SUMMIT, NJ | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NJ HILLDSIDE, NJ | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PA | REMD PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| FARMER FOODSHARE INC durham, NC | general operations | $2,000 |
| FOOD FOR THE POOR INC COCONUT CREEK, FL | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| OVERLOOK FOUNDATION SUMMIT, NJ | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| REALITY MINISTRIES INC DURHAM, NC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| SAVORY INSTITUTE BOULDER, CO | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS PA NORRISTOWN, PA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| SUMMIT PARK LINE FOUNDATION SUMMIT, NJ | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Anne Stone is listed as a contact person for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALBERT L LORD JR | PRESIDENT/DIREC | 1 | — |
| SUZANNE D LORD | Director | 2 | — |
| ALBERT L LORD III | Director | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINE L DEGUZMAN | Secretary/DIREC | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1528 Marsh Wren Ln Naples, FL 34105-2792
EIN: 02-0811842
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Starfish Fund fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on funding the healing of emotional trauma through scholarships and sponsorships of dedicated healing programs. Key focus areas include: • **Trauma healing programs** for military veterans, sexual abuse survivors, and others • **Scholarships** to help individuals attend healing retreats and programs • **Sponsorships** of free programs for veterans with PTSD and other emotional difficulties • **Grants** to nonprofit organizations supporting similar missio…
How do I apply for a grant from Starfish Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 26 grants in the most recent reporting period • Typical award range: $1,000–$200,000 • Recent grantees include Drexel University ($50,000 for REMD Program), The Brett Boyer Foundation ($21,000), and Overlook Foundation ($10,000) **Application Process:** The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Individuals seeking scholarships complete a simple financial statement with a letter explaining their request and how they intend to pay it forwa…
Where does Starfish Fund make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, though it also supports programs nationally, including Camp American Legion in Wisconsin.
What size grants does Starfish Fund award?
In 2024, Starfish Fund awarded 32 grants totaling $436K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Starfish Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Starfish Fund reported a distributable amount of $359K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Starfish Fund's EIN?
Starfish Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0811842. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Starfish Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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