Starfish Foundation

Name

Starfish Foundation

Legal name

The Starfish Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://thestarfishchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Education scholarships
• Tutoring programs
• Youth leadership development
• Nonprofit education services
• Scholarship sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Cockeysville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors who make one-time or recurring donations. The Sponsor-a-Scholar program allows donors to support specific students with monthly donations ($8, $30, $50, or $80/month) or one-time gifts ($100, $360, $600, or $960). Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
2. Annual Cost Breakdown per Student: Sponsorship covers specific costs per student: Uniforms ($150), School supplies ($100), Facility rent & upkeep ($60), Leadership programs ($60), Textbooks ($30), Nutritious snacks ($30), Field trips ($25), Computer and internet access ($15). Total approximately $470 per student per year.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25), alpaca scarves ($20), masks ($10.40-$11.40), PopSockets ($8.05), photograph prints ($9.55-$13.05), and the Starfish Dream Book ($12.75). Proceeds support educational programs.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events include the Starfish Bracket Challenge (March, free to join with optional donations), Starfish Connections Silent Auction (October, online), and Giving Tuesday (November). The Friends of Starfish Trip costs $550 (excluding flights).
5. Third-Party Platforms: Accepts donations through Classy (with employer matching), PayPal, Facebook (fee-free), and direct mail checks. EIN is 45-3805106.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Starfish Foundation provides scholarship, tutoring, and leadership development programs to low-income Ecuadorian youth (ages 11-18) in the Flor de Bastión neighborhood of Guayaquil. The organization funds school materials, uniforms, books, and academic support, and complements academic work with leadership workshops, community service, and family engagement activities. Operations are supported by an all-volunteer U.S. board, an Ecuador-based program team, and individual donor/sponsor contributions.

Product overview

The Starfish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering three core education programs (Scholarship, Tutoring, and Leadership Development) serving students ages 11-18 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The Scholarship Program provides books, uniforms, and materials; the Tutoring Program offers critical thinking-focused sessions; and Leadership Development includes community service and workshops. Supporting programs include a Sponsor-a-Scholar monthly giving program, Pen Pal letter exchange, annual fundraising events (Bracket Challenge, Connections Silent Auction, Giving Tuesday), and an online merchandise shop. The organization also coordinates in-person and virtual volunteering opportunities and an annual Friends of Starfish trip to Ecuador.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarship Program Provides books, uniforms, and school materials required by Ecuadorian public schools to students ages 11-18 based on participation in tutoring, motivation to study, and economic need.
• Tutoring Program Two-hour tutoring sessions focused on critical thinking for scholarship students and other neighborhood students who can earn scholarships the following year.
• Leadership Development Program Community service opportunities and leadership development workshops including volunteering at shelters, community clean-ups, and teamwork activities.
• Sponsor-a-Scholar Program Monthly sponsorship program connecting donors with Ecuadorian students to fund educational materials, uniforms, and program support, with levels at $8, $30, $50, or $80 per month.
• Starfish Bracket Challenge Annual March fundraising event where supporters predict U.S. college basketball tournament outcomes, with free participation and encouraged donations.
• Starfish Connections Silent Auction Annual online silent auction featuring Ecuadorian crafts, U.S. business experiences, gift cards, spa packages, and travel certificates.
• Giving Tuesday Campaign Annual November fundraising campaign held virtually since 2020, raising over $7,000 each year.
• Friends of Starfish Trip Annual trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador where visitors meet students and staff, help with tutoring, and participate in service projects and sightseeing; total cost $550 per participant.
• Starfish Online Shop E-commerce store selling masks, photograph prints from Flor de Bastión students, PopSockets, Dream Books, motto t-shirts, and alpaca scarves.
• Pen Pal Program Letter exchange program between sponsors and scholars with translation support, involving three letters during the school year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of students earned A or B average at school (2024-2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Villanova UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Villanova University including the Math Club volunteer support, student volunteers from cross-disciplinary international development courses, and alumni involvement. Martin García, the first Starfish intern in 2012, attended Villanova and traveled to Guayaquil after working with Beth Mayr in a Villanova entrepreneurship class.
• Fairfield UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Founder Jenn Zocco is a Jesuit education graduate of Fairfield University and had a semester abroad in Nicaragua. The university provides volunteer and fundraising support connections.
• Loyola University MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership providing volunteer and community connections to support Starfish programs.
• La Universidad de GuayaquilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian university partnership supporting educational programs and student pathways in Guayaquil.
• Colegio Tránsito AmaguañaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian school partnership in the local community serving Starfish students.
• Young Living AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Young Living Academy in Chongón enables Saturday intensive tutoring for 18 students who cannot reach Starfish due to neighborhood insecurity. Contracted bus service provided.
• Business Without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization partnership providing volunteer support and international development experience.
• Damien HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian partner organization serving the community in Flor de Bastión area.
• JetBlue (Guayaquil Airport)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner facilitating volunteer and staff travel to Guayaquil operations.
• Movimiento Mi CometaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian partner organization supporting youth programs in the community.
• Banco de Alimentos DiakoníaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnership addressing nutrition needs of Starfish families.
• HOBYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development organization partnership supporting youth leadership programs.
• GooderaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteering platform connecting businesses with volunteer opportunities at Starfish.
• Volunteer Latin AmericaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer placement organization connecting international volunteers with Starfish opportunities.
• Villanova Math ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization from Villanova University providing math tutoring volunteer support.
• Agustin Castro EspinozaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndividual partner providing support services to Starfish programs in Ecuador.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• buildOn: buildOn is an international nonprofit that delivers education and youth service programs to under-served communities in developing countries. It is comparable to Starfish in mission (education access for low-income youth) and operating model (community-based programs in Latin America and elsewhere with donor/volunteer support).
• Pencils of Promise: Pencils of Promise is a US-based 501(c)(3) that funds schools and education programs for children in developing countries including Latin America. Comparable in being a US-headquartered nonprofit channeling individual donor dollars into education programs for low-income youth abroad.
• Rostro de Cristo: Rostro de Cristo is a nonprofit that places long-term volunteers in Ecuadorian communities to live with host families and serve marginalized populations. It is the organization through which Starfish's co-founders Beth Mayr and Jenn Zocco first volunteered in Ecuador, and shares the same immersive, community-based service model in overlapping Ecuadorian geographies.
• College Possible: College Possible is a US nonprofit that coaches low-income students to and through college. Comparable to Starfish in focusing on college access and first-generation college students, though it operates domestically rather than in Ecuador.
• HOBY: HOBY is a US nonprofit focused on youth leadership development. It is an existing Starfish program partner and is comparable in delivering leadership curriculum and workshops to youth as part of educational programming.

Broad incumbents

• Communities In Schools: Communities In Schools is a large US nonprofit that surrounds students with supports to stay in school and graduate. Comparable in dropout-prevention mission and outcome orientation (school retention), though it operates as a broad US-wide network rather than a single-site international program.
• ChildFund International: ChildFund International is a large established sponsor-a-child nonprofit with operations in developing countries including Ecuador. Highly comparable in the recurring sponsorship donor model and international child/youth education focus, though at vastly larger scale.
• Room to Read: Room to Read is a much larger, internationally established education nonprofit operating across multiple developing countries in literacy and girls' education. Comparable in core mission (education access for underprivileged youth) but significantly larger in scale, geographic footprint, and institutional donor base than Starfish.

Regional players

• Movimiento Mi Cometa: Movimiento Mi Cometa is an Ecuadorian nonprofit supporting youth programs referenced as a Starfish partner. It is comparable as a locally operating Ecuadorian youth-services organization working in similar geographies and beneficiary populations.

Others

• Volunteer Latin America: Volunteer Latin America is a volunteer placement organization that connects international volunteers with Latin American nonprofits including Starfish. Comparable as a distribution channel for volunteer engagement that supports operations of small education nonprofits like Starfish.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thestarfishchange
• Instagraminstagram.com/starfishchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thestarfishchange

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starfish Foundation