What Impact and Results Does The Orphaned Starfish Foundation Report?

The Orphaned Starfish Foundation (osf.org) reports that it has helped 18,000 children through 81 tech centers across 34 countries, and states that over 90% of its students achieve positive outcomes through its programs. These figures come from OSF's own website, so they represent the organization's self-reported impact rather than independently verified results. If you're evaluating whether to donate, volunteer, or partner with OSF, this page explains what the organization claims, who it serves, and how to interpret those numbers.

What OSF says it does

OSF describes its mission as helping vulnerable young people "break their cycles of abuse and poverty" through technology-based education, job training, and job placement assistance. The organization frames technology and education as the core mechanism for changing outcomes.

According to its homepage, OSF serves:

• Orphans
• Victims of abuse
• Survivors of trafficking
• Indigenous children
• At-risk youth
• Refugees

The headline impact numbers

OSF presents four figures prominently on its site:

The site also states that "over 90% of our students achieve positive outcomes through our programs." The page does not define what counts as a "positive outcome" — for example, whether it means program completion, job placement, continued education, or another measure.

How the organization started

OSF says it began operations in 2001 with 34 girls. The site invites visitors to "find out how, and why, we've grown over the years," positioning its growth from that single group to a 34-country footprint as part of its story.

What these numbers do and don't tell you

What they tell you: OSF operates at a meaningful scale — dozens of centers across many countries — and has been active for more than two decades. The organization also notes it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation.

What they don't tell you: The 90% outcome rate and the 18,000 children figure are self-reported. The site does not publish the methodology behind the outcome claim, the time period covered by the totals, or third-party evaluations. If you need verified impact data before giving, treat these as OSF's own claims and look for additional documentation.

Ways to engage or verify further

The site lists several entry points if you want to go deeper:

• Learn about ways to give — the homepage links to giving information.
• Programs and initiatives — separate pages describe what OSF does and its initiatives.
• Events — including a 2026 Annual Gala and a Miami concert.
• Resources — a blog and campaign materials.
• Contact — [email protected], +1.347.460.8488, or 55 Exchange Place, Suite 402, NY, NY 10005.

For anyone assessing the foundation, the most useful next step is to review the Programs and Financials pages (both linked from the site) and, if the outcome numbers matter to your decision, ask OSF directly how "positive outcomes" are measured.