osf.org
Transform lives of at-risk youth through tech education. Join us! Learn more.
At a glance
- Category
- Education & Learning
- Language
- English
- Paid-content signal
- No paid content foundObserved
- Registered
- 1988
- Hosting
- Amazon.com, Inc.Inferred
- HTTPS certificate trusted
- PassedObserved
- Last updated
Related questions
More questions →Is The Orphaned Starfish Foundation a legitimate nonprofit?
The Orphaned Starfish Foundation (osf.org) presents itself as a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that brings technology, education, and job training to vulnerable children worldwide. Its website lists a New York office address, phone number, email, and links to Financials and a Privacy Policy—the basic markers of an organization that expects public scrutiny. For a donor, those are starting points, not proof. The page evidence supports the claim of 501(c)(3) status and the existence of a financials page, but it does not show the underlying filings, so you should verify them independently before giving.
What the site itself states
- Legal status: "OSF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation."
- Mission: technology-based education, job training, and job placement assistance for orphans, victims of abuse, survivors of trafficking, indigenous children, at-risk youth, and refugees.
- Contact details: 55 Exchange Place, Suite 402, NY, NY 10005; +1.347.460.8488; [email protected].
- Transparency links: a Financials page and a Privacy Policy are linked in the footer.
- Outcome claim: "Over 90% of our students achieve positive outcomes through our programs."
Reported impact numbers
The homepage displays these figures:
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Children helped | 18k |
| Tech centers | 81 |
| Countries served | 34 |
| Supporters | 1000+ |
It also states OSF began operation in 2001 with 34 girls and now supports 16,000 at-risk kids. Note that the "18k children helped" and "16,000 at-risk kids" figures appear in different places on the same page, so treat them as the organization's own summary numbers rather than audited counts.
How to verify before you donate
- Check the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Search "Orphaned Starfish Foundation" at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. A current 501(c)(3) listing confirms the status claimed on the site.
- Read the Financials page linked in the site footer, then compare it against the organization's IRS Form 990, which is public and shows revenue, expenses, and program spending.
- Cross-check third-party evaluators such as Charity Navigator, Candid (GuideStar), or BBB Wise Giving Alliance for ratings and any alerts.
- Confirm the contact channel by calling the listed number or emailing [email protected] with a specific question about program spending before giving.
- Use traceable payment methods (card or check to the named organization) rather than untraceable transfers.
What the evidence does and does not establish
The page evidence confirms the organization publicly claims 501(c)(3) status, publishes contact details, and links to financial and privacy pages. It does not include the actual financial statements, an EIN, or an independent rating. A 501(c)(3) claim on a website is a statement by the organization, not a verification—the IRS record is what settles it.
If the IRS search returns a matching active exemption and the Form 990 shows program spending consistent with the mission, the foundation is legitimate in the sense that matters to a donor. If the listing is missing, revoked, or the filings don't match the site's claims, that is your signal to hold off and ask questions directly.
What is The Orphaned Starfish Foundation (osf.org)?
The Orphaned Starfish Foundation (OSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001 that helps vulnerable children and youth break cycles of abuse and poverty through technology-based education, job training, and job placement assistance. It serves orphans, victims of abuse, survivors of trafficking, indigenous children, at-risk youth, and refugees. If you are looking to understand what the organization does, whether to donate, volunteer, or partner with it, the key facts are below.
What OSF does
OSF's model combines three connected activities:
- Technology-based education — building and running tech centers where students learn digital skills.
- Job training — preparing youth for employment through practical, skills-focused programs.
- Job placement assistance — helping graduates move into work.
According to the organization, over 90% of its students achieve positive outcomes through these programs.
Who it serves
OSF works with children and young people facing severe disadvantage, including:
- Orphans
- Victims of abuse
- Survivors of trafficking
- Indigenous children
- At-risk youth
- Refugees
Scale at a glance
The homepage presents the following figures:
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Children helped | 18k |
| Tech centers | 81 |
| Countries served | 34 |
| Supporters | 1000+ |
OSF began operations in 2001 with 34 girls, and the site notes it now supports 16,000 at-risk kids.
Ways to get involved
The site organizes involvement into four actions:
- Do — advocacy, fundraising, events, and more.
- Learn — the history and growth of OSF since 2001.
- Share — spread the OSF story within your community.
- Join — giving and becoming part of the movement.
There is a Donate option and a sign-up form to receive updates. OSF also lists programs, events (including a 2026 Annual Gala and a Miami concert), a blog, and campaign materials.
Contact and status
- Status: 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation
- Phone: +1.347.460.8488
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 55 Exchange Place, Suite 402, NY, NY 10005
Financials and a privacy policy are linked from the site footer.
How to Contact The Orphaned Starfish Foundation
The Orphaned Starfish Foundation (OSF) can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at +1.347.460.8488. Its office is listed at 55 Exchange Place, Suite 402, New York, NY 10005. For general questions, donation inquiries, or partnership requests, email is the most direct route; the website also offers a newsletter signup and a contact form under "Get in touch."
Official Contact Details
| Channel | Detail |
|---|---|
| [email protected] | |
| Phone | +1.347.460.8488 |
| Address | 55 Exchange Place, Suite 402, NY, NY 10005 |
| Website | osf.org |
These are the contact points published on the foundation's own site, so they are the ones to use for official matters.
What to Use Each Channel For
- Email ([email protected]) — General inquiries, donation questions, partnership or program questions, and anything that needs a written record.
- Phone (+1.347.460.8488) — Time-sensitive questions or when you want to speak with someone directly.
- Mailing address — Formal correspondence, checks, or documents sent by post.
- Website contact form — The site lists a "Get in touch" option alongside the phone and email, useful if you prefer a form over composing an email.
Finding Your Way Around osf.org
The site's main navigation covers:
- About — Our Story, OSF Facts, Initiatives, Our Team, Our Board
- What We Do — Programs, Our Partners
- Events — 2026 Annual Gala, Miami Concert
- Resources — Blog, Campaign Materials
- Get Involved — Ways to give and join the movement
If you are trying to reach a specific person or department, start with the About section (Our Team, Our Board) to identify the right contact, then use the email or phone above.
Staying Updated
The homepage includes a "Stay In Touch" signup: enter your email to receive updates on OSF's work and events. This is separate from direct contact — use it if you want ongoing news rather than a reply to a question.
Before You Reach Out
- For donation-specific questions, check the "Get Involved" and "Learn about ways to give" sections first; they may answer common questions about giving.
- For event questions, the Events pages (2026 Annual Gala, Miami Concert) are the relevant starting point.
- OSF describes itself as a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation; financial information is linked from the site's Financials page if you need it for verification or records.
If your question is about a program in a specific country, note that OSF reports serving 34 countries through 81 tech centers — mentioning the location in your email can help route your inquiry faster.
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:
| Metric | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Children helped | 18,000 (shown as "18k") |
| Tech centers | 81 |
| Countries served | 34 |
| Supporters | 1,000+ |
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.
How to Get Involved With or Donate to The Orphaned Starfish Foundation
The Orphaned Starfish Foundation (OSF) offers four main ways to participate, each with its own path on the site: DO (advocacy, fundraising, events), LEARN (understand the mission and history), SHARE (spread the story), and JOIN (giving and joining the movement). If your goal is to donate money, the fastest route is the DONATE button that appears in the site's top navigation and again in the footer. If you want to volunteer time or skills, the "DO" and "Get Involved" sections are where you'll find those options.
Start With the Four Participation Paths
OSF frames involvement around four actions, each with its own "Learn More" link:
| Path | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DO | Advocacy, fundraising, events, and more | People who want to act or organize |
| LEARN | OSF's history and growth since 2001 | People deciding whether to commit |
| SHARE | Sharing the OSF story with your community | People with an audience or network |
| JOIN | Giving and joining a movement supporting 16,000 at-risk kids | People ready to give or formally join |
The homepage also carries a separate "Join the Movement. Learn about ways to give." block, which points to the same giving information.
How to Donate
- Look for the DONATE button in the top navigation bar or the footer. It appears in both places, so you don't need to hunt through menus.
- The homepage also shows a DONATE NOW call to action beneath the main headline ("Together We Can Change the World. JOIN THE MOVEMENT.").
- If you prefer to give through an event, the site lists a 2026 Annual Gala and a Miami Concert under Events.
The site does not publish specific donation amounts, tiers, or payment methods in the material available, so treat the DONATE button as the entry point and follow the giving flow from there.
How to Stay Informed
The homepage has a Stay In Touch sign-up form. Entering your details subscribes you to updates about OSF's work and events. The page confirms success with a "Thanks for signing up!" message and shows an error prompt if the submission fails, so you'll know whether it went through.
You can also follow the Resources section, which includes a Blog and Campaign Materials for sharing or running your own awareness effort.
What OSF Reports About Its Impact
If you're deciding whether to get involved, these are the figures OSF presents on its homepage:
- 18k children helped
- 81 tech centers
- 34 countries served
- 1000+ supporters
- Over 90% of students achieve positive outcomes through its programs
- OSF began operations in 2001 with 34 girls
The organization describes its work as helping orphans, victims of abuse, survivors of trafficking, indigenous children, at-risk youth, and refugees break cycles of abuse and poverty through technology-based education, job training, and job placement assistance. It also notes a CNN Freedom Project feature under "OSF in Action."
Contact and Verification
OSF lists itself as a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation. For questions before giving, or to discuss other involvement:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +1.347.460.8488
- Address: 55 Exchange Place, Suite 402, NY, NY 10005
The footer also links to a Financials page and a Privacy Policy, which are worth checking if you want to review how the organization reports its finances before donating.
Quick Decision Guide
- Want to give money now? Use the DONATE button in the top nav or footer.
- Want to give through an event? Check the Events section for the 2026 Annual Gala and Miami Concert.
- Want to volunteer or fundraise? Start with the "DO" path and the "Get Involved" page.
- Still deciding? Read the "LEARN" section for OSF's history and the "OSF Facts" page for its track record.
- Want updates first? Use the Stay In Touch sign-up on the homepage.
Website Overview
An established domain and managed infrastructure suggest continuity of operations and may support dependable delivery, although neither guarantees service quality. An active inbound-mail setup with incomplete authentication may leave the domain more open to impersonation. Provider hosting alone does not close that gap.
Domain and Registration
Registered in 1988, this domain has about 38 years of history. That suggests continuity, although ownership and purpose may have changed. Transfer-protection status is present, helping reduce the risk of unauthorized domain transfers. The domain uses the common .org extension, which is not an independent safety signal.
DNS and Email
MX records exist, but SPF, DKIM and DMARC were not detected. Protection against domain impersonation may be incomplete. Nameservers are provided by wixdns.net, indicating managed DNS hosting. MX records point to the Google Workspace email service. No CNAME was found; the observed records resolve directly to addresses. TXT records include verification markers for Google. Such markers may also remain after a service stops being used.
TLS and Certificates
The certificate uses an RSA 4096-bit public key, offering broad client compatibility. The server supplied a complete certificate chain. No organization name is present in the certificate; the available fields are consistent with domain validation. The certificate was issued by Let's Encrypt, commonly associated with automated certificate services. The certificate's total validity is about 89 days, consistent with a short renewal cycle.
HTTP and Browser Security
The response lacks these common security headers: Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy. No X-Powered-By header was found, reducing one common source of backend fingerprinting information. No obvious internal addresses or debug information were found in the headers. The Server header identifies nginx without an exact version. No explicit CDN or WAF marker was found in the response headers.
Technology Stack Analysis
The public page identifies jQuery, Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, nginx without precise versions, leaving fewer clues for version-specific scanning.
Search and Social Sharing
The canonical URL points to another host: https://www.osf.org/. Search engines may consolidate indexing signals there. Twitter Card metadata is configured. The title has 32 characters, within a common display range. A meta description is present, with 77 characters. The observed directives allow indexing and link following.
Hosting and Email
Registration details
| Registrar | Network Solutions, LLC |
|---|---|
| Registered | 1988-08-04 |
| Expires | 2027-08-03 |
| Domain status | client transfer prohibited |
| Nameservers | ns0.wixdns.net、ns1.wixdns.net |
| DNSSEC | unsigned |
DNS records
| Type | Name | Value | TTL | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | osf.org | 100.24.208.97 | 3600 | — |
| A | osf.org | 35.172.94.1 | 3600 | — |
| MX | osf.org | aspmx.l.google.com | 3600 | 10 |
| MX | osf.org | alt1.aspmx.l.google.com | 3600 | 20 |
| MX | osf.org | alt2.aspmx.l.google.com | 3600 | 30 |
| MX | osf.org | aspmx2.googlemail.com | 3600 | 40 |
| MX | osf.org | aspmx3.googlemail.com | 3600 | 50 |
| NS | osf.org | ns0.wixdns.net | 86400 | — |
| NS | osf.org | ns1.wixdns.net | 86400 | — |
| TXT | osf.org | google-site-verification=VIeZG70sAGj1vUPLICnL377VunY-skMAOZJsLCjVCkQ | 1800 | — |
TLS and certificates
HTTP response headers
| Header | Value |
|---|---|
| content-type | text/html;charset=utf-8 |
| cache-control | no-cache, must-revalidate |
| server | nginx |
| strict-transport-security | max-age=31536000; preload |
| content-security-policy | frame-ancestors 'self' |
| x-frame-options | SAMEORIGIN |
| x-content-type-options | nosniff |
Identified technologies
Pages, Search and Sharing
| Meta description | Transform lives of at-risk youth through tech education. Join us! Learn more. |
|---|---|
| Canonical URL | https://www.osf.org/ |
| Language | English (default) |
| Twitter Card | summary |
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