Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
1) TO PROVIDE A NON-PROFIT RESCUE/REHABILITATION CENTER FOR INJURED/ORPHANED INDIGENOUS WILDLIFE FOR RELEASE BACK INTO THE WILD. 2) TO PROVIDE A NON-PROFIT PERMANENT CENTER FOR NON-RELEASABLE AND EXOTIC ANIMALS. 3) TO ESTABLISH A NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM UTILIZING THE ANIMALS, THE CENTER, AND THE LOCAL AREA SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $646,010
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 7.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 96
- Highest pay
- $78,806, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 61% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $701,345 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES RESCUE AND REHABILITATION FOR INJURED AND ORPHANED NATIVE WILDLIFE FOR REINTRODUCTION AND LIFELONG CARE TO NON-RELEASABLE BIG CATS, BEARS AND SMALL WILD FELIDS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR RESCUES WERE PREVIOUSLY OWNED PETS, USED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, OR SURRENDERED OR SEIZED FROM ROADSIDE ZOOS AND OTHER SUBSTANDARD FACILITIES. SAFE HAVEN HAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING LIFELONG CARE TO 46 ANIMALS INCLUDING SEVERAL BIG CATS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL SEIZURE. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO PROVIDING LIFELONG CARE TO BIG CATS "RETIRED" FROM ACCREDITED ZOOS, THAT PREVIOUSLY WERE USED IN SSP BREEDING PROGRAMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING GENETIC DIVERSITY TO HELP INCREASE WILD POPULATIONS FOR CONSERVATION PUPOSES.
- $278,819 spent. OUR ONSITE AND OFFSITE EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OF OUR MISSION. OUR PRESENTATIONS PLACE EMPHASIS ON THE EXOTIC PET TRADE AND WHY WILD ANIMALS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE AS PETS AND THEIR IMPACT ON WILD POPULATIONS. OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES GRADUATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SKILLS AND SUPPORT OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND TOURS. GRANT FUNDING AND A FALL/WINTER MATCHING CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 40' X 100' TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED BUILDING TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR THE ANIMALS IN THE EVENT OF CLIMATE-RELATED EMERGENCIES INCLUDING EXCESSIVE HEAT AND WILDFIRE SMOKE. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN 2023.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.