Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society Inc

EIN 04-3172322 · Salisbury, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ALL CATS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
44.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
13
Volunteers
162
Highest pay
$95,602, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 (5)
  1. $296,660 spent. MERRIMACK RIVER FELINE RESCUE SOCIETY'S ADOPTION PROGRAM FINDS LOVING HOMES FOR BOTH KITTENS AND ADULT CATS. SINCE INCEPTION IN 1992, WE HAVE PLACED OVER 25,000 CATS IN HOMES. MRFRS IS A "NO KILL" SHELTER AND COMMITS TO NEVER EUTHANIZE A FELINE DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS: THEIR AGE; LACK OF SPACE IN THE SHELTER OR FOSTER HOMES; THE LENGTH OF STAY IN OUR CARE; OR FOR BEHAVORIAL REASONS. MRFRS WILL STILL PRACTICE HUMANE EUTHANASIA WHEN THE QUALITY-OF-LIFE PROGRNOSIS FOR A CAT IS NEGATIVE. MOST CATS ARE KEPT IN A CAGE-FREE ENVIRONMENT. CATS ARE ACCEPTED FROM SURROUNDING TOWNS WITHOUT REGARD FOR AGE OR HEALTH. WE ALSO ACCEPT ANY CAT THAT WE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED OUT THAT IS RETURNED TO US, REGARDLESS OF HEALTH OR AGE. GRANTS AND DONATIONS COVER THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE, VACCINATIONS, NEUTERING, FOOD AND SHELTER. WE OFFER EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC ON THE BENEFITS OF SPAYING/NEUTERING, AS WELL AS ON CAT BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. MERRIMACK RIVER FELINE RESCUE SOCIETY'S ADOPTION PROGRAM FINDS LOVING HOMES FOR BOTH KITTENS AND ADULT CATS. SINCE INCEPTION IN 1992, WE HAVE PLACED OVER 25,000 CATS IN HOMES. MRFRS IS A "NO KILL" SHELTER AND COMMITS TO NEVER EUTHANIZE A FELINE DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS: THEIR AGE; LACK OF SPACE IN THE SHELTER OR FOSTER HOMES; THE LENGTH OF STAY IN OUR CARE; OR FOR BEHAVORIAL REASONS. MRFRS WILL STILL PRACTICE HUMANE EUTHANASIA WHEN THE QUALITY-OF-LIFE PROGRNOSIS FOR A CAT IS NEGATIVE. MOST CATS ARE KEPT IN A CAGE-FREE ENVIRONMENT. CATS ARE ACCEPTED FROM SURROUNDING TOWNS WITHOUT REGARD FOR AGE OR HEALTH. WE ALSO ACCEPT ANY CAT THAT WE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED OUT THAT IS RETURNED TO US, REGARDLESS OF HEALTH OR AGE. GRANTS AND DONATIONS COVER THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE, VACCINATIONS, NEUTERING, FOOD AND SHELTER. WE OFFER EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC ON THE BENEFITS OF SPAYING/NEUTERING, AS WELL AS ON CAT BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
  2. $343,141 spent. MERRIMACK RIVER FELINE RESCUE SOCIETY'S LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM, CALLED THE "CATMOBILE" PROGRAM, IS AVAILABLE TO OWNED KITTENS AND ADULT CATS, AS WELL AS TO CATS FROM OTHER SHELTERS. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 2008, WE HAVE SPAYED OR NEUTERED OVER 77,000 CATS. OUR MOBILE CLINIC SERVES CENTRAL, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. GRANTS AND DONATIONS TO THE PROGRAM ALLOW LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR CAT SPAYED/NEUTERED AT A REDUCED FEE.
  3. $79,758 spent. FELINE ASSISTANCE, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT (FARS) SUBSIDIZES VETERINARY CARE FOR LOW-INCOME CAT OWNERS WHO'S CAT NEEDS SIGNIFICANT, EXPENSIVE MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENT TO ENABLE THOSE CAT OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR PETS IN THEIR HOMES. MRFRS HAS HELPED OVER 850 CATS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION.
  4. $23,286 spent. MRFRS'S CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS FUND (CCF) ASSISTS WITH THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE FOR FREE-ROAMING CATS THAT ARE SICK OR INJURED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. MRFRS ALSO HOLDS PERIODIC CLINICS TO SPAY/NEUTER FERAL CATS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED OR RESCUED BY AREA VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PREVENT THE EXPANSION OF THE FERAL CAT POPULATION IN THE AREA. TO DATE, THE CLINICS HAVE FIXED OVER 15,000 FERAL FELINES, PREVENTING THOUSANDS OF UNWANTED LITTERS.
  5. MRFRS'S CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS FUND (CCF) ASSISTS WITH THE COST OF VETERINARY CARE FOR FREE-ROAMING CATS THAT ARE SICK OR INJURED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. MRFRS ALSO HOLDS PERIODIC CLINICS TO SPAY/NEUTER FERAL CATS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED OR RESCUED BY AREA VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PREVENT THE EXPANSION OF THE FERAL CAT POPULATION IN THE AREA. TO DATE, THE CLINICS HAVE FIXED OVER 15,000 FERAL FELINES, PREVENTING THOUSANDS OF UNWANTED LITTERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.