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Ferret Association of Connecticut Inc

EIN 06-1386567 · Hartford, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Ferret Association of Connecticut focuses on the welfare of domestic ferrets. To improve their lives, we provide factual information to caretakers, advocate for their protection and safe treatment, operate a species-specific shelter for ferrets lost or abandoned, work to identify, contact, and accept ferrets released from medical research facilities, and provide technical support for other organizations sheltering domestic ferrets.

Income
$107,519
Spending
$78,406
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
114.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
2
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$19,890, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 114.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $33,097 spent. Shelter services: Dedicated shelter for lost or abandoned domestic ferrets; permanent Foster care of ill/elderly animals. In 2025, 46 animals were accepted into the shelter. 13 were surrendered directly from southern New England owners unable/unwilling to provide care. 3 had been abandoned outdoors; 2 were transferred in from Animal Control. 22 were released from medical research facilities. 6 animals came directly to our shelter from the 62 total rescued from a breeder in Canada. Disbursement: 7 animals were transferred to partner shelters. 29 were adopted into carefully-screened new homes and 7 were placed into permanent Foster care. An average of 18.4 animals were cared for in 2025 under this unique program, which places animals unlikely to be adopted due to age or illness into a screened volunteer home, where they live for the rest of their lives and are financially supported by the organization. As of December 31, 2025, the Ferret Association has cared for 2,431 ferrets over the course of our 35-year history.
  2. $11,297 spent. Public education: Website, print newsletter, info request responses. An average of 50 individuals per month request health, care or behavior information and are answered free of charge. Inquiries are generated via our website, Facebook, and phone. Our Facebook page has over 5,000 followers across 10 countries. 5 issues per year of an informational newsletter, Paw Printz, is printed & published.
  3. $19,066 spent. The Ferret Association initiated and managed a coordinated effort to rescue 62 ferrets from a breeder in Manitoba Province, Canada, who was being investigated by provincial authorities for inhumane practices. Working closely with the Manitoba Ferret Association (Winnipeg, Canada), we were able to help these animals obtain vaccinations, be spay/neutered, and distributed to 9 different ferret shelters both in Canada and the U.S.
  4. $2,548 spent. Support for other ferret shelter includes The Ferret Shelters Directory. The Directory (www.ferretshelters.org) is an online, searchable database of places that accept and place ferrets. Created & administered by the Ferret Association, listings are free for shelters and public users. In 2025, there were 49,000 site views of the Ferret Shelters Directory site.

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

  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 December 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 June 1995.

    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.