Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuaryinc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO INCREASE HUMANITY'S CAPACITY TO CARE FOR ITS COMPANION ANIMALS.
- Income
- $916,712
- Spending
- $812,630
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 229
- Highest pay
- $38,616, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $628,587 spent. IN 2024, OUR COMMUNITY OF 229 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED AN EXTRAORDINARY 28,985 HOURS OF SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF HEA'S MISSION TO INCREASE HUMANITY'S CAPACITY TO CARE FOR ITS COMPANION ANIMALS. THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TOUCHED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR WORK --FROM DIRECT ANIMAL CARE AND FOSTERING, TO ADOPTION SUPPORT AND SPAY/NEUTER OUTREACH.THROUGH OUR SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM, 464 COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS PARTNERED WITH US TO COMPLETE 1,493 SURGERIES, PREVENTING THE BIRTH OF COUNTLESS UNWANTED LITTERS AND REDUCING THE STRAIN ON BOTH FAMILIES AND SHELTERS. THE NUMBER OF OFFSPRING PREVENTED IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 142 YEARS OF HEA'S FELINE INTAKE. IN PARALLEL, 76 FOSTER HOMES OPENED THEIR DOORS TO 453 ANIMALS IN NEED, PROVIDING THEM WITH SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS DURING THEIR TRANSITION TO ADOPTERS' HOMES.OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM CELEBRATED 599 PLACEMENTS, BRINGING JOY AND COMPANIONSHIP TO 510 FAMILIES WHILE ENSURING THAT EACH ANIMAL FOUND A LOVING HOME. EVERY ADOPTION REPRESENTS A TANGIBLE DEMONSTRATION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S GROWING COMMITMENT TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND THEIR ROLE IN IT.TOGETHER, THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ILLUSTRATE THE POWER OF COMPASSION IN ACTION. BY MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS, SUPPORTING FAMILIES, AND DIRECTLY IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS, WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR ITS COMPANION ANIMALS, FULFILLING BOTH THE SPIRIT AND PRACTICE OF OUR MISSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.