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Lets Be Smart Inc

EIN 20-4051556 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

AIMS TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ANIMALS BY RAISING THE AWARENESS LEVEL FOR THEIR RIGHTS, WELL-BEING, AND CARE. THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE CARE OF ANIMALS THROUGH EVENTS AND HOPES TO FOSTER THE PRACTICE OF UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION WITH ANIMALS. PROMOTING ADOPTION/FOSTERING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT AIM TO IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOOD OF ANIMALS AND SUPPORT SANCTUARIES AND OTHER PROJECTS, ARE INTEGRAL PART OF OUR MISSION.

Income
$153,031
Spending
$154,539
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $117,975 spent. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. STEPS IN TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION, PRACTICAL FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ANIMALS, HOW TO CARE FOR THEM, AND THE BENEFITS HUMANS REAP FROM ENGAGING WITH THEM. OUR PAWZITIVE PROGRAM AND PUBLISHING VARIOUS EDUCATION MATERIAL PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ANIMALS AND THEIR RELATION TO HUMAN BEINGS FOR SOCIAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. ALSO RUNS A SHELTER IN GREECE WHICH WORKS TO RESCUE CATS IN NEED AND FIND ADOPTIVE, LOVING FOREVER HOMES. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. ORGANIZES A VARIETY OF EVENTS DESIGNED TO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF FACILITATING AND ENCOURAGING THE RESPONSIBLE CARE OF ANIMALS. ALL OF OUR EVENTS PAIR HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES WITH EDUCATION ABOUT ANIMAL BENEFITS. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. FOCUSES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLUTION-MINDED PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE EDUCATION ABOUT HOW TO CARE FOR ANIMALS ON A LIMITED BUDGET OR SMALL LIVING QUARTERS, AND PROPER STRAY CARE AND PET CARE. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. STEPS IN TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION, PRACTICAL FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ANIMALS, HOW TO CARE FOR THEM, AND THE BENEFITS HUMANS REAP FROM ENGAGING WITH THEM. OUR PAWZITIVE PROGRAM AND PUBLISHING VARIOUS EDUCATION MATERIAL PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ANIMALS AND THEIR RELATION TO HUMAN BEINGS FOR SOCIAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. ALSO RUNS A SHELTER IN GREECE WHICH WORKS TO RESCUE CATS IN NEED AND FIND ADOPTIVE, LOVING FOREVER HOMES. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. ORGANIZES A VARIETY OF EVENTS DESIGNED TO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF FACILITATING AND ENCOURAGING THE RESPONSIBLE CARE OF ANIMALS. ALL OF OUR EVENTS PAIR HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES WITH EDUCATION ABOUT ANIMAL BENEFITS. LET'S BE S.M.A.R.T. FOCUSES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLUTION-MINDED PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE EDUCATION ABOUT HOW TO CARE FOR ANIMALS ON A LIMITED BUDGET OR SMALL LIVING QUARTERS, AND PROPER STRAY CARE AND PET CARE.

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

  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 October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2017.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.