Citizens for Animal Protection Inc
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
Citizens for Animal Protection, Inc. (CAP) cares for pets in need through sheltering, adoption, humane education, spay/neuter services, low-cost wellness, and community outreach. CAP fulfills its mission by focusing on enhancing the lives of pets and people in Greater Houston.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 108
- Volunteers
- 351
- Highest pay
- $146,215, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 June 30, 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 (3)
- $3.3 million spent. Shelter and Care Programs provide housing for animals in need of care. The shelter includes animal drop-off, daily care, medical assessment and rehabilitation, and vetted adoptions. In FY25, the shelter took in 4,496 homeless pets and adopted 3,747 pets, for a live release rate of 90%.
- $286,574 spent. The Clinic provides on-site care for animals, performs spay/neuter surgeries for adoptable animals and feral cats for free, and offers the public low-cost wellness and preventive services. The Clinic spayed/neutered 2,753 animals taken in by the shelter for adoption and performed an additional 441 surgeries to support the health and wellness of the animals up for adoption. An additional 2,545 feral cats were spayed/neutered through the FCAP program (onsite and outsourced). The low-cost wellness and preventative services clinic, open to the public, helped 3,116 owned animals.
- $46,406 spent. The Pet Ownership Program delivers humane outreach and educational programs on proper animal care and the plight of animal overpopulation in Houston. Projects include enhancing pet ownership, such as a kids' camp, a kids' club, shelter tours, and pet supply sales. During FY25, our pet supply shop received significant donations to support operations and sales.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 June 1973.
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.