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Gateway Pet Guardians

EIN 26-0096240 · E Saint Louis, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Provide affordable, accessible, quality pet resources and champion a thriving pet welfare community to the over 55,000 people who live in the East Side Pet District - East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights Washington Park and Fairmont City.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
48
Volunteers
415
Highest pay
$69,498, executive dir.

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. Intake, Shelter, Foster and Adoption Programs: GPG takes in stray and surrendered animals from residents in the East Side Pet District, including East St. Louis, Cahokia Heights, Washington Park and Fairmont City (zip codes 62201-62207). GPG partners with the local animal control facility, St. Clair County Animal Services, to intake animals as well as intakes directly from individuals. In 2025, GPG processed 1,836 intakes and achieved a 95% save rate. GPG adopted out 1,233 dogs and cats (691 dogs, 542 cats), a 7% increase over 2024, transferred 244 to partner rescue organizations, and reunited 169 pets with their families (22% increase). The average length of stay at adoption was 35 days. GPG completed 52 at-risk dog adoptions, a 160% increase over the prior year, and provided 308 field trips for shelter dogs. Over 762 active fosters contributed 63,899 foster hours with an average of 202 fosters per month. GPG utilized 483 active volunteers who gave 14,022 hours of service valued at $487,825 in in-kind labor.
  2. $486,685 spent. Community Program: At GPG, we firmly believe that every family should be able to have the companionship of a pet even if they have financial restrictions. In 2025, GPG expanded its public clinic to 4 days per week and doubled veterinary staff hours. A total of 944 pets received medical treatment, 477 owned pets and community cats were spayed/neutered at no cost to the owner, and 478 cats were processed through the trap-neuter-return program. Additionally, 1,496 pets received free or low-cost life-saving vaccines, 550 received microchips, and 239 dogs received heartworm treatment. GPG's Pet Spa groomed 1,062 pets during the year. The organization conducted 1,437 community outreach visits, averaging 119 per month. GPG also launched a new Finder-to-Foster program and began providing Emotional Support Animal letter assistance. GPG has become a community partner providing services that were previously never provided in East St. Louis and provides them at a price that is affordable and attainable for pet owners in need.
  3. $121,682 spent. Rescue Bank, now known as the Goods Program, is a partnership with the Greater Good where GPG purchases low-cost pet food and supplies and distributed 603 tons of pet food, litter, and supplies to other rescues in 2025. GPG's Pet Food Pantry served 354 families (a 42% increase over 2024), feeding 1,121 dogs and cats and distributing 107,419 pounds of food and litter. In total, 9,125 cats and dogs were fed through all pantries combined. GPG's retail store sold 153 tons of low-cost bulk pet food. GPG partners with the St. Louis Area Foodbank's Food on the Move program to expand community access to affordable pet food and supplies.

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 October 13, 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 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 2025.

    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 December 2004.

    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.