Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YELLOWSTONE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND BY PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE AND HIGH-QUALITY CARE, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 185
- Highest pay
- $80,139, executive director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 61% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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)
- $1.3 million spent. YELLOWSTONE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER (YVAS) IS THE LARGEST-VOLUME SHELTER IN MONTANA, INTAKING OVER 5,000 ANIMALS ANNUALLY. YVAS MAINTAINS CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF BILLINGS, YELLOWSTONE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE CARE FOR LOST & TRANSITIONING ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITY. YVAS'S MAIN GOALS ARE TO QUICKLY REUNITE LOST PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHILE FINDING NEW, LOVING HOMES FOR ANY UNCLAIMED OR SURRENDERED PETS. ALL OF THE SHELTER'S ANIMALS ARE FULLY VETTED PRIOR TO ADOPTION, RECEIVING THEIR AGE-APPROPRIATE VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPS, AND ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED. ANIMALS WHO ARE UNDERAGE, SICK, OR INJURED ENTER YVAS'S FOSTER PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN RECUPERATE BEFORE BEING MEDICALLY CLEARED FOR ADOPTION. NOT ONLY DOES YVAS HELP TO FACILITATE ADOPTIONS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS AND REUNITE LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS, BUT THEY'VE ALSO EXPANDED MANY OF THEIR PUBLIC SERVICES. FROM OBEDIENCE CLASSES TO LOW-COST VETERINARY SERVICES FOR OWNED ANIMALS, A FREE PET FOOD & SUPPLY PANTRY, TO SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN - IT IS YVAS'S VISION TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY ANIMAL IS CARED FOR. YVAS PLACED MORE THAN 95 PERCENT OF THE ANIMALS ENTRUSTED TO THEIR CARE, FACILITATED ADOPTIONS, AND SERVED THOUSANDS OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY FAMILIES THROUGH FREE AND AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE AND PETS.
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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 April 2009.
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 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.