Lilys Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide a safe and loving home for senior large breed dogs who have been displaced from their homes and/or abandoned for any reason, until they are adopted or to remain at the sanctuary until they pass on.
- Income
- $967,518
- Spending
- $866,404
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 16.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 40
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 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, 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 (1)
- $681,161 spent. Our 2025 total revenue was $974,372. Our total revenue average over the previous 4 years is $860,886. Our net total assets at the end of 2025 are $2,882,389.Lily's Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary is committed to maintaining a 24-month operating reserve which totals $1,721,722 ($860,886 x 2) to ensure no interruption of our services to the community, either due to economic downturn, unexpected urgent needs, or natural disaster. Both shelters and dog owners throughout the state rely on us for assistance and resources.Funds will support the expansion of our foster program which allows for rescuing more dogs and addressing the additional veterinary expenses for an increased number of dogs in our program.Funds will also support our making necessary improvements to the sanctuary such as a re-configuring one of our current kennels to provide a separate isolation kennel to accommodate dogs who come to us with kennel cough or other communicable diseases, to give them a secure place to recover while keeping our other dogs safe.Lily's Legacy has been fortunate to have the benefit of our Founder and full-time Executive Director, Alice Mayn, who has volunteered her time and expertise since the organization's beginning in 2009. In the next few years, she will be phasing out of her full-time position. In enacting our Succession Plan, we have hired a full-time paid Assistant Executive Director, a full-time Dog Behavior Specialist, a full-time paid veterinary assistant and a part time administrative assistant. With these staff roles in place, we are investing in our staff to ensure continuation of our programs and to develop and refine new programs, including expanded training for our staff and volunteers, enabling them to be more effective. With this support, we will be positioned to continue to carry out our mission and goals successfully now and into the future.
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
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 December 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 August 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 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.