Heartland Farm Sanctuary Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS, THE EARTH, AND EACH OTHER. WE FULFILL THIS MISSION THROUGH THREE CORE PROGRAMS: FARM ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE, WHICH PROVIDES LIFELONG REHABILITATIVE CARE TO FARM ANIMALS WHO HAVE ENDURED NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT, OR HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO; HUMANE EDUCATION, DESIGNED TO NURTURE CHILDREN'S EMPATHY, APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ALL LIVING THINGS; AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, WHICH UTILIZES THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF NATURE AND ANIMALS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO NOT ONLY FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY BUT ALSO INTERTWINE AND ENHANCE EACH OTHER, CREATING A SANCTUARY WHERE RESPECT AND COMPASSION FLOW IN EVERY DIRECTION.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- -9.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $70,300, executive director
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 69% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 2510 of 10 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
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 (3)
- $525,556 spent. FARM ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE: WE PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN AND LIFELONG REHABILITATIVE CARE TO FARM ANIMALS WHO HAVE ENDURED NEGLECT, ABUSE, OR ABANDONMENT. AS THE FIRST FARM SANCTUARY IN WISCONSIN, WE ARE OFTEN THE LAST HOPE FOR THESE ANIMALS, OFFERING THEM A CHANCE AT A NEW LIFE WHERE THEY ARE RESPECTED AND VALUED AS INDIVIDUALS. WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE CARE FOR 69 ANIMALS ACROSS 14 DIFFERENT SPECIES.
- $480,872 spent. THERAPY: OUR CHILD-LED THERAPY APPROACH UTILIZES THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF NATURE AND ANIMALS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 2 TO 22 WITH MENTAL, NEURODEVELOPMENTAL, AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THERAPEUTIC INTERACTIONS NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE PARTICIPANTS BUT ALSO PROVIDE OUR ANIMALS AND OUR LAND WITH COMPASSIONATE CARE AND ATTENTION.
- $126,727 spent. HUMANE EDUCATION: WE OFFER A RANGE OF CAMPS, CLASSES, FIELD TRIPS, AND CLUBS DESIGNED TO NURTURE CHILDREN'S NATURAL EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND OUR PLANET. THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES, PREPARING THEM TO BE CATALYSTS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE AND WORKING TOWARDS A HEALTHIER WORLD FOR PEOPLE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ANIMALS.
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 July 2010.
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.