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Pongo Fund

EIN 27-0646992 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PONGO FUND PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY PET FOOD AND VITAL VETERINARY CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED INCLUDING SENIORS, VETERANS, THE LOW INCOME, THE UNEMPLOYED, THE DISABLED, THE HUNGRY, THE HURTING, THE HOMELESS AND GOOD PEOPLE FACING THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$828,507
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
1
Volunteers
560
Highest pay
$92,538, ceo, e.d., treasurer, & 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $789,687 spent. DURING THIS PAST YEAR THE PONGO FUND HELPED SAVE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF HUNGRY AND HURTING ANIMALS, CONTINUING OUR LIFESAVING WORK BUILT ON THE REALITY THAT HUNGRY AND HURTING PEOPLE HAVE HUNGRY AND HURTING PETS. AND THAT'S WHY THE PONGO FUND EXISTS, TO HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS BY KEEPING THEM SAFE IN THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF THE SHELTERS BY PROVIDING THE CARE THAT THEIR FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD. WITH COMPASSION AS OUR GUIDE WE DELIVER AN ARRAY OF CRITICAL SERVICES INCLUDING HIGH QUALITY PET FOOD AND VETERINARY CARE REFERRAL, GIVEN FREE OF CHARGE THROUGHOUT THE LOW INCOME, HOMELESS AND SOCIAL SERVICE COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.) WE HELP THE ANIMALS OF PROUD SENIORS, BRAVE VETERANS, THE VICTIMIZED, THE MARGINALIZED, THE UNEMPLOYED, THE DISABLED, THE MENTALLY ILL, THE HUNGRY, THE HURTING, THE HOMELESS, AND GOOD PEOPLE FACING THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES. TO DATE, OUR VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN 40 MILLION MEALS AND HELPED MORE THAN 244,000 ANIMALS WITH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS INCLUDING OUR PET FOOD BANK, VETERINARY CARE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM AND MORE, ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO DELIVER AN ARRAY OF SERVICES FOCUSED ON HELPING WHEN HELP IS NEEDED. FROM A NETWORK OF SATELLITE LOCATIONS WE PROVIDED MILLIONS OF PET FOOD MEALS THIS PAST YEAR WHILE ALSO PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF FREE SERVICES INCLUDING VETERINARY CARE FOR ANIMALS WITH BASIC AND ADVANCED SURGERIES, DENTALS, SPAY, NEUTER, LABWOK, X-RAY, EXAMINATIONS, VACCINATIONS, MEDICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND MORE. OUR WORK IS A PROVEN BEST PRACTICES MODEL FOCUSED ON SAVING LIVES AND REDUCING SHELTER POPULATIONS. AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE A DIRECT REFERRAL PARTNER FOR DOZENS OF LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, CITY AND COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORKS, MEALS ON WHEELS, RED CROSS, HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES, ASPCA, BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY, OREGON HUMANE SOCIETY, HUMANE SOCIETY OF SW WASHINGTON, FEEDING AMERICA, OREGON FOOD BANK, HOME FORWARD, NORTHWEST HOUSING ALTERNATIVES, TRANSITION PROJECTS, DOVE LEWIS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, LINES FOR LIFE SUICIDE HOTLINE, OHSU/VA HOSPITAL, OREGON HEALTH PLAN, 211, OSU CARLSON COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, AND MANY MORE. QUITE SIMPLY, THE PONGO FUND GIVES A CHANCE TO ANIMALS THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE A CHANCE AND GIVES HOPE TO FAMILIES WHO OFTEN HAVE LITTLE ELSE TO BE HOPEFUL FOR. BECAUSE SOMETIMES, WE ALL CAN USE A LITTLE EXTRA HELP.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.