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Muttnation Foundation Inc

EIN 27-0713907 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
20 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$105,000, 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

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 20.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 138% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. MUTTS ACROSS AMERICA - AN ANNUAL PROGRAM SUPPORTING SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ONE SHELTER IN EVERY STATE IS AWARDED A "SURPRISE" GRANT. SHELTERS ARE RESEARCHED, REVIEWED, VETTED AND SELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BASED ON A VARIETY OF CRITERIA (OUTLINED ON WEBSITE). BEGINNING IN 2022, WITH SUPPORT FROM TRACTOR SUPPLY, THE GRANT WAS INCREASED TO $5,000 FOR EACH SHELTER. APPROXIMATELY 400 SHELTERS HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM THIS PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2015.
  2. DISASTER RELIEF - AS PART OF MUTTNATION'S MISSION, WE HELP SHELTERS AND ANIMALS IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER. THE MAJORITY OF OUR SUPPORT IS GIVEN THROUGH VETTED PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST WITH ANIMAL VACCINATION AND TRANSPORT. TRANSPORT IS PROVIDED TO ANIMALS CURRENTLY IN SHELTERS IN THE IMPACTED AREAS, MOVING THEM TO OTHER COUNTIES AND STATES IN ORDER TO MAKE ROOM FOR PEOPLE'S PETS WHO HAVE BEEN LOST OR SEPARATED FROM THEIR OWNERS DURING THE CRISIS. THIS MAKES IT EASIER FOR OWNERS AND THEIR PETS TO BE REUNITED IN A TIMELY MANNER ONCE THE CRISIS PASSES AND ALSO ALLOWS THE ANIMALS THAT HAD BEEN IN THE LOCAL SHELTERS TO HAVE A NEW CHANCE TO BE ADOPTED IN THEIR NEW LOCATION. PREVIOUSLY MUTTNATION PROVIDED DISASTER RELIEF TO SHELTERS AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WAKE OF DIXIE FIRE, WAVERLY FLOOD, HURRICANE IDA AND THE EF-4.
  3. GENERAL SUPPORT - DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, MANY OF THE IN-PERSON EVENTS MUTTNATION TYPICALLY SPONSOR, AND SUPPORT WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE PLACE. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS MUTTNATION SUPPORTED PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED LOVE HARDER, SHARE THE LOVE, PAWSITIVELY FAMOUS, MUTTNATION FUND AT WAGGLE, AND US WAR DOGS. * LOVE HARDER - RECEIVED A GRANT FROM LIFE OF RILEY AT SPRINGPOINT TO INITIATE THE LOVE HARDER PROGRAM, WHICH ADVANCES THE ADOPTION OF THE HARDEST-TO-GET ADOPTED DOGS (SENIORS, DOGS WITH DISABILITIES, PIT MIXES, AND LARGE DOGS). THE INITIAL CAMPAIGN INCLUDED TELEVISION, RADIO AND BILLBOARD ADS AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL POSTINGS. * SHARE THE LOVE - INDIVIDUALS PLEDGED THEIR TIME TO VOLUNTEER AT THEIR LOCAL SHELTER FOR A DAY. THEIR SELECTED SHELTER WAS THEN ENTERED INTO A RANDOM DRAWING FOR ONE OF THE TWENTY $1,000 GRANTS. THIS GENERATED MORE THAN 5,000 CONFIRMED VOLUNTEERS AND 20 VETTED SHELTERS RECEIVED GRANTS. * PAWSITIVELY FAMOUS - MUTTNATION PROVIDES ANNUAL SUPPORT TO THIS ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS TRANSPORT ABUSED ANIMALS AND ANIMALS THAT ARE AT RISK OF BEING EUTHANIZED. * MUTTNATION FUND AT WAGGLE - THIS FUND ASSISTS WITH MEDICAL BILLS FOR PEOPLE'S PETS WITH UNEXPECTED NEEDS. * US WAR DOGS - MUTTNATION PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THIS ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS WITH EXPENSES FOR MILITARY AND SERVICE DOGS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 2011.

    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 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.