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Ruff Start Rescue Inc

EIN 27-2545988 · Princeton, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RUFF START RESCUE IS DEDICATED TO SAVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS IN NEED. WE IMPROVE ANIMAL WELFARE IN COMMUNITIES THROUGH ADOPTION, EDUCATION, AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND PETS.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
50
Volunteers
650
Highest pay
$139,641, executive di

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 25

    11 of 13 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

    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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.5 million spent. RESCUE AND ADOPTION EACH YEAR RSR HELPS THOUSANDS OF COMPANION ANIMALS BY FOSTERING QUALITY CARE AND PLACING THEM IN LOVING ADOPTIVE HOMES. IN 2025, RSR RESCUED A RECORD BREAKING 3,773 ANIMALS INCLUDING 1,570 DOGS, 2,028 CATS, AND 139 CRITTERS. IN ADDITION TO RSR'S STAFF, RESCUE EFFORTS ARE LARGELY SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEER INTAKE TEAMS WHO CONTRIBUTED AN AVERAGE 1,122 HOURS TOWARDS INTAKE INITIATIVES EACH MONTH. RSR PROVIDES EACH ANIMAL IN RESCUE WITH QUALITY VETERINARY CARE AND FOSTER HOME PLACEMENTS THROUGH ADOPTION. IN 2025, MORE THAN 2,194 ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FOSTER HOMES PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO EACH ANIMAL ENSURING THEIR WELL-BEING. RSR'S IN-HOUSE VETERINARY TEAM COMPLETED 2,370 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES, 56 SPECIAL MEDICAL PROCEDURES, 42 HEARTWORM TREATMENTS, 131 DENTAL PROCEDURES, AND 46 TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN SURGERIES. IN 2025, 3,587 ANIMALS WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN LOVING ADOPTIVE HOMES. RESCUE AND ADOPTION EACH YEAR RSR HELPS THOUSANDS OF COMPANION ANIMALS BY FOSTERING QUALITY CARE AND PLACING THEM IN LOVING ADOPTIVE HOMES. IN 2025, RSR RESCUED A RECORD BREAKING 3,773 ANIMALS INCLUDING 1,570 DOGS, 2,028 CATS, AND 139 CRITTERS. IN ADDITION TO RSR'S STAFF, RESCUE EFFORTS ARE LARGELY SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEER INTAKE TEAMS WHO CONTRIBUTED AN AVERAGE 1,122 HOURS TOWARDS INTAKE INITIATIVES EACH MONTH. RSR PROVIDES EACH ANIMAL IN RESCUE WITH QUALITY VETERINARY CARE AND FOSTER HOME PLACEMENTS THROUGH ADOPTION. IN 2025, MORE THAN 2,194 ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FOSTER HOMES PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO EACH ANIMAL ENSURING THEIR WELL-BEING. RSR'S IN-HOUSE VETERINARY TEAM COMPLETED 2,370 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES, 56 SPECIAL MEDICAL PROCEDURES, 42 HEARTWORM TREATMENTS, 131 DENTAL PROCEDURES, AND 46 TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN SURGERIES. IN 2025, 3,587 ANIMALS WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN LOVING ADOPTIVE HOMES.
  2. $5,051 spent. EDUCATION RSR BELIEVES EDUCATION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO RESPONSIBLE GUARDIANSHIP OF COMPANION ANIMALS AND ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE AND COMPASSIONATE PET OWNERS AND ANIMAL ADVOCATES. RSR DELIVERS AGE-APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ON TOPICS INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF SPAY/NEUTER, ANIMAL SAFETY, PET CARE, RESCUE, AND ADOPTION. THROUGH CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, PRESENTATIONS TO YOUTH AND ADULT ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, AND UNIQUE PROGRAMMING, RSR'S EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS REACHED OVER 12,475 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2013. IN 2025, 65 EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED STATEWIDE REACHING 1,678 YOUTH AND 556 ADULTS.
  3. $97,806 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RSR IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING RESIDENT ANIMAL WELFARE, REDUCING OWNER SURRENDERS, AND STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PETS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN NEED. IN 2025, RSR EXPANDED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES THAT HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE CHALLENGES, REDUCE BARRIERS TO PET CARE, AND KEEP PETS SAFE AT HOME. RSR CONTRIBUTED OVER 41,300 LBS OF PET FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES, LOCAL SHELTERS, FOOD BANKS, AND ANIMAL RESCUES. THROUGH THE OWNER SURRENDER PREVENTION PROGRAM, RSR AWARDED 3,900 IN MINI GRANTS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO FAMILIES FACING TEMPORARY FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. IN APRIL, RSR HELD ITS 12TH COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLINIC OFFERING LOW-COST VACCINATIONS AND PREVENTATIVE CARE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THEIR PETS SERVING 212 DOGS AND 72 CATS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RSR IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING RESIDENT ANIMAL WELFARE, REDUCING OWNER SURRENDERS, AND STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PETS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING RESOURCES TO SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN NEED. IN 2025, RSR EXPANDED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES THAT HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE CHALLENGES, REDUCE BARRIERS TO PET CARE, AND KEEP PETS SAFE AT HOME. RSR CONTRIBUTED OVER 41,300 LBS OF PET FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES, LOCAL SHELTERS, FOOD BANKS, AND ANIMAL RESCUES. THROUGH THE OWNER SURRENDER PREVENTION PROGRAM, RSR AWARDED 3,900 IN MINI GRANTS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO FAMILIES FACING TEMPORARY FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. IN APRIL, RSR HELD ITS 12TH COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLINIC OFFERING LOW-COST VACCINATIONS AND PREVENTATIVE CARE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THEIR PETS SERVING 212 DOGS AND 72 CATS.
  4. RUFF START RESCUE (RSR), A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT FOSTER-BASED ANIMAL RESCUE INCORPORATED IN MINNESOTA ON MAY 6, 2010, IS DEDICATED TO SAVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS IN NEED BY IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE IN COMMUNITIES THROUGH ADOPTION, EDUCATION, AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND PETS. RSR'S VISION IS TO STRIVE FOR A WORLD WHERE EVERY COMPANION ANIMAL HAS A SAFE AND LOVING HOME AND THEIR FAMILY HAS THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO GIVE THEM THE LIFE THEY DESERVE. RSR'S MISSION IS DRIVEN BY FIVE CORE VALUES: COMPASSION, COMMITMENT, CONNECTION, INNOVATION, AND AUTHENTICITY. RSR DOES NOT RECEIVE STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING AND RELIES ON GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM PRIVATE DONORS, FUNDRAISING REVENUE, AND ADOPTION FEES. RSR IS LOCATED IN PRINCETON, MN AND FOCUSES ON RESCUE THROUGHOUT LOCAL MIDWEST COMMUNITIES AND SOUTHERN STATES WITH ABUNDANT STRAY POPULATIONS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2010, THROUGH RESCUE EFFORTS AND ADOPTION PLACEMENTS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, RSR HAS SAVED 32,174 ANIMALS, REACHED 12,475 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND CONTRIBUTED OVER 89,571 LBS OF PET FOOD & SUPPLIES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOOD BANKS & SHELTERS, AND ANIMAL RESCUES.

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

  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 2025.

    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 August 2010.

    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.