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Claws Inc

EIN 30-0262797 · Chapel Hill, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our primary exempt purpose is threefold - wildlife rehabilitation, conservation education and exotic animal rescue.

Income
$56,705
Spending
$55,970
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Highest pay
$12,077, treasurer

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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)
  1. $33,670 spent. Our primary exempt purpose is threefold, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation education and exotic animal rescue. It is impossible to categorize expenses by program because care for all the animals and birds is done together. Service Accomplishments 1) Wildlife Rehabilitation - We provide a free service to the public to rehabilitate sick, orphaned, and injured wildlife as well as provide wildlife information and education via a telephone hotline. We are permitted to rehabilitate songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, and small mammals and rabies vector species (raccoon, fox, skunk, and bat). In the year 2025, we received 2333 phone calls resulting in our taking in 524 animal and birds. 2) Conservation Education - Through outreach programs to schools, both public and private, homeschool groups, nursing homes, day cares, summer camps and other locations as appropriate, we incorporate our permanent live birds and mammals (those which are non-releasable and for which we hold educational permits) to teach people about many different wild species found locally and around the world. In the year 2025 we held 84 programs/events which were seen by approximately 42280 people. 3) Exotic Animal Rescue - We also take in exotic animals that need to be removed from their current situation. There are not many other rescues that can do this. This can be for one of several reasons - a) An animal that may not legally be kept as a pet and by law must be relinquished by its owner. b) A legally owned exotic pet that has become too difficult or inconvenient for its owner. c) A non-native animal that is found and must be taken in for legal or safety reasons. d) We also work with the state and local government to temporarily house wild and/or exotic animals that are involved in legal disputes. In the year 2025 we rescued 20 animals/birds for 1 person.

Source: Form 990EZ 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 March 2021.

    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 November 4, 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.