Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LUCKY DOG ANIMAL RESCUE IS A VOLUNTEER-POWERED NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO RESCUING HOMELESS, NEGLECTED, AND ABANDONED ANIMALS FROM CERTAIN EUTHANASIA AND FINDING THEM LOVING FOREVER HOMES. WE EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND ALL PET OWNERS ON RESPONSIBLE PET PARENTING, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF SPAY/NEUTER, OBEDIENCE TRAINING, AND GOOD NUTRITION.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 27.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 2,000
- Highest pay
- $253,225, ceo
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 256 of 7 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 (1)
- $2.5 million spent. ADOPTION PROGRAM:LUCKY DOG ANIMAL RESCUE'S CENTRAL PROGRAM IS OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. LUCKY DOG'S ADOPTIONS REMAINS THE CORE OF OUR ANIMAL PROGRAMS. 2025 WAS THE STRONGEST YEAR FOR ADOPTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC ADOPTION BOOM IN 2020. 3,175 DOGS AND CATS FOUND LOVING HOMES THROUGH OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. OF THOSE PETS, 1,795 WERE DOGS AND 1,381 WERE CATS. DURING THAT TIME, WE SAVED 3,512 ANIMALS FROM HIGH KILL SHELTERS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, TEXAS, MISSISSIPPI, FLORIDA, AND PUERTO RICO. BY THE END OF 2025, LUCKY DOG HAD SAVED MORE THAN 33,000 ANIMALS SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN MAY 2009. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE DOGS AND CATS WERE PLACED IN CAREFULLY SCREENED, LOVING ADOPTIVE HOMES. THOSE THAT WERE NOT ADOPTED IN 2024, REMAINED IN FOSTER CARE INTO 2025, WHERE THEY STAYED UNTIL THEY FOUND THEIR OWN ADOPTIVE HOMES. IN 2025, LUCKY DOG HAD A 100% SUCCESS RATE, MEANING THAT ALL ADOPTABLE DOGS AND CATS RESCUED WERE SUCCESSFULLY ADOPTED OR PLACED IN A LONG-TERM FOSTER SITUATION.FOSTER PROGRAM:LUCKY DOG'S FOSTER PROGRAM IS CRITICAL TO OUR ABILITY TO SAVE DOGS FROM HIGH KILL SHELTERS. BECAUSE LUCKY DOG HAS NO FACILITY OF ITS OWN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, THE NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS WE CAN RESCUE OUT OF THE SHELTERS IS DIRECTLY DEPENDENT ON THE NUMBER OF FOSTER HOMES WE HAVE TO PLACE THEM IN. IN 2025, WE ON BOARDED 1,230 NEW FOSTERS, UTILIZING OUR VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON TRAININGS. FOSTERING A LUCKY DOG OR CAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL COMMITMENT, OPENING YOUR HOME UP TO THE ANIMAL, PROVIDING HIM OR HER FOOD AND SHELTER, ATTENDING ADOPTION EVENTS, AND HELPING YOUR DOG OR CAT FIND THE RIGHT HOME.VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:WITHOUT LUCKY DOG'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION COULD NOT OPERATE. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER MANY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE ANIMALS FROM HOME AS WELL. THROUGHOUT 2025, VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE ADOPTION EVENTS AND FUNDRAISERS, DRIVE DOGS FROM THE SHELTERS TO WASHINGTON D.C., TRANSPORT DOGS TO AND FROM ADOPTION EVENTS, HANDLE DOGS AT ADOPTION EVENTS, FOSTER DOGS, MAINTAIN THE WEBSITE, AND COMPLETE ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK THAT MAKES THE ORGANIZATION RUN. AT OUR SOUTH CAROLINA RESCUE CAMPUS, VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH LAUNDRY, DOG WALKING, AND KENNEL CLEANING. IN 2025, LUCKY DOG ADDED MORE THAN 2,407 VOLUNTEERS TO ITS ROSTER, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF LUCKY DOG ADOPTERS WHICH IS A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE RESCUE.EDUCATION PROGRAM:LUCKY DOG NOT ONLY STRIVES TO PLACE PETS IN LOVING FOREVER HOMES, WE ARE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE DC COMMUNITY ABOUT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP. OUR VOLUNTEERS WORK VERY HARD TO EDUCATE NEW ADOPTERS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER ADOPTING A DOG OR CAT, AS WELL AS PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT TO ADOPTERS AS THEY TRANSITION ANIMALS INTO THEIR HOMES. IN ADDITION, WE ADDED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO OUR WEBSITE ADDRESSING EVERYTHING FROM TRAINING TO NUTRITION TO COMMON VETERINARY AILMENTS. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, LUCKY DOG REGULARLY BRINGS SCHOOL GROUPS TO OUR PROPERTY TO LEARN ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE DO'S AND DON'T'S OF PET OWNERSHIP. IN 2025, WE BEGAN HOLDING REGULAR VACCINE CLINICS AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA NOT ONLY LEARN ABOUT BUT HAVE ACCESS TO CORE VACCINES FOR THEIR PETS.YOUTH PROGRAM:LUCKY DOG WORKS HARD TO ENSURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF PET OWNERS LEARN EARLY ABOUT THE VALUE OF ADOPTION, HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR DOGS AND CATS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERISM. OUR YOUTH PROGRAM ENGAGES CHILDREN OF ALL AGES IN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, AND IN BAKE SALES. IN ADDITION, OUR JUNIOR EVENTS VOLUNTEERS HELP OUR STAFF KEEP ADOPTION EVENTS RUNNING. IN ADDITION, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF VISIT SCHOOLS, GIRL SCOUT AND BOY SCOUT TROOPS, AND OTHER YOUTH GROUPS TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS AND GET OUR YOUTH ENGAGED. OUR YOUTH HAVE EVEN FORMED "LUCKY DOG CLUBS" IN THEIR SCHOOLS. WITH THE OPENING OF OUR SOUTH CAROLINA RESCUE CAMPUS, WE NOT ONLY VISIT SCHOOLS, BUT THEY COME TO VISIT US.ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE PROGRAM:IN 2025, LUCKY DOG MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY FACING SPAY/NEUTER OFFERINGS AS WELL AS OUR FREE VACCINE AND MICROCHIP CLINICS. THIS YEAR, WE SPAYED AND NEUTERED 2,408 DOGS AND CATS. WE HELD FOUR VACCINE CLINICS AND PROVIDED THE COMMUNITY WITH 1,741 VACCINES AND 624 MICROCHIPS.
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 November 6, 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 2009.
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 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.