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Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter

EIN 33-0731853 · Palm Springs, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

We are dedicated to building a community responsible for pet stewardship and humane treatment of animals.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$7.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
98
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$193,045, executive director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $5.1 million spent. Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter Friends is a nonprofit 501c3, working tirelessly on behalf of animals since 1996, fundraising, educating, and advocating for animals in need. On November 1, 2012, Friends assumed operations of the City of Palm Springs Animal Shelter. This partnership with the City to operate the shelter paved the way for a new and humane way of caring for shelter pets in the community. Committed to operating as a humane and compassionate animal care and adoption center, the shelter does not euthanize animals for space or for length of stay. As a public, open admissions shelter, Friends provides a safe haven for all animals, those who are readily adoptable, as well as those who require rehabilitation, training, and minor to severe medical treatment. The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is the only public shelter in the Coachella Valley operating under the no-kill philosophy, which, at times, creates a tremendous strain on operations. But we wouldnt do it any other way. Friends depends on the community to adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, and most of all, to believe that by working together, we can save lives. Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter: * takes in lost, stray, abandoned, neglected, abused, and relinquished pets * provides quality medical care and socialization and enrichment to all animals entering the shelter, including neonatal puppies and kittens, and senior and hospice pets, both in the shelter and in loving foster homes * works to find all pets loving forever homes through an affordable, comprehensive yet convenient adoption process, focused on finding the right family for each pet * reunites lost pets with their guardians * provides dog licenses to Palm Springs residents * operates a weekly public low-cost vaccine clinic * provides low-cost microchips to the community * provides low cost/no cost spay neuter services to the entire Coachella Valley through our Fix A Friend program * operates a community Pet Food Bank to help low income, disabled, and/or infirmed Coachella Valley residents feed their beloved pets * manages a Trap-Neuter-Return TNR program, helping to humanely reduce the number of free-roaming cats in the Coachella Valley thereby reducing the number of cats entering the Palm Springs Animal Shelter as well as the Riverside County Animal Shelter * serves as a resource for humane education in the Coachella Valley and beyond, with learning opportunities for animal advocates and volunteers of all ages.
  2. Desert Wildlife Center (rehabilitation) rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned wildlife well as provide education opportunities regarding wildlife .
  3. $915,698 spent. Desert Comm Animal Center (vet clinic)- ower cost veterinaryservices for public owned domestic pets.

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 December 1996.

    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.