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Stafford Animal Shelter

EIN 36-3432468 · Livingston, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERATION OF ANIMAL SHELTER

Income
$999,251
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
55.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
18
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$56,240, executive di

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 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, 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 (1)
  1. $884,572 spent. THE SHELTER PROVIDES HOUSING AND CARE FOR OVER A THOUSAND SURRENDERED OR STRAY ANIMALS EACH YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VETERINARIANS TO PROVIDE LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES. THE SHELTER DOES NOT EUTHANIZE ANY ADOPTABLE ANIMALS DUE TO LENGTH OF STAY. WHEN EXCESS CAPACITY IS AVAILABLE, THE SHELTER IS ABLE TO ASSIST OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCALITIES, SUCH AS INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, TO HELP FIND HOMES FOR THEIR ANIMALS AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR ANIMALS, THE ORGANIZATION DOES PUBLIC OUTREACH AND INFORMATION TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HUMANE ANIMAL PRACTICES. THE SHELTER OFFERS SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS FRIENDS FOR LIFE FUND, INCLUDING LOW-COST VETERINARY CARE, TRAINING, SUPPLIES, AND PET FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED. IN 2024, STAFFORD WAS ABLE TO TAKE IN A TOTAL OF 1389 ANIMALS(534 CATS, 716 DOGS & 139 MISC OTHER SMALL ANIMALS). 789 OF THOSE ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED TO NEW HOMES AND 185 OF THEM WERE RETURNED TO OWNERS. THE SHELTER HAD A 98% LIFESAVING RATE FOR 2024 IN JUNE OF 2022 THERE WAS CATASTROPHIC FLOODING OF THE NEARBY YELLOWSTONE RIVER. THE SHELTER WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN THE FLOOD AND WAS FORCED TO CLOSE UNTIL IT COULD BE REPAIRED OR REBUILT. ALL OF THE SHELTER ANIMALS WERE RESCUED. OTHER LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE IN COPING WITH THIS SITUATION AND FINDING TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDING THE NECESSARY CARE. THE SHELTER REOPENED IN LIMITED CAPACITY IN OCTOBER 2022. THE SHELTER FULLY REOPENED IN JANUARY 2023, HOWEVER RESTORATION CONTINUED INTO 2024. DONATIONS WERE APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE PRIOR YEAR, DUE PRIMARILY TO AN ESTATE DONATION OF 400,000 IN 2024. THE SHELTER PROVIDES HOUSING AND CARE FOR OVER A THOUSAND SURRENDERED OR STRAY ANIMALS EACH YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VETERINARIANS TO PROVIDE LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES. THE SHELTER DOES NOT EUTHANIZE ANY ADOPTABLE ANIMALS DUE TO LENGTH OF STAY. WHEN EXCESS CAPACITY IS AVAILABLE, THE SHELTER IS ABLE TO ASSIST OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCALITIES, SUCH AS INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, TO HELP FIND HOMES FOR THEIR ANIMALS AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR ANIMALS, THE ORGANIZATION DOES PUBLIC OUTREACH AND INFORMATION TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF HUMANE ANIMAL PRACTICES. THE SHELTER OFFERS SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS FRIENDS FOR LIFE FUND, INCLUDING LOW-COST VETERINARY CARE, TRAINING, SUPPLIES, AND PET FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED. IN 2024, STAFFORD WAS ABLE TO TAKE IN A TOTAL OF 1389 ANIMALS(534 CATS, 716 DOGS & 139 MISC OTHER SMALL ANIMALS). 789 OF THOSE ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED TO NEW HOMES AND 185 OF THEM WERE RETURNED TO OWNERS. THE SHELTER HAD A 98% LIFESAVING RATE FOR 2024 IN JUNE OF 2022 THERE WAS CATASTROPHIC FLOODING OF THE NEARBY YELLOWSTONE RIVER. THE SHELTER WAS BADLY DAMAGED IN THE FLOOD AND WAS FORCED TO CLOSE UNTIL IT COULD BE REPAIRED OR REBUILT. ALL OF THE SHELTER ANIMALS WERE RESCUED. OTHER LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE IN COPING WITH THIS SITUATION AND FINDING TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDING THE NECESSARY CARE. THE SHELTER REOPENED IN LIMITED CAPACITY IN OCTOBER 2022. THE SHELTER FULLY REOPENED IN JANUARY 2023, HOWEVER RESTORATION CONTINUED INTO 2024. DONATIONS WERE APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE PRIOR YEAR, DUE PRIMARILY TO AN ESTATE DONATION OF 400,000 IN 2024.

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 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 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 May 1986.

    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.