Golden Retriever Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO FUND HEALTH RESEARCH IN AREAS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER; TO EDUCATION THE PUBLIC ABOUT RESPONSIBLE GOLDEN RETRIEVER OWNERSHIP; AND TO ASSIST RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS IN PLACEMENT OF DISPLACED GOLDEN RETRIEVERS.
- Income
- $908,708
- Spending
- $712,288
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 93.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 5
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 93.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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.
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 June 30, 2026, 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 (5)
- $124,674 spent. ZEKE CANCER FUND: SPECIFIC TO CANCER RESEARCH (OSTEOSARCOMA, HEMANGIOSARCOMA, AND LYMPHOMA)FOR THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREED. GRANTS GO THROUGH PEER REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERTINENCE OF THE STUDY TO THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER.
- $181,800 spent. GENERAL FUND: PROVIDES GRANTS FOR USE BY RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS WHERE NEEDED MOST. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS ARE USED BY GRF TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER GRF FUNDS AND COVER GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES INCURRED BY GRF.
- $124,205 spent. APRIL FUND: HELPS RESCUE GROUPS DEFRAY VETERINARY EXPENSES FOR ANY PUREBRED GOLDEN RETRIEVER DUE TO A SINGLE, EXTRAORDINARY TREATMENT OR PROCEDURE AND HELPS RESCUE GROUPS WITH VETERINARY COSTS WHEN THE RESCUE GROUP INCURS A SUDDEN INFLUX OF DOGS FROM PUPPY MILLS. THE MAXIMUM PAID PER DOG GRANT REQUEST IS 1,000; MAXIMUM PAID TO ANY ONE RESCUE GROUP DURING THE FISCAL YEAR IS 10,000.
- $165,250 spent. RESCUE FUND: PROVIDES FUNDS FOR GENERAL RESCUE NEEDS INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATING EXPENSES AS WELL AS RESCUE GRANTS. MAXIMUM GRANT IS 15,000. COTTON FUND: PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION OF SENIOR DOGS FOR ADOPTION IF NO AVAILABLE HOMES ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF RESCUE. THE MAXIMUM PAID PER DOG IS 250. RACHEL PAGE ELLIOTT EDUCATION FUND: FOR ADVANCING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE THAT SAFEGUARDS THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND OVERALL INTEGRITY OF THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREED.
- RESCUE FUND: PROVIDES FUNDS FOR GENERAL RESCUE NEEDS INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATING EXPENSES AS WELL AS RESCUE GRANTS. MAXIMUM GRANT IS 15,000. COTTON FUND: PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION OF SENIOR DOGS FOR ADOPTION IF NO AVAILABLE HOMES ARE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF RESCUE. THE MAXIMUM PAID PER DOG IS 250. RACHEL PAGE ELLIOTT EDUCATION FUND: FOR ADVANCING AND DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE THAT SAFEGUARDS THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND OVERALL INTEGRITY OF THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER BREED.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 June 2026.
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 February 1997.
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.