The Sato Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE PLIGHT OF PUERTO RICO'S ESTIMATED 650,000 STRAY DOGS, AND TO REDUCE THEIR NUMBER THROUGH RESCUE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $124,100, president
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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, 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 (2)
- $1.7 million spent. THE SATO PROJECT, INC. IS A NEW YORK NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH IS DEDICATED TO RESCUING ABUSED AND ABANDONED DOGS IN PUERTO RICO, LOCALLY REFERRED TO AS "SATOS". DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF OPERATION, THE EFFORTS WERE FOCUSED ON A PLACE KNOWN AS "DEAD DOG BEACH" IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF YABUCOA, ONE OF THE ISLAND'S POOREST. SINCE HURRICANE MARIA IN 2017, THE ORGANIZATION HAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THEIR RESCUE EFFORTS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS RESCUED OVER 8,000 DOGS TO DATE, REHABILITATED THEM WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF VETERINARY CARE, AND PLACED THEM IN LOVING HOMES IN THE MAINLAND U.S.
- $289,006 spent. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ADDRESSES THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF THE ISLAND'S SEVERE OVERPOPULATION CRISIS BY PROVIDING NO-COST SPAY, NEUTER, AND VACCINATION SERVICES THROUGH ITS OPERATION SATO PROGRAM. ITS MAIN GOAL IS SIMPLE: DISRUPT THE OVERPOPULATION CRISIS IN PUERTO RICO WITH A SYSTEMIC INTERVENTION ON OVERBREEDING AND THE TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE, FOR BOTH OWNED AND STRAY DOGS. OPERATION SATO OFFERS REGULAR HIGH-VOLUME MOBILE CLINICS IN LOCATIONS AROUND THE SOUTHEAST SECTION OF THE ISLAND, AS WELL AS 250 VOUCHERS PER MONTH FOR IN-CLINIC STERILIZATION/VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS. EACH DOG TREATED IN OUR PROGRAM RECEIVES OVER $650 WORTH OF CRUCIAL VETERINARY SERVICES, COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE TO OWNERS WHOSE DOGS ARE REMAINING ON ISLAND AND TO STRAY CARETAKERS. TO DATE, THE ORGANIZATION HAS PROVIDED FREE SERVICES TO OVER 4,500 ANIMALS THROUGH OPERATION SATO.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.