Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ELIMINATE THE UNNECESSARY KILLING OF STRAY AND COMPANION ANIMALS IN AND AROUND SANTA PAULA BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES, PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION NEEDED TO REHABILITATE AND RE-HOME THESE ANIMALS.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 12
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
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $1.0 million spent. ANIMAL CARE: SANTA PAULA ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER INC (SPARC) IS A "NO KILL NO EXCUSES" SHELTER; SPARC BELIEVES EVERY ANIMAL HAS VALUE, AND ENDEAVORS TO SAVE AS MANY LIVES POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF HOW BROKEN, INJURED, UNWANTED, OR ABUSED THEY MAY BE. TO THAT END, SPARC PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE WHERE EVERY ANIMAL COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS IS GIVEN THE MEDICAL ATTENTION, CARE, AND TRAINING THEY NEED WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BEING REHOMED. SPARC RESCUES NOT ONLY UNWANTED AND HOMELESS ANIMALS, BUT ALSO ANIMALS FROM KILL SHELTERS AND COMMUNITY SURRENDERED PETS. IN 2025, WE RESCUED A TOTAL OF 650 ANIMALS, 210 WERE SURRENDERED FAMILY PETS, (UP FROM 2024) AND 278 STRAYS OFF THE STREETS. AND SPARC SUCCESSFULLY ADOPTED OUT 500 DOGS, CATS, BIRDS AND A FEW RABBITS. SPARC PAID $100,140 TO OUTSIDE VETERINARY HOSPITALS FOR BOTH EMERGENCY AND STANDARD SERVICES.
- $211,300 spent. SPAY AND NEUTER - AN IMPORTANT PART OF SPARC'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SPAY NEUTER AND VACCINATIONS FOR THEIR PETS. SPAY/NEUTERS HELP REDUCE THE POPULATION OF UNWANTED COMMUNITY ANIMALS OVER TIME. IN 2025, SPARC SPENT $211,300 ON SPAY NEUTERS, VACCINES, MICRO CHIPS AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND LAB TESTING. SPARC CONTINUED TO OFFER FREE SPAY NEUTERS AND VACCINES TO OUR SANTA PAULA COMMUNITY PETS THROUGH MONTHLY VISITS FROM SIMI VALLEY'S SPAY MOBILE UNIT. IN ADDITION, WE EMPLOYED AN ON-SITE VETERINARIAN FOR 3 MONTHS, TO PERFORM SPAY NEUTERS PLUS PERFORM VARIOUS MEDICAL PROCEDURES, BRINGING DOWN OUR OUTSIDE VET HOSPITAL COSTS.
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 December 2012.
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.