Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF OVERPOPULATION OF ANIMALS BY PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION, SHELTER, AND SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES FOR ANIMALS IN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 19.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 2
- 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
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 (3)
- $935,307 spent. Rescue/Transport program - Founded in 2011, Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team's(aka START Rescue) goal has been to reduce euthanasia rates of adoptable pets in the overcrowded shelters of California. These abused and neglected dogs and cats desperately need safe passage to less populated states where vetted rescue partners provide the rehabilitation and socialization necessary, and position them for adoption. We address this need by providing, at minimum, monthly large-scale rescue/transport/relocation (one of two flagship programs) for at-risk animals, linking overburdened shelters in California to STARTs fully vetted, contracted destination partners in the Pacific Northwest where there is both capacity and demand. In 2025,START rescued/relocated/transported 641 adoptable pets to the PNW who have since found wonderful homes, and also rescued 79 pets who found wonderful homes in California.
- Spay/Neuter program - Our second flagship program provides spay/neuter services for underserved California communities such as Bakersfield, Taft/Maricopa, San Bernardino, Riverside, Lancaster, Palmdale, Delano, Porterville and surrounding areas of Tulare County. These areas have large numbers of stray and neglected dogs and cats along with very high shelter intake. It is especially important for us to build strong relationships with low-income spay/neuter neighbors in target zip code California locations. In 2025, START funded 1,136 spay/neuter surgeries for pets in underserved areas and for the pets of low-income senior citizens.Additionally, START Rescue partners with shelters in underserved communities to secure grant funding for critical services such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, and food pantries.
- START was named "2025 Top-Rated" by Great Nonprofits, and was awarded Guidestar's "Platinum Seal of Transparency.
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 October 13, 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 November 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 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.