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Passes our checks

Paw Fund

EIN 46-1282359 · Emeryville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PAW FUND PROVIDES FREE AND LOW COST WELLNESS VETERINARY SERVICES TO LOW INCOME AND NO INCOME PET OWNERS IN THE EAST BAY, COVERING TWO COUNTIES, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA. WE PROVIDE A ONCE A MONTH MOBILE CLINC WHERE OVER 150 PETS ARE SEEN EACH MONTH. OUR VETERINARIAN IS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT MINOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OR WE REFER THE PET OWNER TO A FULL SERVICE CLINIC AND ASSIST IN FUNDING THE CARE. OCCASIONALLY, WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH LIFE SAVING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. WE ALSO ARRANGE WEEKLY OUTREACH EVENTS TO HIGH RISK NEIGHBORHOODS, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES. THESE OUTREACH EVENTS REACH HUNDREDS OF PETS WHOSE OWNERS ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO OUR MAIN MONTHLY CLINICS. VACCINES, DE-WORMERS, FLEA CONTROL, AND MICROCHIPS ARE PROVIDED AT ALL EVENTS, AND ANIMALS ARE SIGNED UP FOR FREE OR PAY WHAT YOU CAN SPAY OR NEUTER SURGERIES THROUGH OUR PARTNER VETS ACROSS THE REGION. WE PROVIDE TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE VET IF NEEDED.

Income
$244,770
Spending
$282,820
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
22.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$60,000, director

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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: 47 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $20,926 spent. MEDICAL SERIVICES: WE PROVIDE FREE AND LOW COST WELLNESS VETERINARY SERVICES TO LOW INCOME AND NO INCOME PET OWNERS IN THE EAST BAY, COVERING TWO COUNTIES, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA THROUGH A MOBILE COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM. OCCASIONALLY WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH LIFE SAVING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE.
  2. $73,033 spent. VACCINE CLINICS: VACCINES, DE-WORMERS, FLEA CONTROL, AND MICROCHIPS ARE PROVIDED AT ALL EVENTS, AND ANIMALS ARE SIGNED UP FOR FREE OR PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN SPAY OR NEUTER SURGERIES THROUGH OUR PARTNER VETS ACROSS THE REGION.
  3. $86,385 spent. SPAY & NEUTER SERVICES: OUR SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR OVER 500 SURGERIES IN EACH YEAR, AND OUR WHOLE PROGRAM PROVIDED WELLNESS SERVICES TO OVER 3500 PETS.
  4. $83,614 spent. FOSTER & ADOPTION SERVICES, OWNER SURRENDER AND REHOMING, CLIENT OUTREACH & TRANSPORTATION: MANY OF OUR CLIENTS STRUGGLE ECONOMICALLY AND MANY LOSE THEIR HOUSING. HAVING TO GIVE UP THE FAMILY PET IS A HEARTBREAKING CONSEQUENCE. OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR PETS TO GO, INSTEAD OF AN ANIMAL SHELTER, AND NEW LONGTERM HOMES ARE FOUND. THROUGH CAREFUL SCREENING OF ADOPTERS WE FOSTERED THEN ADOPTED OVER 100 ANIMALS DURING THE YEAR.
  5. CLIENT OUTREACH & EDUCATION: WE ARRANGE WEEKLY OUTREACH EVENTS TO HIGH RISK NEIGHBORHOODS, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES. THESE OUTREACH EVENTS REACH HUNDREDS OF PETS WHOSE OWNERS ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL.

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 October 13, 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 January 2013.

    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 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.