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Companion Animal Welfare Alliance

EIN 46-1695515 · Chico, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAWA OPERATES THE PAWPRINTS THRIFT BOUTIQUE OPERATES AS AN ALL-VOLUNTEER, NON-PROFIT STORE AND FUNDS THE TWO SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS: NEIGHBORHOOD CAT ADVOCATES WHICH TRAPS, NEUTERS AND RETURNS STRAY/FERAL CATS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PAWPRINTS SPAY NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH HELPS PET OWNERS PAY FOR ALTERING THEIR PERSONAL PETS. DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF VETERINARIANS IN OUR AREA, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HAS OPENED A SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC THAT BEGAN OPERATION IN 2022. THE FOCUS IS ALTERING THE FERAL CATS THAT WE TRAP AND THAT WE HAVE ARRANGED FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TRAP AND TRANSPORT TO THE CLINIC.

Income
$453,754
Spending
$452,518
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
0
Volunteers
40

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • 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. PAWPRINTS SPAY NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ALTER THEIR PETS OR, AT TIMES, TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR CRITICAL MEDICAL TREATMENTS. IN 2024 WE PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN SPAYING OR NEUTERING CATS, DOGS AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT OF PETS.
  2. NEIGHBORHOOD CAT ADVOCATES (NCA) PAID TOWARD VETERINARY CARE AND NEEDED SUPPLIES TO HAVE CATS TRAPPED, NEUTERED AND RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS.
  3. THE PAWPRINTS SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC PROVIDED SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, RABIES VACCINATIONS, AND MICROCHIPPING TO UNOWNED CATS. FOR THE MOST PART, THE CATS WERE TRAPPED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAT ADVOCATES VOLUNTEERS. HOWEVER SOME CATS WERE TRAPPED BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FEEDING THE CATS AND WHOM WE INSTRUCTED IN TRAPPING AND TRANSPORTING.
  4. $425,440 spent. THE PAWPRINTS SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC PROVIDED SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, RABIES VACCINATIONS, AND MICROCHIPPING TO UNOWNED CATS. FOR THE MOST PART, THE CATS WERE TRAPPED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAT ADVOCATES VOLUNTEERS. HOWEVER SOME CATS WERE TRAPPED BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FEEDING THE CATS AND WHOM WE INSTRUCTED IN TRAPPING AND TRANSPORTING.
  5. THE PAWPRINTS SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC PROVIDED SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, RABIES VACCINATIONS, AND MICROCHIPPING TO UNOWNED CATS. FOR THE MOST PART, THE CATS WERE TRAPPED BY OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAT ADVOCATES VOLUNTEERS. HOWEVER SOME CATS WERE TRAPPED BY THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE FEEDING THE CATS AND WHOM WE INSTRUCTED IN TRAPPING AND TRANSPORTING.

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 May 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.

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