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Whis-Purr Rescue

EIN 46-3272495 · Redwood City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To rescue homeless, abandoned or neglected cats and kittens, including those with significant medical needs, feral tendencies, or scheduled for euthanasia by providing food, shelter and medical care within our organization until able to place in a permanent home. We remain an integral part of the new family support system so that we are proactively working with family should behavioral problems arise bringing about the desire to return their adoptee. We are also working with other 501c3 rescues to provide spay and neuter services with our volunteer veterinarians so that the rescues can free up space to rescue other cats as their cats are fixed and then find homes.

Income
$194,877
Spending
$252,006
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
26

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 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 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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)
  1. $86,898 spent. Our organization is 100% devoted to rescue and placement of cats and kittens, rescued from high-kill shelters and rescued from the communities. This period from 3/1/24 to 2/28/25 we placed cats and kittens into their forever homes. We provide all their food, litter, housing, medical and work with each one to socialize enabling the cat or kitten to find their home. Our expenses are directly related to their care and revenue is their adoption fees and donation. * We have partnered with trappers to do trap/neuter/release services that has been at no expense to us nor has drawn in revenue. * We have been working with the community, educating and helping these families to continued to provide homes for their adoptees, working through issues that may have caused the family to return the cat or kitten. This year we also have helped community and rescue partners pay for medical emergencies.
  2. $67,535 spent. * Due to the dire situation in obtaining spay/neuter appointments in the Bay Area for our rescue cats and kittens, Whis-Purr Rescue raised funds for the 2021 Rescue Coalition Spay/Neuter Van Project! This van will help cat rescue groups all over the Bay Area get prompt spay/neuter appointments at consistent and affordable rescue prices! Access to these services will accelerate adoptions and will maximize the number of cats and kittens we can save from euthanasia at local shelters. * Local humane societies and many spay/neuter clinics closed their doors because of COVID-19 restrictions. This resulted in a kitten population explosion leaving the shelters overcrowded as they continue to receive unprecedented numbers of cats and kittens surrendered upon reopening mid-2021. * Humane societies and vet clinics cannot keep up with this historic demand and the waiting list for spay/neuter appointments stretches for months. The prolonged wait for pre-adoption surgeries causes kittens to grow up at the rescue locations instead of in their forever homes. This lack of space prevents other rescue cats and kittens to be safe from Euthanasia! * This coalition was formed to help. *Whis-Purr Rescue's Coalition Spay/Neuter Van Project has completed fundraising for a medical Van purchased 'used' from Snip. At this date we are in the process of equipping our Van prior to service. The Van has been up and running since March 2022.
  3. $8,067 spent. Whis-Purr Rescue established a 'Cat Sanctuary', a third program based on the number of cats at the rescue who have never been adopted due to late rescue situations. These cats are either feral or fearful. These cats have been at the rescue, in some cases for up to nine years. The Sanctuary cats are worked with to help them to feel more comfortable and engaged at Whis-Purr. We have dedicated volunteers spending time with them and using clicker training technigues, so that they have enrichment in their home with us. As the Sanctuary cats age, they have developed medical needs that we are addressing as well. We provide for each one with loving care.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, 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 February 2025.

    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 April 2014.

    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.