Spark Rescue Santa Barbara
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
It is Spark Rescue's mission to rescue, rehabilitate, medically treat, spay and neuter unwanted dogs and cats and place them into permanent homes. To prevent future un wanted litters we spay the mother of the litter being surrendered. We also offer vaccinations to all cats and dogs that are "dumped" during their stray hold regardless if Spark Rescue is able to take them into our adoption program or not.
- Income
- $142,742
- Spending
- $140,022
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 21.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 310
- Highest pay
- $14,000, director
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
Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $133,842 spent. Spark Rescue Santa Barbara is a foster-based, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and medically treat unwanted and at-risk dogs and cats, spay and neuter them, and place them into loving permanent homes. To help break the cycle of overpopulation, we also spay the mothers of surrendered litters. We further support the broader community by providing vaccinations to stray animals during their "hold period", regardless of whether we are able to accept them into our program. Upon intake, every animal receives thorough health screening: dogs are tested for Giardia and Parvovirus; cats are tested for Giardia, Panleukopenia, and Feline Leukemia Virus. Healthy animals are vaccinated, dewormed, treated for fleas and ticks, and bathed before moving into foster care. Animals showing signs of illness, injury (including broken bones), or contagious disease receive immediate veterinary care. Medically fragile animals remain under the direct care of the Director until they are stable. Behavioral issues such as anxiety, excessive barking, chewing, or digging are addressed through professional trainers so each animal is prepared for successful adoption. All animals live temporarily in loving foster homes where they receive continued medical care, grooming, microchipping, and rabies vaccination. Foster families are provided with all necessary supplies, including pee pads, toys, food, beds, crates, and bowls. Transportation costs of $250-$300 per trip are incurred to bring animals from high-kill shelters to safety. Comprehensive veterinary services include spay/neuter surgeries, wellness exams, dental cleanings, deworming, monthly flea and tick prevention, and treatment of ongoing issues such as foxtail removal, ear and eye infections. Foster caregivers play a vital role by learning each animal's personality and creating detailed bios and social media content that help match them with compatible families. Potential adopters complete a comprehensive application, background checks, and reference checks, followed by a home visit. Approved applicants then meet the animal and foster family at the foster home or another mutually convenient location. We also hold twice-monthly meet-and-greet events at Petco or PetSmart for members of the public who are exploring adoption options but have not yet applied for a specific animal. Once matched, adopters sign a formal agreement and take their new family member home. Our rigorous screening process results in a return rate of less than one percent. Should an unforeseen situation arise, our adoption agreement requires adopters to contact us immediately so the animal can be returned and rehomed through our program. Through these intensive efforts, Spark Rescue has successfully placed many animals previously considered un-adoptable due to treatable medical conditions or behavioral challenges. Every rescued animal receives the care needed to thrive and the assurance they will never again face homelessness or shelter life.
- $3,200 spent. Spark Rescue Santa Barbara has implemented a program to ensure we are doing our part to help control the over population of unwanted dogs and cats we pay the cost to have the mother of the litter being surrendered to be spayed, we have made this a mandatory provision for any litters relinquished to the rescue. Thru spay and neuter programs we were able to reduce the cost of this service in 2025
- $2,980 spent. Spark Rescue Santa Barbara has seen a significant rise in Parvo virus and Distemper since the Covid-19 outbreak in order to help the animals that have been picked up off the streets, trapped or abandoned we have been providing vaccinations, de worming and flea and tick treatments to every animal, not just the ones that are accepted into our program.
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 February 2015.
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.
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