Passes our checks

Owls Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife

EIN 47-4268730 · Odessa, FL

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

What it says it does

Rescue and rehabilitation of all Florida native wildlife.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20
It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
72% 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
10 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7
Has a 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 December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$101,416 spent. Intake thousands of orphaned, sick and/or injured animals. Built a new Gopher Tortoise enclosure. Built a large soft-release Bobcat/Fox/Coyote pen. This pen will make us the only rehabilitation sanctuary in central Florida doing large mammal rehab from start to finish. Built an opossum enclosure. Continued the college internship program. We had 17 interns apply for an opportunity to earn college credit. They were trained on tasks at the sanctuary ranging from property maintenance to caring for the animals being rehabilitated. Participated in over 27 large events to educate the community on Floridas wildlife and about our mission. Utilized the flight barn for a full year, enabling us to start to finish rehab on a variety of

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.