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Madison Cat Project Inc

EIN 51-0534813 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MADISON CAT PROJECT SAVES CATS' LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS.

Income
$754,767
Spending
$853,502
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
11
Volunteers
193
Highest pay
$121,208, shelter veterinarian

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

Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

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

  • 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 (3)
  1. $418,806 spent. CAT RESCUE - THE PROJECT RESCUES CATS FROM LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS AND PROVIDES FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, AND MEDICAL CARE UNTIL A PERMANENT SAFE HOME IS FOUND FOR THEM.TO DATE, MORE THAN 11,528 CATS HAVE BEEN RESCUED, SPAYED AND NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND ADOPTED TO CAREGIVERS.
  2. $66,369 spent. CAT ADOPTION - THE PROJECT ADOPTS CATS TO OUTDOOR RURAL HOMES THAT PROVIDE FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER FROM INCLEMENT WEATHER. TAME CATS ARE ADOPTED TO INDOOR-ONLY HOMES. ALL CATS ARE DELIVERED TO THEIR NEW OWNER TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO A GOOD HOME.
  3. $58,865 spent. TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN - TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN (TNR) PROGRAMS OFFER A HUMANE AND EFFECTIVE WAY OF SOLVING THE CAT OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM. FREE-ROAMING, UN-OWNED, AND UNSTERILIZED CATS ARE TRAPPED, NEUTERED, AND RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOME.

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 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 October 2005.

    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.