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Alley Cat Rescue Inc

EIN 52-2279100 · Mt Rainier, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACRs programs promote better care for community cats through trap-neuter-return. Local programs include placing unwanted cats in new homes, running a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, and providing support for local feral cat caretakers. Nationally we operate a network of CAT ACTION TEAMS across the U.S. Our May Spay Challenge has developed a national network of veterinarians offering free or low-cost TNR services. ACR's mission is to lead the way for humane care for all cats.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
21
Volunteers
46
Highest pay
$95,093, president

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 July 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 (6)
  1. $850,857 spent. DIRECT CARE & SERVICES ACR MANAGES MULTIPLE CAT COLONIES. THIS INVOLVES TRAPPING, STERILIZING, AND VACCINATING NEW COLONY ARRIVALS AS THEY ARE DISCOVERED, AS WELL AS FEEDING ALL OF THE CATS AND MONITORING THEIR HEALTH DAILY. ANY CATS IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION ARE TAKEN TO A VETERINARIAN FOR CARE. FRIENDLY CATS AND YOUNG KITTENS FOUND IN COLONIES ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND CARED FOR IN FOSTER HOMES UNTIL THEY ARE ADOPTED.
  2. $338,274 spent. ADVOCACY & PROMOTING SPAY/NEUTER ACR WORKS TO PUT AN END TO THE MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION SURROUNDING FERAL AND STRAY CATS, who ARE OFTEN USED AS SCAPEGOATS FOR COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS habitat loss causing THE DEPLETION OF BIRD AND OTHER WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. ACR PROMOTES THE CONCEPT THAT ALL ANIMALS DESERVE RESPECT AND COMPASSION, AND THAT HUMANE, NON-LETHAL METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THEIR POPULATIONS, SUCH AS TNR, SHOULD BE USED. ALL ACRS MAILINGS INCLUDE CALLS TO ACTION THAT WILL AID IN SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH AND LIVES OF CATS, as well as information to help reduce the human impact on birds and wildlife. ACR SPEARHEADS AN ANNUAL GLOBAL FERAL CAT STERILIZATION INITIATIVE, THE FERAL FIX CHALLENGE, WHICH URGES VETERINARIANS TO OFFER FREE OR LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES FOR FERAL CATS, TO WHATEVER DEGREE IS POSSIBLE FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE. THIS CAMPAIGN BRINGS NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR TNR AND ALSO ADVANCES THE HUMANE MANAGEMENT OF CAT OVERPOPULATION.ACR ALSO GIVES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT PRACTICE TNR IN OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES.
  3. $330,040 spent. CAMPAIGNS AND OUTREACH - ACR PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION ON FELINES. WE ADVOCATE FOR HUMANE POPULATION CONTROL THROUGH TNR AND KITTEN ADOPTION, PUBLISH INFORMATION ON ZOONOTIC DISEASES, AND WE DISPEL MISINFORMATION SPREAD ABOUT CATS. ACR HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 780,000 PET TRUST BROCHURES TO HELP PEOPLE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR CATS IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.IN ORDER TO LOWER THE EUTHANASIA RATE OF CATS IN SHELTERS AND TO PREVENT THE SUFFERING OF CATS ON OUR STREETS by providing them with HUMANE CARE, ACR PROVIDES THE PUBLIC WITH LISTS OF CLINICS THAT OFFER LOW COST SPAY/ NEUTER PROGRAMS AND LOW COST VETERINARY CARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW PEOPLE CAN AVOID SURRENDERING THEIR CATS TO SHELTERS.
  4. $328,724 spent. National and Global Programs: NATIONAL CAT ACTION TEAMS, No-kill ORGANIZATIONS THAT ASSIST GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS TO HELP DOMESTIC AND FERAL CATS. ACR PROVIDES A NATIONWIDE LISTING OF GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS,ORGANIZED BY STATE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF INTERESTED PARTIES WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH FERAL CATS IN THEIR AREA. ACR OPERATES AN AFRICAN WILDCAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE AFRICAN WILDCAT (AWC) SPECIES, WHICH IS THREATENED BY HABITAT LOSS. THE SPECIES IS ALSO ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY THREATENED BY HYBRIDIZATION WITH DOMESTIC CATS. THE AWC IS THE ANCESTOR OF THE DOMESTIC CAT AND THE TWO SPECIES READILY INTERBREED. OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM SEEKS TO PREVENT INTERBREEDING THROUGH TNR OF OUTDOOR DOMESTIC CATS WHO LIVE NEAR AWC TERRITORIES.
  5. $325,888 spent. Newsletter and Publications: ACR PUBLISHES BIANNUAL NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER MAILINGS YEAR-ROUND TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT ACRS PROGRAMS AND THE IMPACTS THEY ARE HAVING IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE PUBLICATIONS ALSO HIGHLIGHT CURRENT EVENTS RELATING TO CAT WELFARE WITH SPECIFIC ACTIONS THE READERS CAN TAKE TO HELP THE AFFECTED CAT POPULATIONS.
  6. $261,477 spent. Education and Public Relations: ACRs programs and campaigns to end the killing of healthy stray and feral cats in local shelters are diverse. They range from hands-on trapping and sterilization of cats, to providing educational information about TNR and cat welfare, as well as providing resources to the community to assist them in practicing TNR and caring for all varieties of domestic cats.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.