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Friends of the Animal Shelter of Saint Joseph Inc

EIN 52-2438213 · Saint Joseph, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORT THE ANIMAL SHELTER STAFF TO: INCREASE ANIMAL ADOPTION AND REDEMPTION RATES TO MINIMIZE EUTHANIZED ANIMALS; EDUCATE COMMUNITY ON ANIMAL CARE AND WELFARE ISSUES; HELP CARE FOR MEDICAL NEEDS OF ALL SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

Income
$631,580
Spending
$248,737
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
111 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
0
Volunteers
40

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 111.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 129% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $207,018 spent. FRIENDS OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER OF ST. JOSEPH, INC. (FOTAS) CONTINUES ITS MISSION TO SUPPORT THE ST. JOSEPH ANIMAL SHELTER BY FUNDING MEDICAL CARE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED AND BY ASSISTING IN INCREASING ADOPTION RATES FOR THOSE ANIMALS DETERMINED TO BE ADOPTABLE. OUR COLLECTIVE GOAL REMAINS TO HELP THE SHELTER MAINTAIN A NO KILL STATUS, DEFINED AS A 90% OR HIGHER LIVE RELEASE RATE. IN THIS EFFORT, FOTAS CONTRIBUTED $89,516 IN GRANTS TO THE SHELTER FOR ADOPTION SPECIALS TO REDUCE THE COST TO POTENTIAL ADOPTERS. THIS HELPED SAVE 701 ANIMALS IN 2024. THROUGH CONTINUED COLLABORATION BETWEEN FOTAS AND THE ST. JOSEPH ANIMAL SHELTER, NOTABLE PROGRESS WAS SEEN IN LIFESAVING OUTCOMES, PARTICULARLY FOR DOGS. IN 2024, THE SHELTER ACHIEVED A 96% LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR DOGSAN IMPROVEMENT FROM 90% IN 2023. THIS INCREASE IS ATTRIBUTED IN PART TO EFFORTS THAT REDUCED OWNER RELINQUISHMENTS BY PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES FOR REHOMING. CAT OUTCOMES, HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO BE CHALLENGED BY RISING INTAKE NUMBERS. THE LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR CATS WAS 88% IN 2023 AND 87% IN 2024. DESPITE ONLY A SLIGHT DECREASE, THE SHELTER FACED A 59% INCREASE IN CAT INTAKE AND A 70% INCREASE IN KITTEN INTAKE IN 2024, RESULTING IN A 66% OVERALL INCREASE IN FELINE INTAKE. OBVIOUSLY MEDICAL CARE HAS TO BE SUPPLIED TO ALL THE ANIMALS THAT ENTER THE SHELTER REGARDLESS OF ADOPTABILITY. IN 2024 FOTAS CONTINUED THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS NECESSARY SERVICE BY PROVIDING $72,931 OF REDUCED COST VETERINARY CARE, OTHER THAN SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES. WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH SIGNAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, WEEKLY TV PET PREVIEWS, AND OUR OWN PET PREVIEWS REGARDING THE NEED TO SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS. WE ARE IN OUR SECOND YEAR OF GROWING OUR SPAY IT FORWARD PROGRAM OFFERING FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT AFFORD SPAY/NEUTER COSTS FOR THEIR PETS. IN 2024 WE PROVIDED $5,406 OF GRANTS IN THE FORM OF SPAY/NEUTER VETERINARIAN SERVICES FOR 81 PETS UNDER THIS PROGRAM. FINALLY, IN FEBRUARY, 2024, WE SOLD THE BUILDING WE HAD ORIGINALLY ACQUIRED FOR THE RENOVATION OF A NEW ST JOSEPH SHELTER. WE WOULD USE THESE PROCEEDS, ALONG WITH OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS, TO DONATE TO A NEW SHELTER BEING BUILT BY THE CITY OF ST JOSEPH STARTING IN 2025. FURTHER EXPLANATION IS CONTAINED IN SCHEDULE N, PART III REGARDING THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS EVENT AND ITS CURRENT STATUS. WE CONTINUE TO BE FULLY COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION AND THE GOALS THEREINWE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR THE SHELTER AND SAVING THE ANIMALS THAT ENTER ITS DOOR.

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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 August 2004.

    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 November 4, 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.