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Safe Haven for Cats

EIN 56-1916620 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SAFE HAVEN FOR CATS IS TO USE NO-KILL PRINCIPLES AND EDUCATION TO SAVE CATS' LIVES THROUGH RESCUE, ADOPTION, SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
57
Volunteers
1,742
Highest pay
$137,928, veterinarian

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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

    10 of 10 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $1.1 million spent. THROUGH OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM WE FOUND HOMES FOR 1,139 STRAY CATS, THIS ALSO MEANS THAT EACH CAT'S TIME AT THE SHELTER IS SHRINKING AND THEY ARE FINDING HOMES QUICKER AND QUICKER. THE AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES A CAT TO GET ADOPTED AT SAFE HAVEN IS 24 DAYS. WE ATTRIBUTE THIS SUCCESS TO OUR ADOPTERS, VOLUNTEER ADOPTION COUNSELORS, SPECIAL GROUPS OF BEHAVIOR EXPERTS (THE CAT ENRICHMENT CREWS), AND LIFE-SAVING FOSTERS. THIS IS IN PART THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED 9,686 HOURS OF THEIR TIME, VALUED AT OVER $308,000!
  2. $653,167 spent. OUR SAFE CARE, LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC SPECIALIZES IN HELPING THE PUBLIC WITH PETS, STRAYS, AND FERAL CATS. THE GOAL: TO SPAY AND NEUTER AS MANY CATS AND KITTENS AS WE CAN EVERY DAY, TO REDUCE THE EUTHANASIA OF HEALTHY ANIMALS. THIS PAST YEAR, THE CLINIC PERFORMED 6,825 SURGERIES ON CATS FROM 38 COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING THE STERILIZATION AND VACCINATION OF 1,589 FERAL/COMMUNITY CATS. SAFE HAVEN HELPS OTHER RESCUE GROUPS AND SHELTERS TO MAKE SURE MORE CATS GET STERILIZED BEFORE ADOPTION. THIS PAST YEAR, THEY STERILIZED 2,385 CATS AND KITTENS AS A VITAL SERVICE TO 19 RESCUE GROUPS AND HUMANE SOCIETIES. SEVERAL HUNDRED CATS WHO USE THE SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES OF THE CLINIC HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A VETERINARIAN. WERE IT NOT FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE SERVICES, MANY CATS WOULD GO UNNEUTERED, AND HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS KITTENS WOULD BE BORN.AS A "NO KILL" SHELTER, WE BELIEVE IN TREATING EVERY MEDICAL CONDITION WE CAN. UNCONTROLLED CAT POPULATION IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR EUTHANASIA IN OUR STATE. MORE THAN 63,800 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT OUR SAFE CARE CLINIC SINCE 2001.
  3. $67,302 spent. THE PET FOOD PANTRY IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN WAKE COUNTY. LAST YEAR, WE FED OVER 750 CATS AND DOGS BY PROVIDING OVER 15,000 POUNDS OF FOOD. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST PET OWNERS WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ABANDON OR GIVE UP THEIR PETS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH SCREENING, WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANIMALS WHO NEED OUR FREE SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 June 1995.

    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.