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Big Cat Rescue Corp

EIN 59-3330495 · Odessa, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BIG CAT RESCUES MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CARE OF THE CATS FORMERLY HOUSED AT THE SANCTUARY, END ABUSE OF BIG CATS IN CAPTIVITY AND PREVENT EXTINCTION OF BIG CATS IN THE WILD.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 77%
Employees
6
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$103,759, president /

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 68% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 of 6 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

    0 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, 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. $154,704 spent. ANIMAL CARE - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE AT AN ACCREDITED SANCTUARY FOR 30 BIG CATS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN ABUSED, ABANDONED, ORPHANED OR RETIRED FROM PERFORMING ACTS.
  2. $96,387 spent. ADVOCACY - THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT BIG CAT ISSUES IN CAPTIVITY AND IN THE WILD AND ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATION THROUGH ITS WEBSITE THAT RECEIVED AN ESTIMATED 657,000 VIEWS DURING THE YEAR AND THROUGH EMAILS SENT NO LESS THAN MONTHLY THAT GO TO OVER 6,000 RECIPIENTS. OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL BIGCATTV.COM HAS OVER 1.3 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS AND OUR VIDEOS THERE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 660 MILLION CUMULATIVE VIEWS. WE HAD OVER 4.2 MILLION FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS AT YEAR END, OVER 275,000 FOLLOWERS ON X, AND OVER 165,000 ON INSTAGRAM. OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS THE PASSAGE OF THE FEDERAL BIG CAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACT INTO LAW ON DECEMBER 20, 2022 AFTER OVER A DECADE OF OUR LEADING THE EFFORT TO GET IT PASSED. THE BILL ENDS THE ABUSIVE CUB PETTING AND PHASES OUT PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF BIG CATS BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT USDA LICENSED EXHIBITORS. WE BELIEVE THIS WILL END 90% OF THE ABUSE OF BIG CATS HELD IN CAPTIVITY IN THIS COUNTRY. SINCE THEN WE HAVE WORKED ACTIVELY WITH US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. IN 2024 WE WORKED ON A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN COLORADO TO END THE MORE ABUSIVE KINDS OF HUNTING OF COUGARS, BOBCATS, AND LYNX. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT PASS. ADVOCACY - THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT BIG CAT ISSUES IN CAPTIVITY AND IN THE WILD AND ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATION THROUGH ITS WEBSITE THAT RECEIVED AN ESTIMATED 657,000 VIEWS DURING THE YEAR AND THROUGH EMAILS SENT NO LESS THAN MONTHLY THAT GO TO OVER 6,000 RECIPIENTS. OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL BIGCATTV.COM HAS OVER 1.3 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS AND OUR VIDEOS THERE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 660 MILLION CUMULATIVE VIEWS. WE HAD OVER 4.2 MILLION FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS AT YEAR END, OVER 275,000 FOLLOWERS ON X, AND OVER 165,000 ON INSTAGRAM. OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS THE PASSAGE OF THE FEDERAL BIG CAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACT INTO LAW ON DECEMBER 20, 2022 AFTER OVER A DECADE OF OUR LEADING THE EFFORT TO GET IT PASSED. THE BILL ENDS THE ABUSIVE CUB PETTING AND PHASES OUT PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF BIG CATS BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT USDA LICENSED EXHIBITORS. WE BELIEVE THIS WILL END 90% OF THE ABUSE OF BIG CATS HELD IN CAPTIVITY IN THIS COUNTRY. SINCE THEN WE HAVE WORKED ACTIVELY WITH US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. IN 2024 WE WORKED ON A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN COLORADO TO END THE MORE ABUSIVE KINDS OF HUNTING OF COUGARS, BOBCATS, AND LYNX. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT PASS.
  3. $828,328 spent. SUPPORT FOR IN-SITU CONSERVATION PROGRAMS - GRANTS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 2,500 TO 60,000 WERE MADE TO 16 IN SITU WILD CAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS ACROSS ASIA, AFRICA, AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 February 1996.

    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.