Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 87 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
FORGOTTEN FELINES OF SONOMA COUNTY IS DEDICATED TO THE HUMANE CARE AND CONTROL OF THE FERAL & Stray CAT POPULATION through spay/neuter, adoptions, education and community support.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 52%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 285
- Highest pay
- $108,051, executive dir.
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
Fair: 66 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 87 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.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.5 million spent. Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County2024 Program AccomplishmentsWhen you believe, anything is possible.In 2024, Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County continued to advance its mission to alter every unowned cat in Sonoma County through high-volume, high-quality, and data-informed spay/neuter and care programs. We pair innovation with compassion so that Sonoma County can be a place where every cat has the best possible chance at a safe, stable, and healthy life.Our Spay & Neuter Clinics Making a DifferenceEvery single cat that is spayed or neutered makes a big difference. In 2024, 5,085 cats came through our spay/neuter clinics for alterations and medical care. Of those, 4,326 cats were spayed or neutered. Each one of those surgeries prevents future litters, reduces pressure on colonies and caretakers, and lowers the number of kittens entering the system.Forgotten Felines operates 2 or 3 spay & neuter clinics for cats each week. The service provided to our Spay & Neuter Clinics includes:Altering for male or femaleRabies vaccineFVRCP vaccineMicrochippingEar tipping for identificationTreatment for visible parasitesOverall health checkTreatment for visible injuries or illnessPain managementIndividual attention and a dose of loveWe ask for a donation of $50 to help offset the cost of a spay/neuter appointment; the remaining cost is subsidized by our generous donors and community partners.Foster & Adoption ProgramOur Foster & Adoption Program continues to flourish under a foster-to-adopt model that allows cats to move directly from a foster home to a forever home without a shelter stay. This keeps stress low, shortens the path to adoption, and makes room for the next cat in need.In 2024, 435 cats were adopted directly through Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County. These were kittens born in the wild who were tamed and socialized, tame strays with no caretakers, and cats transferred to us for a second chance.In addition, 133 cats were pulled by Forgotten Felines and adopted through our partner shelters. This reflects our strong, ongoing collaborations with local agencies to ensure that every friendly, healthy cat has a path to a home.Cat Relocation Program Barn and Garden CatsWhile our preferred method to humanely curb cat overpopulation is TrapNeuterReturn (TNR), sometimes returning a cat to its original location is not safe or humane. In those cases, we place unsocial or at-risk cats through our Wine Country Barn Cats program.In 2024, 82 unsocial, at-risk, or displaced cats were safely relocated to working and sanctuary-style homes, barns, wineries, ranches, and businesses where they can live protected, be cared for, and provide natural rodent control. These placements are often for cats whose caretaker has moved or passed away, whose habitat is being demolished, or who simply cannot remain where they were living.A modest co-pay helps us cover transport, supplies, and follow-up to make sure placements are successful.Colony Care and Management It Takes a VillageForgotten Felines continues to support managed colonies across Sonoma County. In 2024, we provided food, trapping support, medical care, and education to volunteer caretakers who show up every day rain or shine to feed and monitor their colonies.We supported more than 50 colonies and delivered well over 6,000 pounds of food again this year to stabilize existing colonies, keep cats healthy, and make it possible to trap newcomers for altering and return.Our caretakers keep an eye out for newcomers. If a new cat appears, it is trapped, scanned for a microchip, altered, vaccinated, and either returned to the colony or reunited with an owner when possible. This is how we prevent new kittens from entering well-managed colonies.Innovation: Project BeaconIn 2024 we advanced Project Beacon, our first-of-its-kind, data-driven mapping and predictive modeling platform for humane cat population management. Beacon integrates historical and real-time data - colony size, alteration status, geography, and reproductive trends to help us see where interventions will have the greatest impact.Beacon will allow us to: track altered vs. unaltered cats in real time; identify high-yield trapping zones for mass spay/neuter events; demonstrate impact and return on investment to funders and community partners; and share a model that can be replicated by other TNR organizations.This innovation moves us closer to a measurable, county-wide decline in unowned cats.Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County remains the longest-running TNR organization in the country. With the support of donors, volunteers, veterinarians, partner shelters, and colony caretakers, we are making real, measurable progress toward a Sonoma County where no cat is forgotten.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.