Gold Country Wildlife Rescue Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured, sick and orphaned wildlife while advancing public awareness and understanding of the critical role of wildlife within the ecosystems we share.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 100
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
Good: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 90% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
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)
- $1.0 million spent. California has some of the most abundant and diverse wildlife in the U.S.; this is a source of pride and multiple benefits for the state. With this wealth, however, comes a responsibility, to protect our native wildlife, who need our help now more than ever. Wildfires, climate change, drought and habitat loss threaten every species and have dramatically increased the numbers of animals requiring treatment annually.In 1991, the year that Gold Country Wildlife Rescue was founded, the population of Placer County was 180,000 people. At that time GCWR handled approximately 300 animals annually.Today, the County's population has more than doubled, now exceeding 410,300 people. At the same time, the demands on GCWR have increased twelve-fold, with 3,700 animals cared for in 2020, and more than 12,000 calls from people needing assistance with wildlife. In 2023, these numbers further increased with almost 4,000 animals cared for and almost 13,500 phone calls.But that's not the whole story. Compounding the impact of the growing demand for care (and resources) is an increase in the severity of the animals injuries seen. This results in a requirement for more extensive and continuous care along with longer rehabilitation times. This, in turn, requires more space to house the animals, overwhelming the capacity of the current facility's space and infrastructure.2018 was the first year we provided acute medical and rehabilitative care to the wildlife victims including a bobcat and two gray foxes that sustained burns and injuries from the Camp Fire in Butte County. In 2020, we provided care for a bear cub, a gray fox, a bobcat, and two coyotes that suffered burns and injuries sustained in wildfires that impacted multiple counties across Northern California. It was at this time that we became a member organization of Wildlife Disaster Network (founded 2020). In 2021 our number of burn patients increased, with us taking in ten more wildfire victims (the most in one year to date). These victims included 3 black bear cubs leading California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to grant GCWR our permanent bear cub rehabilitation permit. In 2022 we cared for 2 black bear cubs. In 2022 we started construction of an apex predator enclosure that meets and exceeds requirements as determined by CDFW. In 2023 we were able to complete half of the enclosure and raised 5 orphaned black bear cubs. Coinciding with the rapid rise in the number of animals being treated annually, GCWR has transformed itself from a small seasonal rescue and rehabilitation operation to a remarkably high-functioning organization that is open 365 days a year. GCWR has remained financially solvent throughout this period of transformation, which has been brought about by staff and by a dedicated group of volunteers who provide more than 35,000 hours of service each year. In 2020, GCWR acquired a 15-acre property in Auburn and secured the donation of eight modular units that will be used for emergency wildlife intake, veterinary care, rehabilitation, education, and administrative offices. In 2023 we continued to build animal enclosures, including the above-mentioned apex predator enclosure.
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 September 1992.
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.