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Passes our checks

Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe Inc

EIN 68-0366788 · Truckee, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Humane Society is dedicated to saving and improving the lives of pets through adoptions, community spay/neuter services and humane eduon programs.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
32
Volunteers
775
Highest pay
$180,911, ceo

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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 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 (3)
  1. $936,421 spent. ANIMAL SHELTER:Rescue and Adoption MatchingHSTT accepts abandoned and relinquished pets in our jurisdiction. Additionally, we regularly accept animals from other overcrowded shelters. Our adoption program takes all necessary steps to ensure our pets are healthy, well-socialized, and at their best, then matches them with the perfect adoption candidate. In 2024, 716 homeless pets found new homes with the help of the HSTT.
  2. $802,147 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH:Community Spay/NeuterHSTTs Low-Cost Community Spay/Neuter (CSN) Program helps income-restricted people living within our region with the cost of these expensive surgeries. Spay/Neuter surgeries not only prevent unwanted pet pregnancy but also improve the health of family pets by decreasing rates of certain types of cancer and other health concerns. In 2024, we provided 400 families with spay or neuter services. Providing assistance with these surgery costs improves the health of our communitys pets and relieves the burden of unwanted litters.Community Pet Care AssistanceThe Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe believes it is in an animals best interest to stay in their loving, responsible home rather than enter the shelter system whenever possible. To help guardians keep their companion animals through difficult times, we offer assistance to qualifying residents of our community.The goal is to fill a small funding gap for low-income, elderly, and disabled pet caretakers who are unable to afford necessary or urgent care for their animals. In 2024, we provided 24 community members with 27 unexpected veterinary expenses totaling $13,796.Pet PantryOur Pet Pantry Program provides pet food to needy families throughout the Truckee/North Tahoe region on an as-needed basis. Drop-ins are assisted with pet food at our Truckee shelter and our South Lake Tahoe center, providing anyone in need with the opportunity to pick up food any day of the week. In 2024, we provided over 12,000 pounds of pet food and 2000 pounds of cat litter to pets in need.Wellness ClinicsHSTT brings animal wellness services into impoverished communities via vaccination and microchip clinics. During these clinics, our Veterinarian and his team meet one-on-one with pet owners to provide wellness exams, vaccinations, and microchips to their dogs and/or cats. We also take this opportunity to educate people on spaying/neutering and sign them up for our spay/neuter clinics. In 2024, we served 405 pets during our Wellness Clinics providing 837 vaccines and 147 microchips.
  3. $76,991 spent. HUMANE EDUCATION:Pet Assisted Therapy (PAT)HSTTs PAT program brings joy to the lives of hundreds of local community members who could benefit from the loving touch of an animal. Our PAT teams visit patients in local hospitals, students preparing for exams, and firefighters working on the front lines of fires. Volunteers, with their trained and certified therapy dogs, visit people who greatly benefit from the calming effects of an animal. Our Pet Assisted Therapy dogs bring smiles to hundreds of people throughout the year.Volunteer ProgramOur Volunteer Program gives many people, including adults with disabilities, children, and seniors, the opportunity to learn and utilize skills while making a difference in the lives of needy pets. We are proud to work closely with Tahoe Ability, a nonprofit providing services for adults with developmental disabilities, helping their clients learn functional life skills. We have over 700 active volunteers participating in our shelter, program, and fundraising activities annually.Our Humane Education Program highlights various topics throughout the year that nurture the people-pet relationship emphasizing responsibility, safety, and awareness. Our hope is to build a feeling of community and social awareness in the youth we reach. The impact of our presentations has resulted in many new school-age children becoming involved in volunteering in our community. Humane Education presentations take place in two public elementary schools and one private charter school on a monthly basis when school is in session. Read Up for Fun (RUFF)HSTTs Reading Program, Read Up for Fun (RUFF), is designed to build self-esteem in young readers. Trained volunteers bring their dogs into area schools where children will read to the dog. The dog provides a comforting audience that is perfect for allowing children who lack confidence in their reading to have a safe atmosphere in which to practice.

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 January 1996.

    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.