Sante Dor Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Sante DOr is a no-kill animal adoption center serving the Los Angeles community, predominantly staffed by volunteers.
- Income
- $458,631
- Spending
- $496,012
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 48%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $71,279, director of animal services
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 February 28, 2026, 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 (2)
- $441,358 spent. Sant DOr Foundation rescues and rehabilitates homeless and abandoned animals in Los Angeles. Every animal that comes through our doors receives medical care, unconditional love, and a safe place to land. Those who are not adopted will always have a home with us.We are more than a rescue. Our doors are open to the community and we welcome walk-in visitors to meet our resident animals, learn about our programs and understand the animal crisis being faced in Los Angeles. We strongly advocate for low cost medical care, support independent rescuers where we can, and serve our community through TNR, adoption counseling and outreach during time of hardship and emergency.Through these efforts Sante DOr is not just saving lives but building a more compassionate community for animals in need.During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2026, 279 animals found forever homes.
- $32,645 spent. The goal of the TNR Program is to stabilize and improve the quality of life and eventually reduce the population of feral and community cats. By preventing new litters of kittens and addressing the health of existing cats, TNR can lead to a more humane and manageable situation with improved life with less suffering, less competition for resources and less hardship. Our volunteer trappers extend their skills to trap ill and injured community cats and help them get treatment in addition to spay/neuter surgery. This program helps prevent overpopulation in the feline colonies and reduces the strain on shelters and animal rescues. This year brought a new challenge as the most popular spay/neuter clinic in the city closed their facility. There was a lapse in available appointments, but new clinics are opening making this a temporary lull.During the fiscal year ended February 28,2026 237 cats were trapped, 203 were released back to their colonies and 23 were homed through adoption with Sante DOr and an additional 10 were homed through other rescues or their original feeders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, 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 February 2026.
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 February 2004.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Sante Health Foundation (Fresno, CA), EIN 20-0517238. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.