California Chins
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
California Chins's mission is to accept, care for, and adopt out chinchillas while educating the public about the joys of keeping chinchillas as pets.
- Income
- $190,361
- Spending
- $250,633
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 72.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 77%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $52,512, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 72.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 18 out of 100.
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (5)
- $200,510 spent. California Chins accepts chinchillas from owners who are unable or unwilling to care for them, as well as from government and private animal shelters. A medical exam is provided to each chinchilla that comes in, and medical care is provided as needed. The rescue then fosters these chinchillas until they can be adopted to a new home. Some chinchillas cannot easily be adopted due to chronic medical conditions; these chinchillas are cared for by the rescue and their ongoing medical needs are met until they are adopted or until the end of their lives.
- $10,709 spent. California Chins occaisionally makes donations to other 501(c)(3) animal rescue groups whose mission aligns with theirs.
- $10,000 spent. California Chins provides scholarships to veterinary technician students at Foothill Community College and to veterinary medicine students at UC Davis to help further the care and research of exotic mammals and pocket pets.
- $4,234 spent. California Chins operates a website where chinchillas are listed for adoption. The rescue also operates a facebook group for the purpose of facilitating surrenders and adoptions, as well as to assist pet owners who need advice to care for their animals.
- California Chins hosts an annual "Pocket Pet Health Day" where any member of the public can bring their small rodents to a highly skilled veterinary office and receive a basic health screening for an extremely low cost. This is done as a public outreach event. The rescule coordinates with the veterinary hospital to host this event, and veterinary medicine students from a local university volunteer to help conduct the exams as a way to get a large amount of practical, hands on experience that is otherwise difficult to come by as chinchillas are exotic animals in most veterinary practices and hospitals.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 May 2001.
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.