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Dog Gone Seattle

EIN 81-5101166 · Bothell, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Dog Gone Seattle is a Washington-based nonprofit organization dedicated to saving homeless dogs in high-kill shelters in Washington and beyond through rescue, foster, and adoption. We are a foster-based organization, and our rescue is 100% funded through adoption fees and donations. We believe every dog deserves a chance at a forever home, and we aim to make a difference in the lives of these deserving animals, one dog at a time.

Income
$740,018
Spending
$492,759
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
4
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$55,000, asst director

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $444,089 spent. DOG GONE SEATTLE HAS RESCUED OVER 6,000 UNWANTED DOGS SINCE 2017. WE ARE A FOSTER AND VOLUNTEER BASED RESCUE ORGANIZATION, WHICH ALLOWS US TO GIVE EACH DOG THE SPECIAL CARE AND TRAINING NEEDED TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT IN A LOVING FOREVER HOME. EVERY DOG THAT COMES INTO OUR RESCUE RECEIVES A VETERINARY EXAM INCLUDING VACCINATIONS, SPAY AND NEUTER AND MICROCHIPPING PRIOR TO ADOPTION. WE RELY ON ADOPTION FEES AND DONATIONS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO FUND OUR ORGANIZATION. IN A CALENDAR YEAR, WE HOST 45-50 ADOPTION EVENTS ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO MEET OUR ADOPTABLE DOGS. OUR ADOPTION PROCESS INCLUDES AN APPLICATION, IN PERSON MEETING(S) AND REFERENCE CHECKS TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE PLACEMENT FOR OUR DOGS. IF THE DOG IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE FAMILY WE TAKE OUR DOG BACK INTO OUR RESCUE. IN ADDITION TO ADOPTION EVENTS, WE HOST SEVERAL SMALL COMMUNITY BASED FUNDRAISING EVENTS A YEAR (RAISING LESS THAN $3,000 PER EVENT). DOG GONE SEATTLE PROUDLY TAKES ON MANY DOGS THAT OTHER SHELTERS CANNOT HELP, INCLUDING DOGS WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES OR SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS. WE HAVE REHABILITATED DOGS WITH AGGRESSION ISSUES, REACTIVITY, AND SEPARATION ANXIETY; LIKEWISE WE HAVE REHABILITATED DOGS WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS, NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES, AND DOGS REQUIRING ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THE DOGS WE RESCUE ARE ADOPTED WITHIN 3 WEEKS ON AVERAGE, SOME NEED MORE TIME FOR TRAINING OR VETERINARY CARE. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA THAT ALLOW US TO TAKE ON SPECIAL CAUSES. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR LESS THAN 0.5% EUTHANASIA RATE SINCE 2017. WITH THE OPENING OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTER FACILITY IN BOTHELL, DOG GONE SEATTLE NOW HAS A DEDICATED SPACE TO SUPPORT FOSTERS, VOLUNTEERS, ADOPTERS AND THE DOGS IN OUR PROGRAM. THE FACILITY PROVIDES TRAINING, STRUCTURED EXERCISE AREAS AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS BARN HUNT TO SUPPORT BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION SUCCESS. WE ALSO OFFER FREE OR REDUCED-COST TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITEIES TO HELP ENSURE LONG-TERM PLACEMENT STABILITY FOR ADOPTED DOGS. THIS FACILITY EXPANDS OUR CAPACITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR DOGS WITH BEHAVIORAL OR MEDICAL NEEDS.
  2. THE ORGANIZTION HAS RAISED $215,000 FOR ITS WELLNESS AND GROWTH INITIATIVE. THE WELLNESS AND GROWTH INITIATIVE(WAG) IS TO SUPPORT A VISION OF AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE VETERNARIAY CARE FOR DOGS IN RESCUE AND IN THE COMUNITY AT LARGE. THE WAG INITIAVTIVE SEEKS TO BUILD OUT A VETERINARY CLINIC IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER OVER THE NEXT 2-4 YEARS. THE INITIATIVE HELPED HOST SPAY AND NEUTER DAYS WITH THE FIXERS COLLECTIVE IN 2025 ALTERING OVER 80 DOGS FOR DOG GONE SEATTLE AND OTHER LOCAL RESCUES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.