Lancaster Farm Sanctuary
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RESCUING FARMED ANIMALS AND PROVIDING THEM SANCTUARY; INSPIRING HUMANS TO LIVE WITH HONOR, RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THEMSELVES, THE EARTH AND THE OTHER BEINGS WITH WHOM WE SHARE THIS PLANET.
- Income
- $872,743
- Spending
- $583,975
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $69,769, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
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 April 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 (1)
- $485,010 spent. LANCASTER FARM SANCTUARY IS A NONPROFIT FARMED ANIMAL RESCUE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ORGANIZATION. WE PROVIDE LIFELONG SANCTUARY TO RESCUE FARMED ANIMALS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE. WE CONDUCT GUIDED TOURS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXTENSIVE DIGITAL EDUCATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, VIDEOS, WRITTEN CONTENT, INTERVIEWS, AND PODCASTS. FREE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES INCLUDE A PEN PAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FOR TEENS AND ADULTS, AND A COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE SUPPORTING PLANT-BASED LIVING. IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION, WE PROVIDE DAILY CARE, SHELTER, NUTRITION, AND VETERINARY TREATMENT FOR RESCUED ANIMALS. OUR WORK INTEGRATES DIRECT RESCUE WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION TO REDUCE ANIMAL SUFFERING AND SUPPORT LONG- TERM IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL WELFARE. LANCASTER FARM SANCTUARY IS A NONPROFIT FARMED ANIMAL RESCUE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ORGANIZATION. WE PROVIDE LIFELONG SANCTUARY TO RESCUE FARMED ANIMALS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SOCIAL IMPACTS OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE. WE CONDUCT GUIDED TOURS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, AND PROVIDE EXTENSIVE DIGITAL EDUCATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, VIDEOS, WRITTEN CONTENT, INTERVIEWS, AND PODCASTS. FREE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES INCLUDE A PEN PAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FOR TEENS AND ADULTS, AND A COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE SUPPORTING PLANT-BASED LIVING. IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION, WE PROVIDE DAILY CARE, SHELTER, NUTRITION, AND VETERINARY TREATMENT FOR RESCUED ANIMALS. OUR WORK INTEGRATES DIRECT RESCUE WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION TO REDUCE ANIMAL SUFFERING AND SUPPORT LONG- TERM IMPROVEMENT IN ANIMAL WELFARE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.