Magical Creatures of Hamakua - Animal Rescue and Sanctuary
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and offer lifelong sanctuary to animals on the Big Island while serving the Hawaiian community with programs that promote kindness, compassion, and stewardship. Magical Creatures Sanctuary provides lifelong care to the animals we rescue.
- Income
- $155,308
- Spending
- $115,104
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
- $71,649 spent. Program 1: Sanctuary & Animal Care: Magical Creatures Sanctuary provides lifelong sanctuary, individualized care, and rehabilitation for rescued farmed animals in need. In 2025, the organization cared for more than 100 resident animals, including goats, sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, and other farmed animals, many of whom are elderly, disabled, orphaned, or survivors of neglect, abandonment, injury, or medical hardship. The sanctuary provided daily feeding, safe housing, enrichment, hoof care, medication, veterinary treatment, and specialized support as needed. A significant part of the sanctuary's work involves animals with complex medical or mobility needs, including residents who require prosthetics, braces, wheelchairs, wound care, chronic-condition management, or long-term rehabilitation. The sanctuary also responded to community inquiries from individuals seeking guidance and support for farmed animal care, helping fill a gap in services for non-companion animals in Hawaii. The sanctuary remains the heart of the organization, and its education and outreach programs are rooted in the care and stories of its residents.
- $6,890 spent. Program 2: Internship & Volunteer Program Magical Creatures Sanctuary's on-site internship and volunteer program provides immersive, hands-on education in farmed animal care, sanctuary operations, nonprofit service, and compassionate stewardship. In 2025, interns and volunteers supported the sanctuary's daily operations by assisting with feeding, cleaning, enrichment, animal observation, basic care routines, facility maintenance, administrative tasks, social media support, and donor and sponsor engagement. The internship program typically hosts several full-time interns at a time who live communally at the sanctuary and participate directly in the daily rhythm of animal care. Many participants are students or early-career individuals interested in veterinary medicine, animal welfare, nonprofit work, or compassionate living. The program includes education about farmed animal behavior, individualized care, ethical relationships with animals, and the sanctuary's plant-based values.
- $17,338 spent. Program 3: Outreach & Education: Magical Creatures Sanctuary provides public education and community outreach to increase compassion for farmed animals and promote responsible stewardship. In 2025, the organization continued to welcome visitors through educational sanctuary tours and private visits, sharing the individual stories of rescued animals and helping community members better understand the needs, personalities, and experiences of farmed animals. The sanctuary also engaged the public through educational events, tabling, social media storytelling, donor communications, and community conversations about animal care and compassion. These efforts helped connect supporters, students, volunteers, and community members with the sanctuary's mission. Outreach and education remained closely tied to the sanctuary's residents, using real-life examples of rescue, rehabilitation, disability support, aging, trust-building, and lifelong care to encourage empathy and more compassionate choices.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 March 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 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.