Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Peppers Senior Dog Sanctuary

EIN 83-3612767 · Littleton, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PEPPER'S SENIOR DOG SANCTUARY PROVIDES SENIOR DOGS A COMPASSIONATE, FUREVER HOME AT OUR VETERINARIAN-SUPERVISED SANCTUARY. PEPPER'S EXISTS TO HELP EASE THE OVERCROWDING OF LOCAL SHELTERS, WHILE PROVIDING QUALITY LIFELONG CARE TO DOGS WHO MAY OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
31
Volunteers
321
Highest pay
$129,330, medical dire

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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, 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)
  1. $624,432 spent. THE CARE TEAM INCLUDE 321 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS THAT SHOW UP RAIN OR SHINE, TO WALK, FEED, CLEAN, AND COMFORT. THEY HOLD SPACE FOR GRIEF AND CELEBRATE EVERY TAIL WAG. THEY ARE THE SOUL OF PEPPER'S.
  2. $535,260 spent. OUR ONSITE MEDICAL TEAM HAS SPECIAL TRAINING IN REHABILITATION AND HOSPICE CARE, ALLOWING THEM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR OUR DOGS. TREATMENTS INCLUDE ROUTINE EXAMINATION, PREVENTATIVE CARE, ACUPUNCTURE, PHYSICAL REHABILITATION (HYDROTHERAPY, LASER THERAPY, MASSAGE, ETC), AND SURGERY. WHEN PSDS SENIORS REACH THE END OF THEIR LIFE HERE WITH US, OUR TEAM PROVIDES ROUND THE CLOCK HOSPICE CARE TO ENSURE A PEACEFUL AND DIGNIFIED PASSING.
  3. $21,861 spent. OUR SANCTUARY HAS BECOME A PLACE WHERE HEALING FLOWS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. IN 2025, WE PARTNERED WITH OVER 60 ORGANIZATIONS, FROM AUTISM SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO SENIOR CENTERS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW US TO BRING THE CALMING, GROUNDING PRESENCE OF SENIOR DOGS TO PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT DEEPLY FROM THEIR COMPANIONSHIP. WATCHING A MEMBER OF OUR NEURO DIVERSE COMMUNITY GENTLY READ ALOUD TO AN AGING CHIHUAHUA OR SEEING A SENIOR CITIZEN IN MEMORY CARE LIGHT UP WHEN A GREY -MUZZLED PUG CLIMBS INTO THEIR LAP - THESE MOMENTS STAY WITH YOU.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.