Darrowby Farm Sanctuary
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Darrowby Farm Sanctuary provides a safe and lifelong home for farmed animals and educates people about living a mutually beneficial life with those animals in ways that do not use them for food or forced labor.
- Income
- $513,034
- Spending
- $536,685
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $87,715, chief operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 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 (1)
- $421,316 spent. During the 2024/2025 fiscal year, Darrowby Farm Sanctuary continued to grow their ability to meet their goal of growing compassion in our world through rescue, rehabilitation, and education. Focusing on compassionate care for all Darrowby staff and community members brought more people, rescued residents, and community members into the sanctuary. The need for large animal rescue continued to grow in Maine. This year was no exception for Darrowby. In November an abused and scared horse named Fiona joined the sanctuary family. Two pigs abandoned after the sale of a residence joined Darrowby in May. Both Thumbelina and Huncamunca arrived with many health problems but quickly took to sanctuary life enjoying being able to go outside for the first time in years. Exploring their pasture and soaking up the sun. July brought to Darrowby another member of the goat herd. Silvius came to the sanctuary after an animal control officer reached out to sanctuary staff from a small island community on the coast of Maine. We discovered quickly that despite arriving with poor nutrition and health Silvius most needed a family to call his own. Darrowby is so honored to provide that to him. The Spring and Summer of 2025 meant renovations and expansion for Darrowby's ability to handle chickensspecifically roosters. Darrowby's executive director receives many calls a year about the need to rehome roosters and the new facilities created will soon be full of colorful, energetic boys. The story of the Comets, the only birth that has happened at Darrowby, has continued to bring people to the sanctuary and learn more about compassionate care for large animals in need. Darrowby continues to provide the highest quality of care and enriching lives to all of their animal residents. Our partnerships with local vetrinarians helps to make sure that every animal resident receives individualized care needed to thrive. Darrowby's new rescues all provided their own specific health challenges. From skin issues, to large open wounds, to the healing of scars from abuseboth mental and physical. Darrowby's helped to ensure that each member of our community gets the health care and facilities they need to live a full life at the sanctuary. The Sanctuary was able to continue to enhance the lives of their animal residents and staff through important facilities improvements. The expansion of chicken residences means more space to bring in birds in need, and allow for space to deal with individual needs of roosters who may not fit in with larger flocks. DFS expanded water availability to areas in the goat barn and pasture saving time and energy for staff and ensuring that through the cold winter every resident has quick and easy access to drinking water. Continued improvements to insulation and heating made sure that our quarintine areas and new goat barn were warm throughout Maine's cold winter months. The 24/25 year brought Darrowby's first consistent educational program with a single group of students. In the past the same teachers would come once or twice a year with students, but this year Darrowby's founders worked with a local high school's alternative education program to bring students to the sanctuary twice a month. This program meant building lasting relationships with those students and staff members and helping students to gain confidence and skills when it comes to caring for large animals and the facilities that house them. DFS is looking forward to continued expansion of this program with students coming in the 25/26 school year weekly. Bringing people together to learn about the work of farm-animal sanctuaries and bringing awareness to the issues associated with the care for these animals is a large part of creating a more compassionate world. Darrowby's grounds were opened to over 400 visitors throughout the year. Whether a private tour, a school service project, a photography class, or the sanctuary's annual open house or Summer Solstice at the Sanctuary event. Each of these visits and touch points provided people with the ability to connect to a community that shares the common cause of decreasing suffering in this world.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 July 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 September 2019.
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.