Watermelon Mountain Ranch Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WATERMELON MOUNTAIN RANCH, A NEW MEXICO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002 FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUMANELY AND EFFECTIVELY FINDING HOMES FOR HOMELESS DOGS, CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS, PROVIDING EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND INVOLVEMENT.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 15 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $47,320, executive di
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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 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 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 (1)
- $883,386 spent. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF WATERMELON MOUNTAIN RANCH IS ANIMAL RESCUE WHICH IS ACCOMPLISHED VIA: 1) ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE WHICH PLACES 100% OF THE ANIMALS SURRENDERED OR BROUGHT IN AS RESCUES TO THE FACILITY INTO LOVING HOMES EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEER FOSTER FAMILIES PROVIDE FEEDING AND CARING FOR THESE ABANDONED ANIMALS UNTIL THEY ARE SOCIALIZED AND READY FOR ADOPTION. 2) WMR'S MOBILE ADOPTION SERVICES PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS INTO THE COMMUNITY IN AN EFFORT TO HELP MAKE IT EASIER FOR POTENTIAL OWNERS TO MEET AND ADOPT THE AVAILABLE CATS AND DOGS. 3) WMR PROVIDES A SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC FOR RESCUED ANIMALS TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF SPAY AND NEUTERING SURGERIES FOR THEIR PET(S). THE CLINIC ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES FOR DENTAL CLEANINGS, VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPS, NAIL TRIM AND BABY TEETH REMOVAL. 4) WMR'S "DON'S ANGEL FUND FOR INJURED ANIMALS" PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE FOR SICK OR INJURED ANIMALS. 5) WMR PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES TO VISIT WMR AND INTERACT WITH THE ANIMALS. 6) WMR EDUCATION STAFF EDUCATES AND TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PET OWNERSHIP. 7) WMR PROVIDES A FREE LOST AND FOUND SERVICE TO ASSIST AND HELP OWNERS REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LOST PETS. WMR ALSO PROVIDES TEENS FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUTREACH PROGRAMS BENEFITING HOMELESS ANIMALS AND 8) WMR RESCUES THE NEEDIEST OF DOGS AND CATS WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO BE EUTHANIZED AT OTHER KILL SHELTERS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF WATERMELON MOUNTAIN RANCH IS ANIMAL RESCUE WHICH IS ACCOMPLISHED VIA: 1) ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE WHICH PLACES 100% OF THE ANIMALS SURRENDERED OR BROUGHT IN AS RESCUES TO THE FACILITY INTO LOVING HOMES EACH YEAR. VOLUNTEER FOSTER FAMILIES PROVIDE FEEDING AND CARING FOR THESE ABANDONED ANIMALS UNTIL THEY ARE SOCIALIZED AND READY FOR ADOPTION. 2) WMR'S MOBILE ADOPTION SERVICES PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS INTO THE COMMUNITY IN AN EFFORT TO HELP MAKE IT EASIER FOR POTENTIAL OWNERS TO MEET AND ADOPT THE AVAILABLE CATS AND DOGS. 3) WMR PROVIDES A SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC FOR RESCUED ANIMALS TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF SPAY AND NEUTERING SURGERIES FOR THEIR PET(S). THE CLINIC ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES FOR DENTAL CLEANINGS, VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPS, NAIL TRIM AND BABY TEETH REMOVAL. 4) WMR'S "DON'S ANGEL FUND FOR INJURED ANIMALS" PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE FOR SICK OR INJURED ANIMALS. 5) WMR PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES TO VISIT WMR AND INTERACT WITH THE ANIMALS. 6) WMR EDUCATION STAFF EDUCATES AND TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PET OWNERSHIP. 7) WMR PROVIDES A FREE LOST AND FOUND SERVICE TO ASSIST AND HELP OWNERS REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT LOST PETS. WMR ALSO PROVIDES TEENS FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUTREACH PROGRAMS BENEFITING HOMELESS ANIMALS AND 8) WMR RESCUES THE NEEDIEST OF DOGS AND CATS WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO BE EUTHANIZED AT OTHER KILL SHELTERS.
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
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 December 2024.
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 2002.
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.