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Passes our checks

Watermelon Mountain Ranch Inc

EIN 85-0480585 · Rio Rancho, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% 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 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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)
  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

  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 2024.

    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 May 2002.

    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.