Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WILDLIFE EDUCATION & PRESERVATION
- Income
- $546,292
- Spending
- $477,360
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $18,958, executive director
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (2)
- $321,896 spent. The organization now manages its own team of researchers who continue to evaluate the methods and successes of releasing endangered parrots monkeys and other species at Bosque Escondido Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica. Biologist from the team continue to educate rescue center staff and students on pre and post-release monitoring techniques. 29 students were trained in wildlife reintroduction and monitoring techniques. At the main rescue center in Alajuela Rescate continues to manage a veterinary internship-71 international students were trained in wildlife medicine. Also at the main center Rescate manages a Wildlife internship-89 students were trained in wildlife conservation and welfare. A new Conservation Course was developed at the rescue centers Dulce Bay release site in Costa Rica-8 students were trained in Wildlife Conservation techniques and methodology. Rescate received a grant to allow for Dr Sofia Astorga one of the rescue center staff veterinarians to engage in a week-long training session on avian medicine medicine at the National Aviary in the United States. Rescate also received a grant for one of the rescue center biologists to participate in the annual National Wildlife Rehabilitators Conference in the United States. Dr Pilar Fish a veterinarian from the National Aviary designed and implemented an intensive 5-day training session for the rescue center veterinarians on avian medicine.
- $56,080 spent. The organization continued to support wildlife preservation and rehabilitation efforts at Bosque Escondido Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica through grant funding totaling 56,080 in 2025. The funds were used to assist in the preservation rehabilitation and protection of endangered parrots monkeys and other native wildlife species receiving care at the refuge. Support from the organization helped provide medical treatment rehabilitation services habitat maintenance nutritional care and release preparation for rescued wildlife. The program also continued to strengthen long-term conservation efforts by supporting wildlife rescue operations and preservation initiatives designed to protect vulnerable species and promote successful reintroduction into their natural habitats.
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
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 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 February 2022.
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.