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Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter Inc

EIN 86-1130456 · Brooklyn, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BARCS TAKES IN OVER 11,000 DOGS AND CATS AND APPROXIMATELY 1,000 EXOTIC, WILDLIFE AND OTHER SMALL MAMMALS EACH YEAR. THE ANIMALS THAT BARCS CARES FOR WERE LOST, ABANDONED, ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS. SINCE BARCS TOOK OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY SHELTER AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2006, THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS LIVES SAVED INCREASED DRAMATICALLY TOTALING OVER 154,000 LIVES SAVED THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE SHELTER'S SERVICES INCLUDE: PROVIDING HOUSING AND CARE TO HOMELESS ANIMALS, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, TRACKING LOST AND FOUND PETS,OFFERING LOW-COST VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIP CLINICS, AND PROVIDING LOW COST BASIC DOG TRAINING CLASSES. BARCS ALSO PROVIDES FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT A COMPANION ANIMAL THAT IS SPAYED AND NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND LOOKING FOR APERMANENT NEW LOVING HOME.

Income
$8.0 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
116
Volunteers
6,252
Highest pay
$179,152, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $6.3 million spent. BARCS IS THE LARGEST COMPANION SHELTER IN MARYLAND TAKING IN OVER 10,000 DOGS AND CATS EACH YEAR AND HANDLING OVER 1,000 OTHER SPECIES. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, BARCS AIDS IN THE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF ABUSED AND ABANDONED ANIMALS IN NEED, PROVIDES LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER AND VACCINE SERVICES, ASSISTS IN RETURNING LOST ANIMALS TO THEIR OWNERS AND FINDS SUITABLE HOMES FOR ANIMALS WITHOUT OWNERS. PRIOR TO BARCS INCEPTION IN 2005,THE EUTHANASIA RATE WAS 98 PERCENT. DUE TO BARCS LIFESAVING EFFORTS, THE EUTHANASIA RATE HAS DECREASED TO 10-15 PERCENT WHICH INCLUDES ANIMALS THAT POSE A RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY, HAVE MEDICAL INJURIES BEYOND REPAIR, OR WHO ARE TRULY AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 April 2005.

    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 November 4, 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.