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One Tail at a Time West Texas

EIN 87-4385572 · Terlingua, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ONE TAIL AT A TIME WEST TEXAS OTAT WTX SERVES THE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF WEST TEXAS BY SUPPORTING ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATIONS RESCUING AND SHELTERING HOMELESS UNWANTED COMPANION ANIMALS DOGS AND CATS PRIMARILY ARRANGING THEIR VETERINARY CARE AND PLACING THEM FOR TRANSPORT ADOPTION.

Income
$811,635
Spending
$686,710
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
10
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$77,628, president

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

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 221% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 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

    6 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, 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. $583,818 spent. ONE TAIL AT A TIME WEST TEXAS OTAT WTX IS AN ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING LOCAL SHELTERS AND HOMELESS PETS ACROSS A VAST REMOTE LANDSCAPE OVER 30,000 SQUARE MILES. IN 2025 THE ORGANIZATION INCREASED ITS LIFE-SAVING IMPACT BY 37% SERVING 1,052 ANIMALS 773 DOGS 278 CATS 1 RABBIT COMPARED TO 766 IN 2024. THIS GROWTH WAS DRIVEN BY A UNIFIED MISSION TO TRANSITION REGIONAL SHELTERS TOWARD NO-KILL STATUS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM OF CARE. OTAT WTX MANAGED 456 PETS IN FOSTER CARE TRANSPORTED ANIMALS TO 13 DIRECT RECEIVING PARTNERS TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING AND FACILITATED 188 COMMUNITY STERILIZATIONS. THIS INTEGRATED STRATEGY DIRECTLY SUPPORTS SEVEN REGIONAL SHELTERS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING THEM TOWARD SUSTAINABLE NO-KILL STATUS. IN 2025 THESE PARTNERSHIPS ACHIEVED EXCEPTIONAL LIVE OUTCOME RATES ACROSS THE REGION 94% IN ALPINE 98% IN MARFA 97% IN MCCAMEY 93% IN PECOS 99% IN PRESIDIO 90% IN TERRELL COUNTY AND 92% IN VAN HORN ENSURING THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE ANIMALS IN WEST TEXAS HAVE A PATH TO A SAFE AND HEALTHY FUTURE.

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

  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 December 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 February 2022.

    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.