Homeward Pet Adoption Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF CATS AND DOGS IN NEED THROUGH COMPASSIONATE MEDICAL CARE, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR TRAININGS, AND SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS, WHILE BUILDING A MORE HUMANE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 8.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 951
- Highest pay
- $120,000, executive director
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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (6)
- $1.4 million spent. HOMEWARD PET ADOPTION PROGRAM FOUND HOMES FOR 1,050 DOGS, PUPPIES, CATS AND KITTENS IN 2024 WITH APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE ANIMALS COMING FROM AREA SHELTERS - HOMEWARD PET IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE EUTHANASIA RATES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE ANIMALS WERE STRAYS OR ABANDONED AND COME TO HOMEWARD PET WITH NO HISTORY. THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HELP TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OF THEM DURING THEIR DAILY CARE, WHICH IS HELPFUL WHEN CREATING THEIR PROFILES AND IN FINDING THE BEST MATCH FOR THEIR FOREVER HOMES. THE REMAINING 25% COME FROM OWNER SURRENDERS - FAMILIES WHO DETERMINE THEY CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEIR PETS. THESE PETS COME WITH A FULL HISTORY MAKING THE MATCH TO A NEW FOREVER HOME MUCH EASIER. ALL OF THE DOGS AND CATS THAT COME TO HOMEWARD PET RECEIVE A COMPLETE MEDICAL EXAM, ARE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, IF NEEDED, VACCINATED AND MICROCHIPPED - ALL PRIOR TO ADOPTION. ADDITIONALLY, ANY ANIMALS THAT PRESENT HEALTH CONCERNS (SPECIAL NEEDS) OR BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES ARE PROVIDED THE ADDITIONAL CARE NEEDED TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES - ENSURING THE DOGS AND CATS ARE IN THEBEST SHAPE POSSIBLE FOR THEIR NEW FAMILIES.
- $132,153 spent. THE HOMEWARD PET FOOD BANK FEEDS HOMELESS ANIMALS AND HELPS FAMILIES KEEP THEIR BELOVED PET IN THEIR HOME BY DISTRIBUTING PET FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR, THE HOMEWARD PET FOOD BANK FED OVER 1,000 ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 85,000 LBS. OF PET FOOD TO AREA FOOD BANKS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNER RESCUES.
- $124,691 spent. BEHAVIOR PROGRAM: OUR BEHAVIOR AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ARE OVERSEEN BY OUR ANIMAL CARE SENIOR MANAGER, A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER AND BEHAVIOR CONSULTANT. WHILE AT HOMEWARD PET, EACH DOG AND CAT IS ASSESSED AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND PROVIDED THE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO ENSURE THEIR STAY AT THE SHELTER IS AS ENRICHING AND STRESS-FREE AS POSSIBLE. EACH PET IS PROVIDED DAILY EXERCISE, SOCIALIZATION, ENRICHMENT, AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AS NEEDED. FREE INTRODUCTORY TRAINING CLASS WITH GOODPUP (PLUS AN EXCLUSIVE LIFETIME DISCOUNT) ARE INCLUDED WITH EVERY DOG AND PUPPY ADOPTION. IN 2024 OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM SUPPORTED OVER 300 FAMILIES WITH PET BEHAVIOR ISSUES.
- $73,894 spent. HOMEWARD PET VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IS THE BACKBONE OF THE ORGANIZATION WITH INDIVIDUALS DONATING THEIR TIME EACH WEEK IN THE SHELTER - HELPING TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS WITH CLEANING, CUDDLING PUPPIES AND KITTENS, WALKING DOGS, ASSISTING IN THE CLINIC, GREETING OUR VISITORS AT RECEPTION, KEEPING THE FACILITY IN TIP TOP SHAPE, OFFSITE EVENTS, MARKETING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND SO MUCH MORE. THESE AMAZING PEOPLE GAVE MORE THAN 56,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME IN 2024 TO THE HOMELESS ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.
- $41,533 spent. FOSTER PROGRAM: IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HOMEWARD PET ADOPTION CENTER UTILIZED FOSTER VOLUNTEERS TO HOUSE ANIMALS WHILE THE SHELTER WAS CLOSED IN 2020. IN 2024, THIS PROGRAM CONTINUED AND GREW AS THE SHELTER TRIED TO LIMIT PUBLIC EXPOSURE AND STILL FIND HOMES FOR ALLTHE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. WITH RESTRICTIONS EASING, ADOPTION APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE ONLINE AND ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH THE FOSTER FAMILIES TO MEET AND GREET POTENTIAL ADOPTERS.
- $17,300 spent. HOMEWARD PET'S PUBLIC LOW COST SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP WITH THE PET OVERPOPULATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTS THE PETS OF REDUCED INCOME FAMILIES. THOUGH OUR CLINIC SPACE LIMITS THE NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS WE CAN HELP EACH MONTH THE HOMEWARD PET PUBLIC SPAY & NEUTER PROGRAM ALTERED 343 FAMILY PETS IN 2024.
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 April 1996.
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.