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Animals As Natural Therapy

EIN 91-1939165 · Bellingham, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

ANIMALS AS NATURAL THERAPY (ANT) OFFERS THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ANIMALS CAN ASSIST HUMANS IN THE LEARNING OF IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS: RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS, TRUST- BUILDING, AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION.

Income
$555,882
Spending
$571,225
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$78,177, executive di

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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 242% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $469,884 spent. ANIMALS AS NATURAL THERAPY PROVIDES MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO YOUTH, VETERANS AND ELDERS THROUGH ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY AND MENTORSHIP. WHAT BEGAN AS SIMPLE HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN 1999, HAS DEVELOPED INTO A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AND WELL-RESPECTED THERAPEUTIC MODEL. ANT OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEEDS: A) THE SAFETY NET PROGRAM, WHICH WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUTH FOR WHOM TRADITIONAL THERAPY WAS INEFFECTIVE, UNAFFORDABLE, OR UNAVAILABLE, NOW SERVES BETWEEN 350-400 YOUTH PER YEAR. IT ALSO INCLUDES SCHOOL WORKSHOPS ON LEADERSHIP, BULLY AWARENESS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. B) THE NEW HORIZONS PROGRAM, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH SEAMAR VISIONS CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT CENTER, PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR 60 TEEN WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY FROM THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE. C) THE EAGLE PROGRAM PROVIDES EQUINE ASSISTED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SERVICES TO A DOZEN VETERANS YEARLY. ANT HAS DEVELOPED A PROVEN MODEL IN ALL PROGRAMS THAT USES ANIMALS TO HELP A PERSON BUILD TRUST, RESPECT, AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. IN TURN, PARTICIPANTS FIND HOPE AND HEALING AS THEY LEARN TO MANAGE THEIR OWN BEHAVIORS AND NEGOTIATE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT ENABLES PARTICIPANTS TO PHYSICALLY EXPLORE THEIR STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND OPTIONS AS THEY HANDLE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS THAT THE ANIMALS PRESENT, AND SUCCESS IN THIS EFFORT ULTIMATELY SHIFTS THEIR BELIEFS IN THEIR OWN CAPABILITIES. ANIMALS AS NATURAL THERAPY PROVIDES MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO YOUTH, VETERANS AND ELDERS THROUGH ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY AND MENTORSHIP. WHAT BEGAN AS SIMPLE HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN 1999, HAS DEVELOPED INTO A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AND WELL-RESPECTED THERAPEUTIC MODEL. ANT OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEEDS: A) THE SAFETY NET PROGRAM, WHICH WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR YOUTH FOR WHOM TRADITIONAL THERAPY WAS INEFFECTIVE, UNAFFORDABLE, OR UNAVAILABLE, NOW SERVES BETWEEN 350-400 YOUTH PER YEAR. IT ALSO INCLUDES SCHOOL WORKSHOPS ON LEADERSHIP, BULLY AWARENESS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. B) THE NEW HORIZONS PROGRAM, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH SEAMAR VISIONS CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT CENTER, PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR 60 TEEN WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY FROM THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE. C) THE EAGLE PROGRAM PROVIDES EQUINE ASSISTED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SERVICES TO A DOZEN VETERANS YEARLY. ANT HAS DEVELOPED A PROVEN MODEL IN ALL PROGRAMS THAT USES ANIMALS TO HELP A PERSON BUILD TRUST, RESPECT, AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. IN TURN, PARTICIPANTS FIND HOPE AND HEALING AS THEY LEARN TO MANAGE THEIR OWN BEHAVIORS AND NEGOTIATE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THE EXPERIENTIAL COMPONENT ENABLES PARTICIPANTS TO PHYSICALLY EXPLORE THEIR STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND OPTIONS AS THEY HANDLE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS THAT THE ANIMALS PRESENT, AND SUCCESS IN THIS EFFORT ULTIMATELY SHIFTS THEIR BELIEFS IN THEIR OWN CAPABILITIES.

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 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 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 August 2001.

    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.