Chicago Rescue Authority
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
All-breed dog rescue -- We rescue, provide vital care, and adopt out dogs in the Chicagoland area. We also place an emphasis on educating the public about responsible pet ownership and ways to help lessen the pet overpopulation problem facing our city.
- Income
- $136,208
- Spending
- $133,906
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
- $12,627 spent. Food costs for animals in our care -- expenses in this category represent expenses incurred for purchasing food for the animals in our care throughout the year. Please note that much of these needs were sponsored by donated food, but the amount represented here is the out-of-pocket expense for the rescue to cover the remaining amount of food needed to sustain the animals in our care that were not covered by in-kind food donations.
- $80,669 spent. Veterinary services -- expenses directed toward the vetting of stray or otherwise homeless animals within our rescue organization with the intention of preparing them for adoption and preventing the contraction and spread of disease and preventing additional reproduction by any animal in our care. Benefitted 216 dogs and their families during the 2025 calendar year.
- $12,138 spent. Rescue supplies -- expenses in this category went toward the support and functionality of our foster program which allows us to utilize volunteer foster families to house animals within our program and help prepare them for adoption.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 December 2023.
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.