Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 6% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and the promotion of understanding and appreciation of wildlife through our Education Outreach Program.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 6%
- Reserves
- 14.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $80,000, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 156% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $61,507 spent. Education Outreach and PEEP Programs are designed to share our passion for wildlife and the local community. We nurture a love for wildlife in children. We give dynamic interactive tours. Our program supports the Next Generation Science Standards. The PEEP program educates farmers and ranchers with predation issues and is an extra-curricular activity for visitors to learn how to take care of animals, plants, and gardens. We expanded our educational program this year with starting One With The Wild Wellness to help connect people to natural habitats through wildlife education, rediscovering our own wild instincts through wellness, nurtured by meditation, yoga, and nature, to evoke love, kindness and compassion already resting within us.
- $38,120 spent. Barn Owl Maintenance Program provides consultation, installation, and maintenance to barn owl boxes. We offer research services so that we can help vineyard and homeowners determine which boxes are the most effective and we can identify the best box to place an orphaned owl that might be most able to be integrated into an existing owl family.
- $13,039 spent. A Wildlife Exclusion Service services 170 or more Sonoma County residents a year that are invaded by local wildlife. A Wildlfe Exclusion Service helps prevent loss of wild animal lives and the seperation of animal mothers from their offspring. It also provides the opportunity for a one on one forum to provide information about the invading animals to Sonoma County residents and how to prevent future incursions.
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 November 6, 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 September 1981.
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 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.