Animal Ark Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Operate a nature center and wildlife sanctuary to provide educational programs for vistors, opportunities to aid in conversation efforts, and permanent care for the orphaned, confiscated, and non-releaseable wildlife that do not have the skills to survive in the wild.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 12.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $67,683, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
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, 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 (2)
- $571,337 spent. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO FEED, SHELTER AND CARE FOR THE ORPHANED, UNWANTED, CONFISCATED OR PERMANENTLY DISABLED ANIMALS UNDER THE SANTUARYS PROTECTION. IN ADDITON THE ORGANIZATION HAS PARTNERED WITH VARIOUS WORKD-WIDE ANIMALS PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER CONVSERVATION. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A HAVEN FOR ANIMALS WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED FOR LACK OF APPROPRIATE AND AVAILABLE CARE. THE ORGANIZATIONS 38 ACRE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES THE ANIMALS WITH A HABITAT SIMILAR TO THAT FOUND IN THEIR NATIVE ENVIRONMENTS, INCLUDING TREES, ROCKS AND PONDS. THE CENTER IS RUN BY DEDICATED STAFF AND OVER 40 VOLUNTEERS AND ANIMAL KEEPERS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1982 THE ANIMAL HAS CARED FOR OVER 175 ANIMALS.
- $184,259 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATION TO OVER TWENTY ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE SANCTUARY EACH YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, DAY CARE CENTERS, SCOUTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. VISITORS TO THE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE ANIMALS IN THEIR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS, TAKE GUIDED TOURS WITH ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, AS WELL AS TO ATTEND SPECIAL EVENTS FEATURING GUEST SPEAKERS, LECTURES BY ANIMAL KEEPERS, AND ANIMAL AND BIRD DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS. ALL OF THESE ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THINGS WILD.
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
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 April 1986.
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.