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Friends of the Animals

EIN 94-3153463 · Ashland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS (FOTAS) RECRUITS AND TRAINS VOLUNTEERS WHO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR JACKSON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER ANIMALS DOGS, RESULTING IN INCREASED ADOPTIONS. VOLUNTEERS FOSTER NON-SHELTER DOGS AND CATS AS A REGISTERED OREGON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOSTER ORGANIZATION IN THEIR HOMES. FOTAS SPAYS/NEUTERS BEFORE ADOPTION, PREVENTING UNWANTED LITTERS. FOTAS FACILITATES OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON TO TEACH HUMANE TREATMENT OF COMPANION ANIMALS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
19.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
27
Volunteers
303

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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (3)
  1. $538,475 spent. COMMUNITY SPAY AND NEUTERING PROGRAM: FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS (FOTAS) OPENED THE NEW FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS COMMUNITY SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: OWNED DOG AND CAT SPAY/NEUTERS, SUBSIDIZED DOG AND CAT SPAYS/NEUTERS FOR QUALIFYING CLIENTS, RESCUE ORGANIZATION DOG AND CAT SPAYS/NEUTERS, ANCILLARY SERVICES, VACCINES, AND MICROCHIPPING. WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS WE CAN ASSIST WITH SPAYS AND NEUTERS. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE STARTED OUR FERAL CAT STERILIZATION PROGRAM AND PLAN TO EXPAND THIS IN 2026.
  2. $178,075 spent. FOSTER PROGRAM: FOTAS IS A LICENSED ANIMAL RESCUE ENTITY (ARE). DEVELOPED A VOLUNTEER-BASED FOSTER PROGRAM FOR CATS AND DOGS. ALL ANIMALS ARE SPAYED AND NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND MICROCHIPPED BEFORE ADOPTIONS, PREVENTING UNWANTED LITTERS. WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR INTAKE OF DOGS THIS YEAR.
  3. $40,547 spent. VACCINATION AND MICROCHIP CLINIC: FOTAS HOSTED A MONTHLY LOW-COST VACCINATION AND MICROCHIP CLINIC FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP KEEP THEIR PETS HEALTHY AND PROTECTED. WE HOPE TO EXPAND THESE CLINICS TO OTHER LOCATIONS NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE INCREASED OUR NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS EACH MONTH FOR BOTH VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIPS.

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 November 6, 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 May 1991.

    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 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.