San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE SAN DIEGO TURTLE & TORTOISE SOCIETY (SDTTS) IS TO RESCUE, REHAB AND ADOPT OUT TORTOISES AND TURTLES TO SOCIETY MEMBERS AND CERTAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION ON THE CARE OF THESE ANIMALS.
- Income
- $36,704
- Spending
- $29,384
- Reserves
- 13.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
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 (4)
- $9,035 spent. TORTOISE FOSTERING. SDTTS RECEIVES A LARGE NUMBER OF TORTOISES THAT HAVE BEEN RELINQUISHED TO THE ORGANIZATION. FOSTER HOMES ARE PROVIDED AND SUPPORTED - PROVIDING HEAT, WATER, ELECTRICITY, HOUSES AND FOOD. SULCATA FOSTERING. SDTTS HAS SEVERAL FOSTER HOMES FOR SULCATA TORTOISES,WHICH PROVIDE HEAT, WATER, ELECTRICITY, HOUSES AND FOOD. SULCATAS ARE VERY LARGE ANIMALS (50-150 LBS AVERAGE) AND CREATE UNIQUE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THEIR SIZE; THUS THEY TEND TO BE SHELTERED FOR LONGER TIMES AND ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO PLACE IN HOMES. WATER TURTLE FOSTERING. SDTTS ALSO SUPPORTS FOSTER HOMES FOR WATER TURTLES - PAYING FOR THE HEATING, ELECTRICITY, WATER (SIGNIFICANT), WATER TUBS,WATER PUMPS, AND FOOD. WATER TURTLES - ESPECIALLY RED EARED SLIDERS - ARE VERY PROLIFIC AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN IN ABOUT 500-750 TURTLES EACH YEAR, AND ADOPTS THEM OUT. SDTTS IS WORKING WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE TO STOP PET STORES FROM SELLING THESE, AS THERE ARE TOO MANY TO DEAL WITH.
- $1,172 spent. VETERINARY SERVICES. SDTTS SPONSORS VETERINARY SERVICES FOR THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES IN THEIR CARE OR IN FOSTER HOMES.
- $4,018 spent. PRODUCTS. ITEMS ARE PURCHASED TO SELL AT ADOPTION SHOWS, TO INCREASE FUNDS TO CARE FOR THESE CHELONIANS.
- $8,524 spent. NEWSLETTER, PRINTING AND COPYING. SDTTS PRINTS A NEWSLETTER FOUR (4) TIMES PER YEAR. THE NEWSLETTER IS MAILED TO SPONSORS, MEMBERS, THE MEDIA AND GRANTORS. THIS PROVIDES EDUCATION AS TO THE CARE OF THE TURTLES AND TORTOISES AND PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THESE ANIMALS AROUND THE WORLD. SPECIAL EVENTS. SDTTS HOLDS COMMUNITY/ADOPTION EVENTS TO SHARE INFORMATION RELATED TO TURTLES AND TORTOISES, THEIR RESCUE, CARE AND REHABILITATION, AND TO ADOPT OUT CERTAIN CHELONIANS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1983.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.