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Stray Cat Alliance

EIN 95-4787231 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CAT'S RIGHT TO BE SAFE, HEALTHY AND VALUED. WE ARE PROUD TO BE CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF LIFE SAVING WORK.OUR 2024 SUCCESSES INCLUDED: - KEEPING 376 UNDERAGE KITTENS OUT OF SHELTERS AND "SAFE AT HOME" - MANAGING THE PLACEMENT OF 1,274 CATS INTO LOVING FOSTER HOMES - ADOPTING 1,118 CATS INTO THEIR FUR-EVER HOMES - PROVIDING SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES FOR 1,790 CATS, INCLUDING 793 COMMUNITY CATS - PROVIDING 113,497 MEALS TO COMMUNITY CATS VIA OUR FEEDER PARTNERS - HELPING AN ADDITIONAL 23,251 CATS AND 5,557 HUMANS THROUGH OUR HOTLINEWE ACCOMPLISH OUR WORK THROUGH OUR FOUR PRIMARY PROGRAMS; ADOPTIONS, SAFE AT HOME, RETURN TO HOME FOR COMMUNITY CATS, AND CARE FOR COMMUNITY CATS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
45
Volunteers
1,116
Highest pay
$138,749, chief operating officer

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. SAFE AT HOME: WE HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SEEK SUPPORT FOR UNWEANED KITTENS AND SICK AND INJURED COMMUNITY CATS. SAFE AT HOME EMPOWERS AND EDUCATES THESES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SERVE AS FOSTER CAREGIVERS AND PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN SAVING LIVES. AT THE SOUTH LOS ANGELES SHELTER, STRAY CAT ALLIANCE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COUNSELORS INTERCEPT PEOPLE - BEFORE CATS AND KITTENS ARE IMPOUNDED - AND OFFER MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR THEM TO BE FOSTER CAREGIVERS. WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT ON ALL ASPECTS OF CARE, FROM BOTTLE FEEDING TO ADOPTION. WE ALSO PROVIDE ALL MEDICAL CARE AND, WHEN NEEDED, FOOD AND SUPPLIES. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $715,536 spent. RETURN TO HOME FOR COMMUNITY CATS: RETURN TO HOME IS A FLAGSHIP AND BEST PRACTICE PROGRAM. COMMUNITY CATS ARE ONE OF THE MOST AT-RISK POPULATIONS IN SHELTER ENVIRONMENTS. USING ADDRESS INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH OUR SHELTER-BASED INTERVENTIONS, WE TARGET THE CATS THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL OF ENDING UP AT THE CITY SHELTER IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES. HEALTHY COMMUNITY CATS ARE FIXED, VACCINATED, MICROCHIPPED, AND EAR TIPPED; THEN THEY ARE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES AND CAREGIVERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $297,795 spent. ADOPTIONS: OUR ADOPTIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES FOSTER AND FOREVER HOMES TO CATS AND KITTENS THAT ARE PULLED FROM LOS ANGELES ANIMAL SERVICE SHELTERS. WE FOCUS ON THE MOST IN-NEED CATS - THOSE WHO ARE SICK, INJURED, OR UNDERAGE - AND ARE AT RISK OF BEING EUTHANIZED. WE PULL MORE OF THESE CATS FROM THE SIX LOS ANGELES ANIMAL SERVICES SHELTERS THAN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION. WE ALSO ACCEPT CATS AND KITTENS FROM CARING COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE RESOURCES ARE LIMITED OR UNAVAILABLE. THIS HELPS ENSURE THAT THESE CATS AND KITTENS NEVER END UP AT MUNICIPAL SHELTERS. ONCE THEY ENTER OUR PROGRAMS, EACH CAT/KITTEN RECEIVES VETERINARY CARE, INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER, VACCINES, TESTING, CHECK-UPS, AND MICROCHIPS IN OUR FULL SERVICE CLINIC. OUR ADOPTION COUNSELORS INTERVIEW AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO POTENTIAL NEW FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENSURE THAT EACH CAT GETS MATCHED WITH A LOVING, SUPPORTIVE FOREVER HOME.
  4. $1.1 million spent. CARE FOR COMMUNITY CATS: STRAY CAT ALLIANCE EMPOWERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DIRECTLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CATS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THROUGH OUR HOTLINE, WE PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES RELATED TO COMPANION ANIMALS IN NEED OF CARE - INCLUDING TRAP/NEUTER/RETURN, ADOPTIONS, RESCUE, AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY CAT FEEDERS IN OUR LOCAL AREA TO PROVIDE MEALS TO CATS AND KITTENS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.