Sunny Bear Rescue
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Animal rescue, pet food pantry, microchipping
- Income
- $75,138
- Spending
- $57,655
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Highest pay
- $6,610, director
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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 58% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
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 (3)
- $972 spent. Microchipping Program Sunny Bear Rescue provides free microchipping services to help keep pets safely connected to their families. Through this program, community members can have their dogs and cats microchipped without any required fee or financial barrier. Donations are accepted only if families are able and wish to give, but no payment is requested or required for service. Each microchip is registered for the pets lifetime, giving families a permanent form of identification that greatly increases the chance of reunion if a pet is ever lost. This program supports Sunny Bear Rescues larger mission of keeping animals safe, reducing shelter intake, and helping families keep the pets they love. Lost pets without identification are at much higher risk of entering shelters and not being reunited with their owners. By making microchipping completely free, Sunny Bear Rescue helps prevent unnecessary shelter stays, reduces stress on local animal services, and gives pet owners peace of mind. During the year, Sunny Bear Rescue provided microchipping assistance to community pets through scheduled appointments, outreach events, and individual requests from families in need. The program benefited local pet owners, families facing financial hardship, and the animals themselves by providing a reliable, long-term safety net. In addition to placing the microchips, Sunny Bear Rescue helped educate families on the importance of keeping contact information current and understanding how microchips work. This service is especially important in rural communities where pets may travel long distances when lost and where access to basic pet identification services can be limited. The Microchipping Program allows Sunny Bear Rescue to serve not only animals in its direct care, but also owned pets in the surrounding community, helping more animals stay out of shelters and return home where they belong.
- $2,800 spent. Pet Food Pantry Sunny Bear Rescue operates a community Pet Food Pantry to help families keep their pets fed, safe, and at home. Through this program, Sunny Bear Rescue provides free pet food and supplies to families experiencing financial hardship, temporary emergencies, or unexpected changes in circumstances. No payment is required, and families are never asked to prove income in order to receive help. The goal is simple: keep pets with the people who love them whenever possible. The Pet Food Pantry supports dogs, cats, and other companion animals in the community by providing food assistance when families need it most. This service helps reduce owner surrenders, prevents pets from going hungry, and eases the pressure on local shelters and rescues. Many families want to keep their animals but may struggle during difficult seasons due to job loss, medical bills, rising costs, transportation challenges, or other hardships. By offering pet food assistance, Sunny Bear Rescue helps bridge that gap. During the year, Sunny Bear Rescue assisted local families through scheduled pantry events, individual emergency requests, and community outreach. The program benefited both pet owners and their animals by helping provide consistent access to food and basic supplies. Sunny Bear Rescue also accepted and distributed donated pet food, coordinated with community partners, and worked to stretch available resources as far as possible so more families could be helped. This program is an important part of Sunny Bear Rescues mission because rescue work is not only about taking animals in after they lose their homes. It is also about preventing that loss whenever possible. The Pet Food Pantry allows Sunny Bear Rescue to support families before they reach a crisis point, helping beloved pets remain in their homes and reducing the number of animals entering shelters due to financial hardship.
- $4,195 spent. Vaccination Program Sunny Bear Rescue provides free vaccination assistance to help protect community pets from preventable illness and to support families who may not otherwise be able to afford basic preventative care. Through this program, Sunny Bear Rescue offers core vaccines for community dogs and cats when supplies and resources are available. No payment is required for service. Donations are accepted only if families are able and choose to give, but families are not asked to pay in order to receive help. This program supports Sunny Bear Rescues mission by helping pets stay healthy, keeping families together, and reducing the spread of preventable disease in the community. Many families deeply love their pets but may face financial hardship, transportation challenges, rising costs, or unexpected emergencies that make routine care difficult. By removing the cost barrier for basic vaccines, Sunny Bear Rescue helps more pets receive protection before illness occurs. During the year, Sunny Bear Rescue provided vaccination assistance through community outreach, scheduled opportunities, and individual requests from families in need. The program benefited local pet owners, families facing hardship, and the animals themselves by improving access to basic preventative care. Sunny Bear Rescue also used these opportunities to educate families about the importance of keeping pets current on vaccines and continuing regular veterinary care whenever possible. The Vaccination Program is especially important because preventable illness can quickly become expensive, dangerous, and devastating for families and pets. By helping animals receive basic vaccines, Sunny Bear Rescue helps reduce avoidable suffering, supports public and animal health, and helps prevent situations where families may feel forced to surrender a pet due to medical costs. This program allows Sunny Bear Rescue to serve not only animals in its direct care, but also owned pets throughout the surrounding community.
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 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 July 2024.
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.