The Cat's Meow is dedicated to reducing the number of homeless cats on Fidalgo and Guemes Islands by providing proactive and effective animal welfare services for cats.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 40 volunteers and 9 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $8K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$68K
to officers and key staff · 19% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 19% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $20K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$24K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
2
of 2 voting members
Looks good: 2 of 2 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$343K
+12% vs prior year
Spent
$351K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$415K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$343K
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$227K
FY2021$379K
FY2022$345K
FY2023$307K
FY2024$343K
Expenses
$351K
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$263K
FY2021$297K
FY2022$339K
FY2023$312K
FY2024$351K
Net assets
$415K
FY2024▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$354K
FY2021$435K
FY2022$417K
FY2023$423K
FY2024$415K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2004.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $311K Management & general 5% · $17K Fundraising 7% · $23K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

3 people listed on the 990; $68K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$68,440Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michele Onorato’s $68K as Executive Director is at the 75th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1220 $100K–1M animals nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michele Onorato$68,440$66,184$66,184$63,440$63,440

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps homeless cats on Fidalgo and Guemes Islands with welfare services.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $309K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

In 2024, the Cat's Meow admitted 85 cats and kittens and placed 61 cats and kittens in new homes. In addition, 3 cats were returned to their owners, 16 cats were released to feral colonies and 6 cats were euthanized or died due to terminal medical conditions.

$194Kprogram expense
02

The Cat's Meow operates a thrift shop, Thrifty Kitty. All proceeds support the organization's mission.

$115Kprogram expense
03

The Cat's Meow provides free spay/neuter and other assistance to residents of Fidalgo and Guemes Islands. In 2024, the Cat's Meow provided emergency medical care for one cat.

$323program expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2022
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$20K

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$343K
Ln 12
Other incomeLn 4–11$251K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$72K
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Money outPt IX
$351K
Ln 25
Programscol B$311K
Managementcol C$17K
Fundraisingcol D$23K
Owns and owesPt X
$415K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$167K
Total assetsLn 16$438K
LiabilitiesLn 26$24K
PeoplePt VI, VII
3
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a2
IndependentVI 1b2
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$72K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6K
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Other incomeLn 4–11$251K
Total revenueLn 12$343K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$44K
SavingsLn 2$123K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$167K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$133K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$137K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$438K
LiabilitiesLn 26$24K
Net assetsLn 32$415K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 640
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$185K$167K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$123K$133K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$135K$137K
Total assetsLn 16$445K$438K
LiabilitiesLn 26$22K$24K
Net assetsLn 32$423K$415K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$68K$41K$14K$14K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$89K$89K$0$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$18K$15K$1K$1K
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0$0$0$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$1K$0$1K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2K$2K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$858$158$0$700
Office expensesLn 13$18K$14K$549$4K
Information technologyLn 14$6K$5K$142$1K
OccupancyLn 16$36K$36K$0$0
TravelLn 17$0$0$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$11K$11K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K$0$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$81K$81K$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$15K$13K$60$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$351K$311K$17K$23K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $343K$351K−$9K$415K 990 PDF
FY2023 $307K$312K−$5K$423K 990 PDF
FY2022 $345K$339K$6K$417K 990 PDF
FY2021 $379K$297K$82K$435K 990 PDF
FY2020 $227K$263K−$36K$354K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $342,615 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $100,374$71,975
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $9,840$6,250
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $7,531$13,043
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $189,365$251,347
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $307,110$342,615
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $144,352$175,177
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $168,040$176,242
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $312,392$351,419
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$5,282−$8,804
Part VI · Governance 2 of 2 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body2
VI-1b Independent voting members2
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $342,615 across 14 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $232,537 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$71,975
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$71,975
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,250 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$6,250
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $13,043$13,043
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $17,621$17,621
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,189 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$1,189
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $239,976 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $30,664$342,615
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $351,419 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $41,064 · Management $13,688 · Fundraising $13,688$68,440
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $89,007 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$89,007
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $14,886 · Management $1,422 · Fundraising $1,422$17,730
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,478 · Fundraising $0$1,478
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,450 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$2,450
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $158 · Management $0 · Fundraising $700$858
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $13,544 · Management $549 · Fundraising $3,720$17,813
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,819 · Management $142 · Fundraising $1,175$6,136
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $35,946 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$35,946
IX-17 TravelPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $10,527 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$10,527
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $4,227 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$4,227
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $81,439 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$81,439
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $12,867 · Management $60 · Fundraising $2,441$15,368
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $310,934 · Management $17,339 · Fundraising $23,146$351,419
Part X · Balance sheet $438,423 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $44,567$44,137
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $140,408$123,044
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $135,077$137,076
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $123,179$132,566
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,600$1,600
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $444,831$438,423
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $17,693$22,162
X-18 Grants payable$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $4,089$1,558
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilities$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $21,782$23,720
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $423,049$414,703
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $444,831$438,423
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $414,703 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$342,615
XI-2 Total expenses$351,419
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$8,804
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$423,049
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$458
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$414,703

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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