Bettertogether Forever

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Our mission is to help under-served, under-resourced, at-risk people and the pets they love stay together.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-1329182) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 10 volunteers and 6 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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $26K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
87% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$99K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
4.2 mo
of spending, in cash
4.2 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $25K
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$11K
3% of total assets
Liabilities are 3% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
8 of 8 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$1.4M
+295% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$396K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.4M
FY2024▲ +295%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$886K
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$859K
FY2023$353K
FY2024$1.4M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +157%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$839K
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$948K
FY2023$448K
FY2024$1.1M
Net assets
$396K
FY2024▲ +167%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$313K
FY2021$332K
FY2022$243K
FY2023$149K
FY2024$396K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

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

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

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $1.0M Management & general 12% · $139K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $99K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$80,000Pt VII · Sec A
Assoc Exec Director
$19,067Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Christy Schilling’s $80K as Executive Director is at the 28th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1137 $1–10M 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Christy Schilling$80,000$79,792$75,000$75,000
Kerry Armstrong$19,067$20,763$21,319$14,615

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.

See Bettertogether Forever executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Keeps pets with their owners by providing resources and support.

Questions for Bettertogether Forever

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3 programs · $1.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Fiscal Sponsor

Shelter me - organization acts as a fiscal sponsor for shelter me which is producing a film series that features shelter pets and the people who help them, in order to increase the visibility of shelter pets and promote their adoption and to recruit volunteers to help in shelters.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-1329182) · Dispute this line
$695Kprogram expense
02

Shelter Intervention Program

Onsite program at the los angeles north central animal shelter where options are offered to people so they don't have to surrender their pets, and to help people get their pets out of the shelter.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-1329182) · Dispute this line
$210Kprogram expense
03

Animal Welfare Services

In 2024 we distributed over $146,389 of dog and cat food and supplies to those families struggling financially. We covered veterinary services (including SPAY/NEUTER and wellness) for 2,156 pets and 831 vaccinations were given.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-1329182) · Dispute this line
$113Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$25K

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.0M
Managementcol C$139K
Owns and owesPt X
$396K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$405K
Total assetsLn 16$408K
LiabilitiesLn 26$11K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Other incomeLn 4–11$16K
Total revenueLn 12$1.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$405K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$405K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$408K
LiabilitiesLn 26$11K
Net assetsLn 32$396K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 610
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$145K$405K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$149K$408K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$11K
Net assetsLn 32$149K$396K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$162K$42K$120K
Payroll taxesLn 10$14K$4K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$1K$1K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$4K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$608$608
InsuranceLn 23$5K$3K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$956K$954K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$1.0M$139K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 $1.4M$1.1M$248K$396K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2024 $353K$448K−$94K$149K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2023 $859K$948K−$89K$243K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2022 $1.4M$1.4M$18K$332K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 12, 2021 $886K$839K$47K$313K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $1,397,241 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $320,614$1,379,395
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$2,206
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $32,702$15,640
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $353,316$1,397,241
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $165,520$175,734
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $282,000$973,862
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $447,520$1,149,596
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$94,204$247,645
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,397,241 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$333,515
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,045,880
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,379,395
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,206$2,206
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $15,640$15,640
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $17,846$1,397,241
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,149,596 across 10 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $42,173 · Management $119,996$162,169
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,660 · Management $9,905$13,565
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $1,000$1,000
IX-11g Other fees for services$2,269
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,510$1,510
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $3,578$3,578
IX-14 Information technology$3,249
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $608$608
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,194 · Management $2,029$5,223
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $954,439 · Management $1,986$956,425
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,004,976 · Management $139,102 · Fundraising $0$1,149,596
Part X · Balance sheet $407,556 assets, 7 lines filed
Net asset lines not itemized here account for $396,180. See the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $144,826$404,556
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$3,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $148,535$407,556
X-25 Other liabilities$11,376
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$11,376
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $148,535$396,180
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $148,535$407,556
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $396,180 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,397,241
XI-2 Total expenses$1,149,596
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$247,645
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$148,535
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$396,180

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

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