Ruff Start Rescue is dedicated to saving the lives of animals in need. We improve animal welfare in communities through adoption, education, and providing resources for people and pets.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$91K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2022 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $282K a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$91K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $43K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$50K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.5M
+8% vs prior year
Spent
$2.0M
To programs
89%
Net assets
$2.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.5M
FY2022▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.8M
FY2021$2.3M
FY2022$2.5M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$3.5M
Expenses
$2.0M
FY2022▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.8M
FY2025$3.2M
Net assets
$2.0M
FY2022▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.6M
FY2025$2.9M

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 2010.

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

Where the money goes

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $1.8M Management & general 7% · $138K Fundraising 5% · $93K

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

13 people listed on the 990; $91K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President
$91,303Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Azure Davis’s $127K as Executive Di is at the 64th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Azure Davis$127,435$115,695$98,981$91,303$87,633$76,734
Dr Jeremy Riddle$35,653—————

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 Ruff Start Rescue INC executive salaries →

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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

Saves at-risk animals and educates about rescue and welfare.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Animal care program ruff start rescue is dedicated to saving the lives of animals in need and is a no-kill, 100% SPAY/NEUTER rescue that helps animals of all breeds, ages, and medical conditions across minnesota and the united states. Since march 2010, ruff start has saved over 21,480 animals.

$1.8Mprogram expense
02

Education program ruff start rescue's education program encourages community members of all ages to become responsible and compassionate pet owners and animal advocates. In 2022, ruff start rescue reached 533 children and 115 adults.

$8Kprogram expense
03

Community support ruff start rescue is committed to fostering resident animal welfare by providing resources to surrounding communities in need. In 2022, ruff start contributed over 8,145 LBS. Of pet food to local shelters, food banks, and animal rescues.

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$43K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $2K · 2022–2022
Lake Traverse Animal RezcueSD · FY2022$2,400

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$872K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$2.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$138K
Fundraisingcol D$93K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$50K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$247K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$92K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$872K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Total revenueLn 12$2.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$718K
SavingsLn 2$857K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$368K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$50K
Net assetsLn 32$2.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 550
VolunteersI 6650
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$383K$368K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$53K$50K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M$2.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$19K$19K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$2K$2K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$91K$55K$23K$14K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.0M$887K$76K$41K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$54K$45K$7K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$86K$74K$8K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$8K$8K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$21K$17K$2K$3K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$14K$9K$2K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$11K$7K$1K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$25K$11K$6K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$17K$16K$881$203
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$36K$35K$360$1K
InsuranceLn 23$20K$17K$2K$535
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$612K$599K$25$13K
All other expensesLn 24e$24K$21K$2K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.0M$1.8M$138K$93K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $3.5M$3.2M$307K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.1M$2.8M$331K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.5M$2.2M$245K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $2.5M$2.0M$430K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.3M$2.1M$170K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.8M$1.6M$210K$1.4M 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 M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,473,385 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,294,062$1,591,191
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $997,731$871,768
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,505$7,290
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$7,344$3,136
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,286,954$2,473,385
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $179,270$20,867
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,060,858$1,235,288
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $877,074$787,531
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,117,202$2,043,686
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $169,752$429,699
Part VI · Governance 9 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $2,473,385 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $18,531 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$91,765
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,499,426
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$247,446
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,591,191
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $871,768$871,768
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7,290$7,290
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events−$15,395
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $890,299 · Excluded from tax $7,290$2,473,385
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,043,686 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $18,838$18,838
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,029$2,029
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $54,782 · Management $22,826 · Fundraising $13,695$91,303
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $886,901 · Management $75,723 · Fundraising $41,054$1,003,678
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $45,286 · Management $7,009 · Fundraising $1,617$53,912
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $74,300 · Management $7,775 · Fundraising $4,320$86,395
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $8,328$8,328
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $16,504 · Management $1,710 · Fundraising $2,522$20,736
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $9,035 · Management $1,854 · Fundraising $3,153$14,042
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,164 · Management $1,382 · Fundraising $1,970$10,516
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $11,005 · Management $5,840 · Fundraising $8,011$24,856
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $16,283 · Management $881 · Fundraising $203$17,367
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $34,507 · Management $360 · Fundraising $1,078$35,945
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $17,301 · Management $1,873 · Fundraising $535$19,709
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $598,742 · Management $25 · Fundraising $13,239$612,006
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $20,601 · Management $2,114 · Fundraising $1,311$24,026
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,813,278 · Management $137,700 · Fundraising $92,708$2,043,686
Part X · Balance sheet $2,054,006 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $397,275$718,063
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $815,968$856,903
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$5,000
X-4 Accounts receivable$619
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $5,437$82,105
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $6,539$7,348
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $383,163$367,983
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $19,312$15,985
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,627,782$2,054,006
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $53,168$49,693
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $53,168$49,693
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,573,815$1,968,442
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $799$35,871
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,574,614$2,004,313
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,627,782$2,054,006
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,004,313 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,473,385
XI-2 Total expenses$2,043,686
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$429,699
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,574,614
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,004,313

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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