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Critter Encounters

Critter encounters is a wildlife rescue and sanctuary, maintaining and caring for native and exotic species. Critter encounters uses these animals as animal ambassadors in educational programs throughout …

Animal Welfare Ramona, CA EIN: 872215099 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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90
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
90/100 · methodology

About Critter Encounters

Critter Encounters is a wildlife sanctuary caring for native and exotic species and providing live animal educational programs to the communities within Southern California.In the last year, Critter Encounters Animal Ambassadors did hundreds of events, bringing joy and education to Retirement Facilities, Schools, Girl Scouts, as well as Community & Private events. These programs generated over $130,000 in program services revenue. In addition, Critter Encounters also raised over $8,000 in private individual and corporate donations.

Founded
Headquarters
Ramona, CA
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
D34
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
small

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 2021

Mission

Critter encounters is a wildlife rescue and sanctuary, maintaining and caring for native and exotic species. Critter encounters uses these animals as animal ambassadors in educational programs throughout the community.

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United States
Program spending This charity: 85%
Peer average: 91%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 2.60%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 90
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· None found
No red flags found
Screened for IRS revocation history, Open investigations, Governance scandals, Related-party deals, Excessive exec comp.

Where every $1 goes

· FY2025 · IRS 990 (FY2025)
$0.85
Program$0.85
85% to programs beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

From what GiveRadar has verified so far, Critter Encounters has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 4 independent sources including the IRS.

  • It is one of the better-documented animal welfare charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
  • GiveRadar has cross-referenced this organization across 4 independent sources, led by the IRS - more than 93% of comparable charities. See the sources
  • It has more complete contact information than nearly all comparable charities, with a verified website, email, phone and address on record. See national comparisons
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (4 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a contact email
  • a donation page
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Critter Encounters is a registered animal welfare nonprofit based in Ramona, CA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2021 and has been operating for 5 years. Its EIN is 872215099. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 90/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $230K in annual revenue. 15 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.

Critter Encounters's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 872215099. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.

Critter Encounters has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 90/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 90 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 85% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for animal welfare charities in United States is 90/100.

Critter Encounters is located in Ramona, CA, United States. The organization was established in 2021 and has been active for 5 years.

Based on official tax filings, Critter Encounters has $230K in annual revenue. It allocates 85% of expenses to programs and services. This is below the average of 91% for animal welfare charities in United States. Its revenue is below the peer average of $1M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Critter Encounters is classified as an Animal Welfare organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a small organization. It has $230K in annual revenue. The organization has 15 disclosed officers and directors.

No red flags have been detected for Critter Encounters. GiveRadar automatically screens charities for concerning patterns including high executive compensation, low program spending, and missing financial filings. Based on available official data, no issues have been identified.

According to GiveRadar's records, Critter Encounters holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 85% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 91%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Critter Encounters is a wildlife sanctuary caring for native and exotic species and providing live animal educational programs to the communities within Southern California.In the last year, Critter Encounters Animal Ambassadors did hundreds of events, bringing joy and education to Retirement Facilities, Schools, Girl Scouts, as well as Community & Private events. These programs generated over $130,000 in program services revenue. In addition, Critter Encounters also raised over $8,000 in private individual and corporate donations. Critter Encounters is classified as an animal welfare organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2021.

Among animal welfare charities registered in United States: It allocates 85% of expenses to programs, below the peer average of 91%. Its annual revenue of $230K is below the peer average of $1M.

Yes, donations to Critter Encounters are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Critter Encounters is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 872215099, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Annual revenue
$100K-$1M
85% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2025) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

4 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2025): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2025, FY2024, FY2023, FY2022.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
3

Leadership

From FY2025 filing

AN
Andrea B•••••
CEO

Officers & trustees (3)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

3 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

10 articles found

From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

WHAT TO DO | ‘The Pillowman,’ Wild Wonders critter show; Celebrate Trails Day - JaxToday
Apr 2026
jaxtoday.org
Paws in the Pasture Springtime Critter Egg-stravaganza - fox10tv.com
Apr 2026
www.fox10tv.com
Ramona Garden Club awards grants to Wildlife Research Institute and Critter Encounters - San Diego Union-Tribune
Feb 2026
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Form filed
$0.2M revenue
FY2025
IRS 990
Critter Control franchise brings humane-focused wildlife removal to California - Pest Management Professional
Nov 2025
www.mypmp.net
Kentucky critter encounters: 8 stories of wildlife living among us - Lexington Herald Leader
Sep 2025
www.kentucky.com
3 Critter Encounters in Hocking Hills State Park - Ohio Magazine
Aug 2025
www.ohiomagazine.com
Critter Encounters moves to new Ramona location with its 52 animals - San Diego Union-Tribune
Jan 2025
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Wild Wonders: Critter Encounters At Lake Of The Ozarks That Made 2024 Memorable - LakeExpo.com
Dec 2024
www.lakeexpo.com
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS: RAMONA RESCUE IS HAVEN FOR INJURED AND DISABLED ANIMALS - East County Magazine
Jul 2024
www.eastcountymagazine.org
Critter Encounters encourages people to get up close and personal with animals - San Diego Union-Tribune
Feb 2024
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.1M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
Animal Welfare this charity 40,468
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2025 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 15 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
100%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2025 on record
  • Named leadership · 15 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 2021
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Critter Encounters

What is Critter Encounters?
Critter Encounters is a animal welfare publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Ramona, United States. Critter Encounters is a wildlife sanctuary caring for native and exotic species and providing live animal educational programs to the communities within Southern California.In the last year, Critter Encounters Animal Ambassadors did hundreds of events, bringing joy and education to Retirement Facilities, Schools, Girl Scouts, as well as Community & Private events. These programs generated over $130,000 in program services revenue. In addition, Critter Encounters also raised over $8,000 in private individual and corporate donations.
When was Critter Encounters founded?
Critter Encounters was founded in 2021.
Who leads Critter Encounters?
Andrea Burgan serves as CEO.
Where is Critter Encounters located?
Headquartered in Ramona, CA, United States.
What is Critter Encounters's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is approximately $100K-$1M. 85% of expenses go to program services.
Is Critter Encounters trustworthy?
Critter Encounters has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 90 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Critter Encounters's registration number?
IRS EIN: 872215099.
What is Critter Encounters's website?
http://www.critterencounters.org