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 …
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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.
Verified certifications
Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.
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 whereHow it stacks up against peers
· vs. 8 similar animal welfare in United StatesConcerns
· None foundWhere every $1 goes
· FY2025 · IRS 990 (FY2025)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
- government registration
- financial records (4 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a contact email
- a donation page
- 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 + methodologyCritter 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.
Filing history
4 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2025): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTaxes
Tax-deductibility for donors
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS is registered in United States. Donations from the Netherlands to charities outside the EU/EEA are generally not tax-deductible for Dutch donors unless the charity is listed on the Dutch ANBI register with foreign-recognized status.
Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
From filings and published profiles
Leadership
From FY2025 filing
Officers & trustees (3)
Source: Public filings
3 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.
Latest news
From global news sources
10 articles found
From news sources and the organization. Shown for transparency; news never affects the integrity score.
WHAT TO DO | ‘The Pillowman,’ Wild Wonders critter show; Celebrate Trails Day - JaxToday
Paws in the Pasture Springtime Critter Egg-stravaganza - fox10tv.com
Ramona Garden Club awards grants to Wildlife Research Institute and Critter Encounters - San Diego Union-Tribune
Critter Control franchise brings humane-focused wildlife removal to California - Pest Management Professional
Kentucky critter encounters: 8 stories of wildlife living among us - Lexington Herald Leader
3 Critter Encounters in Hocking Hills State Park - Ohio Magazine
Critter Encounters moves to new Ramona location with its 52 animals - San Diego Union-Tribune
Wild Wonders: Critter Encounters At Lake Of The Ozarks That Made 2024 Memorable - LakeExpo.com
CRITTER ENCOUNTERS: RAMONA RESCUE IS HAVEN FOR INJURED AND DISABLED ANIMALS - East County Magazine
Critter Encounters encourages people to get up close and personal with animals - San Diego Union-Tribune
Activity timeline
Filings and press mentions, merged
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Sign up to write a reviewCause areas in United States
How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.
Most common causes in United States
Causes charities work on most.
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
What we know and don't know
Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.
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Financial data · FY2025 on record
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Named leadership · 15 officers on file
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Executive pay · Disclosed
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Government registration · Registered with an official registry
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Mission statement · Published
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Official website · On record
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Headquarters address · On file
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Direct contact · Email or phone published
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Tax-deductibility · Verified
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Founding date · 2021
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Programs & activitiesNo 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.
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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