The Mutt Scouts Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
208674546
IRS 990 coverage
2018–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2017
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
Phone
2138641292
Rating
67
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Animal Protection and Welfare

Reported finances

Revenue
$618,657
Expenses
$564,545
Assets
$106,187
Liabilities
$0

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

3 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • NICOLE AUDET (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)

People named in this filing

  • NICOLE AUDET (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
  • SHAYNA LESSER (SECRETARY)
  • AMELIE HUBERT (CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Southern California dog rescue. Any breed, any need, dedicated to helping homeless, abused and abandoned dogs from Mexico and high kill shelters throughout California.

What it reported doing in 2024

In August 2024, we got a heartbreaking call from a rescuer in Mexico about a backyard breeding operation that had spiraled completely out of control. A man was breeding and selling dogs purely for profit, with no concern for their well-being. What rescuers found was devastating: exhausted mama dogs who had been bred over and over, some barely out of puppyhood themselves and more than 30 dogs in total who were desperate for help. They were living in filthy, overcrowded kennels. Many were malnourished, some suffering from untreated genetic conditions, and all were terrified. We knew we couldnt turn our backs. So, we said yes. Yes to all 30+ dogs, and immediately began the long road to healing. aking in that many dogs at once was overwhelming both emotionally and financially. We spent over $20,000 on vet care, treatments, and the slow, patient work of helping each dog learn to trust again. Every single one had their own story of survival and one by one, they started to bloom. Today, every one of those dogs has found a forever home across Southern California. Seeing their photos... running free, curled up on soft beds, loved beyond measure... brings tears to our eyes every time.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 74% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. A relatively small share of voting board members are independent and some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 77
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 6
  • Sustainability: 51
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 84.3%; rating input score 84
  • Program expense ratio: 92.4%; rating input score 92
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 8.7%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.19; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 27% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 29.9% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 49.6% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 84.3% of revenue deployed · 92.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 0 of 3 board members independent · 1 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $522K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 3 people listed
  • Consistency: 18 of 18 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 3 filing years from 2018 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Accountability: Independent voting board scored 0/100.
  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 5 of 6 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 9/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 59/100.