Ruff Start Rescue Inc
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.
Ruff Start Rescue Inc at a glance
In short: Ruff Start Rescue Inc gave $40K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,869
- +65.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,935
- +147.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,935
- Total assets
- $2,975,896
- +11.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ruff Start Rescue Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Caer Food Shelf ($32K). Together the top 2 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 16 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ruff Start Rescue Inc gives
- Giving grew 260% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2023) to $167K (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $40K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Caer Food Shelf Elk River, MN | General Support | $31,656 |
| Princeton Pantry Princeton, MN | General Support | $8,213 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,975,896 | $3,472,707 | $3,165,840 | $39,869 | 2 | $56,440 |
| 2024 | $2,671,991 | $3,129,381 | $2,798,639 | $24,127 | 3 | $59,158 |
| 2023 | $2,292,834 | $2,463,441 | $2,218,506 | $6,099 | Total only | $37,354 |
| 2022 | $2,054,006 | $2,473,385 | $2,043,686 | $11,076 | 2 | $7,290 |
| 2021 | $1,627,782 | $2,286,954 | $2,117,202 | $166,642 | 9 | $2,505 |
| 2020 | $1,605,118 | $1,813,419 | $1,603,406 | — | — | $1,972 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Ruff Start Rescue Inc
Based on IRS filings
Ruff Start Rescue Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Princeton, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $40K. Net investment income was $56K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ruff Start Rescue Inc is led by Valerie McCullough, Board Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Valerie McCullough
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Riddle
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$36K (2025)
Kristine Mitteness
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Harnden
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Napravnik
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allyson Beffel
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Morgan Graby
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Harris
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Azure Davis
Executive Di
President → Executive Di, 2025
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $127K (2025)
John Check
Treasurer
Treasurer → Former Treasurer, 2022
Former Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Bergstrom
Former Director
Director → Former Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel Lee
Treasurer F
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Treasurer F, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Coleman
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Willman
Secretary
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris McCullough
Former Director
Director → Former Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Mathias
Former Director
Director → Former Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Jason Michels (2022–2024) — Former Vice
- Former: Amanda Rothstein (2023–2024) — Former Director
- Former: Vanessa Rokhman (2024) — Former Director
- Former: Katie Larson (2020–2023) — Former Secretary
- Former: Peter Williams (2020–2023) — Former Director
- Former: Susan Bloom (2020–2023) — Former Director
- Former: Brooks Becker (2022–2023) — Former Director
- Former: Sarah Benbow (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Andy Willman (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Ross Kronholm (2020–2022) — Former Director
- Former: Denise Holmquist (2020) — Former Treasurer
- Former: Kathy Rumpza (2020) — Director
- Former: Lisa Kertz (2020) — Former Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $127K, to Azure Davis (Executive Di). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ruff Start Rescue Inc
How much does Ruff Start Rescue Inc give each year?
Ruff Start Rescue Inc gave $40K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $24K across 3 grants.
How large is Ruff Start Rescue Inc?
Ruff Start Rescue Inc reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.
What is Ruff Start Rescue Inc?
Ruff Start Rescue Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Princeton, MN. It holds $3.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Ruff Start Rescue Inc operate?
Ruff Start Rescue Inc has awarded grants in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
What is Ruff Start Rescue Inc's EIN?
Ruff Start Rescue Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2545988. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ruff Start Rescue Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ruff Start Rescue Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Ruff Start Rescue Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?