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Nonprofit · EIN 47-1652323

BAILING OUT BENJI

Also known as MINDI M CALLISON SOLE MBR

Tax-exempt · AMES, IA 50010

Financials

$401K$417K2023$363K$402K2024$483K$486K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of BAILING OUT BENJI by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$483,484$485,657-$2,173$517,439$11,249$506,190
December 31, 2024990 (amended)$363,212$401,588-$38,376$515,742$7,379$508,363
December 31, 2023990$400,653$416,670-$16,017$544,479$5,738$538,741
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$462,898
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$13,384
Net income from fundraising events
$2,219
Net income from sales of inventory
$4,983
Other revenue
$7,202

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$69,949
Other salaries and wages
$216,368
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$318,324
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$1,241
Occupancy
$28,395
Travel
$9,322
Program services (functional)
$277,889
Management and general (functional)
$131,725
Fundraising (functional)
$76,043

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$515,742
Total assets, end of year
$517,439
Total liabilities, end of year
$11,249
Net assets, end of year
$506,190
Net assets without donor restrictions
$493,521
Net assets with donor restrictions
$12,669
Gross receipts
$497,446
Employees
6
Volunteers
233
Year formed
2014
State of legal domicile
IA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MINDI CALLISONPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
40$64,940$5,009
JASON LONGTreasurer
Trustee or director
0$0$0
BRANDI WEBBERSecretary
Trustee or director
0$0$0
RACHEL YARGERVice President
Trustee or director
0$0$0
JAKE BIWERTreasurer
Trustee or director
0$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 5 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MINDI CALLISONPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
40$65,097$5,654
NICOLE GALVANProgram Director
Trustee or director
0$0$0
JASON LONGTreasurer
Trustee or director
0$0$0
BRANDI WEBBERSecretary
Trustee or director
0$0$0
RACHEL YARGERVice President
Trustee or director
0$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 5 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
MINDI CALLISONPresident
Trustee or director, Officer
40$60,482$3,900
NICOLE GALVANProgram Director
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JASON LONGTreasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
BRANDI WEBBERSecretary
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
RACHEL YARGERVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
2521 S UNIVERSITY BLVD, AMES, IA 50010-8629
In care of
% MINDI CALLISON
Mailing address (990-N for 2016)
PO Box 203, Ames IA 50010
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
MINDI CALLISON, PO BOX 203, AMES, IA 50010
Principal officer (990-N for 2016)
Mindi Callison, PO Box 203, Ames IA 50010
Signed the 990
MINDI CALLISON, President
Phone
(515) 460-1244
Return prepared by
ZD Accounting Services LLC

Mission

We do research, education, and advocacy regarding puppy mills, along with support to pet owners facing financial hardships to enable them to keep their pets in the family, reducing strains on local shelters

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Bailing Out Benji disseminates information about the dog breeding and selling industry to the general public through multiple media channels, including its website, social media platforms, and podcast, and through in-person, volunteer-led public events. The organization produces and distributes content designed to help individuals make informed decisions when acquiring a pet, developing policies and regulations, or advocating for changes in the industry. Public outreach efforts also include the development and maintenance of a publicly accessible licensed breeder search engine, enabling consumers and advocates to research licensed breeders at the state and federal level. Bailing Out Benji's outreach materials are used by advocates, policymakers, and puppy buyers nationwide.
    Expenses $110,553
  • Bailing Out Benji's unique research program collects, catalogs, and conducts forensic analysis on extensive data from government inspection reports, health records, lawsuits, and more, to spark change within the puppy mill, commercial dog breeding, and pet acquisition industries. Our research is used to flag habitual violators, expose sham rescue operations, and produce national datasets on licensed breeder violations, broker supply chains, and retail compliance. Research findings are made available to the public, and are actively used by legislators, regulators, law enforcement, and animal advocates to inform policy development and regulatory reform efforts.
    Expenses $104,071
  • At Bailing Out Benji, we believe you can't help animals without first helping the people who love those animals. Our Benji Cares program has been able to make an immeasurable impact on thousands of families who were experiencing financial hardship and needed a partner to help them get through. Our pet food pantry and pet wellness clinics provide essential support to pet owners in times of need, removing barriers that often lead families to surrender their pets to shelters. This allows pets to stay in homes and reduces strain on local shelters. In 2025, we served an average of 88 families each month at our pet food pantry and provided 361 vaccines and microchips to 165 pets free of charge at our annual Pet Wellness Clinic.
    Expenses $63,265

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
47-1652323
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2015
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Animal-related (D20)
Assets (IRS master file)
$517,439
Income (IRS master file)
$497,446

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$483,484$485,657$517,439IRS
990December 2024$363,212$401,588$515,742XML
990December 2023$400,653$416,670$544,479XML
990December 2022$517,454$337,297$554,757IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-EZDecember 2018–––IRS
990-N for 2016
Officer: Mindi Callison
December 31, 2016≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 47-1652323).

Questions about BAILING OUT BENJI

What is the EIN of BAILING OUT BENJI?
The employer identification number (EIN) of BAILING OUT BENJI is 47-1652323.
Is BAILING OUT BENJI tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
Are donations to BAILING OUT BENJI tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does BAILING OUT BENJI file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of BAILING OUT BENJI due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did BAILING OUT BENJI last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of BAILING OUT BENJI?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MINDI CALLISON.
Who are the officers and directors of BAILING OUT BENJI?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 5 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $64,940 (MINDI CALLISON, President).
How much revenue does BAILING OUT BENJI have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $483,484, expenses of $485,657 and total assets of $517,439 at year end.

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