MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW

Financials

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.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

PO BOX 21724, LEXINGTON, KY 40522-1724

In care of

% DIANE PARRISH

Mailing address (990-N for 2021)

173 Louisiana Avenue, Lexington KY 40502

Principal officer (990 for 2025)

Diane Parrish, 173 Louisiana Ave, Lexington, KY 40502

Principal officer (990-N for 2021)

Diane Parrish, 173 Louisiana Ave, Lexington KY 40502

Signed the 990

Barbara Jones, Treasurer

Phone

(859) 559-2466

Website

www.madnky.com

Mission

Mission: Rescue animals, educate communities, advocate for animal welfare. We exist to help animals and the people who love and care for them.

Program accomplishments

• First Program Service Accomplishment Rescue/Animal Care. This was our largest program area in 2025. It includes such specific services as S/N (spay-neuter) of companion animals; TNR (trap-neuter-return) for community cats; community cat caregiving; rescue of ill, injured, homeless and at-risk animals; veterinary care; transport of homeless animals at risk of euthanasia in Kentucky shelters to shelters and rescues in other states with more options for foster and adoptive homes; and foster care, along with extensive collaboration with sister organizations regarding all these service needs. We have always made collaborations and partnerships a priority and firmly believe that these relationships are key to addressing the critical needs in animal welfare. Sadly, even with the committed partnerships MADN and other organizations have developed, animal welfare remains in post-pandemic crisis. Needs far exceed resources, and most shelters and rescues struggle to keep their heads above water. Shelters that hadn't had to euthanize healthy animals for years before covid continue to face that awful prospect, as all animal welfare staff and volunteers continue the search for additional resources to save more lives. As virtually everyone in animal welfare agrees, we will never be able to rescue our way out of the companion animal overpopulation crisis, and we must all invest in figuring out greater access to spay-neuter services. We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships and for the new collaboratives we built in the last year as we all work to build greater public awareness and engage more volunteers and support.
  Expenses $19,208 · revenue $15,055
• Second Program Service Accomplishment Education. The pandemic's ongoing impact continues with many people estimating that animal welfare has been set back at least two decades, largely because of the companion animal overpopulation crisis. For many in the field, the general public's lack of awareness continues to be surprising and discouraging. Casual owner relinquishment of their pets, even elderly pets who have only known this family for most of their lives. Rejection of S/N. Pets abandoned to fend for themselves, most of whom suffer from confusion, terror, hunger, and thirst, and many of whom die. Pets starved to inconceivable condition. And purchasers of animals continuing this awful cycle by supporting irresponsible breeders and puppy/kitten mills, and the pet stores that support them, rather than adopting from shelters/rescues or at least ensuring they only purchase from responsible breeders. Education has always been a central element of MADN's mission. We have developed highly regarded programs we have offered in central Kentucky (Making A Difference Conferences) and in other communities (Taking it to the Towns: On the Road Workshops), as well as webinars and other online offerings, most of which heavily emphasize companion animal welfare. As noted above, this education/awareness-building is incredibly important because we are in the throes of a profound companion animal overpopulation crisis, and we will continue all of these in our effort to reach and teach individuals who contribute to the crisis, either because of low information/awareness or disregard for the consequences of their actions. In addition, we take our mission to educate the public about animal welfare writ large seriously, and we intend to add to our efforts to educate people about 1) the many overlaps in human and animal well-being and KY's rankings on many important measures of well-being, and 2) the broader animal welfare challenges that impact farm and research animals and wildlife.
  Expenses $6,069 · revenue $5,754
• Third Program Service Accomplishment: Advocacy. Advocacy is a slog in Kentucky, with our state ranking 47th in the Animal Legal Defense Fund's ranking of animal protection laws. Even more sad than our current ranking is the fact that 47th is progress since we ranked dead last for over 10 years. While hard, advocating for better laws and better enforcement is essential if we are to help Kentucky's animals and people. An excellent case in point is the state statute that was passed in 2024. Dubbed Ethan's Law for the wonderful dog who captured hearts all over the state as he recovered from severe neglect, the statute allows a person to be charged with a Class D felony the first time and every time they torture a dog or cat. It is an important deterrent, and it is also the first substantial upgrade to our animal protection laws in years. Bipartisan support for Ethan's Law offers hope for additional progress. Of course, passage of the law is the first step. Enforcement must back it up. In too many cases and areas of our state, enforcement has been slow to keep pace, and MADN and our many excellent advocacy partners continue to call out lax enforcement and encourage community members to make their voices heard. In addition to our advocacy partnership work in support of and opposition to state statutes and their full enforcement, MADN and our partners support local ordinances as well. Six Kentucky communities, including MADN's home community of Lexington, passed humane retail pet sales ordinances to prohibit the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores and outdoor venues. These are huge successes for our communities because pet stores that continue to sell pets, rather than work with local rescues and shelters to showcase rescued pets for adoption, contribute mightily to the pet overpopulation crisis. They support the horrors of puppy/kitten mills and often sell ill, ill-bred, under-socialized puppies and kittens at predatory pricing and lending rates. These six communities said no thanks to these business practices and the cruelty of the puppy/kitten mill-to-pet store cruelty pipeline. We fully expect more communities to join them, and MADN and animal advocates throughout our state will continue to support these efforts and to oppose state and national efforts to overturn and preempt local communities' ability to establish animal welfare standards for their own communities.
  Expenses $5,655 · revenue $5,655

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

27-1250051

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

2010

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990-N (e-Postcard)

Category (NTEE)

Animal-related (D20)

Assets (IRS master file)

$59,330

Income (IRS master file)

$43,767

Filing history

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 27-1250051).

Questions about MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW

What is the EIN of MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW?

The employer identification number (EIN) of MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW is 27-1250051.

Is MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2010.

Are donations to MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW file?

Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.

When is the next return of MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW 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 MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW 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 MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Diane Parrish.

Who are the officers and directors of MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 5 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.

How much revenue does MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $43,767, expenses of $36,352 and total assets of $59,330 at year end.

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