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Lifeline Animal Project Inc

EIN 01-0599278 · Atlanta, GA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IMPLEMENTING LIFESAVING PROGRAMS TO END SHELTER EUTHANASIA OF HEALTHY AND TREATABLE DOGS AND CATS IN METROPOLITAN ATLANTA.

Income
$25.4 million
Spending
$25.6 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
626
Volunteers
1,452
Highest pay
$182,073, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $8.2 million spent. LIFELINE IS THE MANAGING VENDOR OF FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES AND OVERSEES BOTH THE SHELTER AND ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES IN FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA. WITH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENTING A FUNDAMENTAL PHILOSOPHICAL SHIFT TOWARD LIFESAVING, LIFELINE HAS LOWERED THE EUTHANASIA RATE IN FULTON COUNTY BY OVER 90% SINCE TAKING OVER IN 2013. IN 2024, LIFELINE'S SHELTER STAFF ADOPTED OUT 4,154 NEW PETS, TRANSFERRED 2,280 ANIMALS TO RESCUE GROUPS, AND RETURNED 1,228 CATS AND DOGS TO THEIR OWNERS. IN 2024, LIFELINE ACHIEVED AN 89.3% SAVE RATE FOR ALL ANIMALS ENTERING THIS OPEN-ADMISSION ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY.
  2. $7.6 million spent. IN 2013, LIFELINE TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT OF DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES. AS THE COUNTY'S FIRST OUTSIDE MANAGING VENDOR, LIFELINE OPERATES DEKALB'S ANIMAL SHELTER, WHILE THE COUNTY MAINTAINS ANIMAL CONTROL ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. LIFELINE HAS SUCCESSFULLY LOWERED THE EUTHANASIA RATE BY 70%, INCREASED PET ADOPTIONS BY MORE THAN 300%, AND IN 2024, SAVED 88.3% OF ALL ANIMALS ENTERING THE SHELTER. IN 2023, LIFELINE'S SHELTER STAFF ADOPTED OUT 4,681 PETS, TRANSFERRED 1,843 ANIMALS TO RESCUE GROUPS, AND RETURNED 1,061 CATS AND DOGS TO THEIR OWNERS.
  3. $4.3 million spent. LIFELINE OPERATES ITS OWN NO-KILL PRIVATE SHELTER. WE ALSO OPERATE THE FIRST AND LARGEST COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM IN ATLANTA, HAVING STERILIZED AND VACCINATED OVER 65,000 COMMUNITY CATS. OUR PETS FOR LIFE OUTREACH EFFORT PROVIDES FREE VACCINES AND SPAY/NEUTER ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA. WE ALSO HOST HEALTHY PETS EVENTS FOUR TIMES A YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC, DURING WHICH OVER 1,000 PETS ARE VACCINATED IN A SINGLE DAY AT NO-COST TO THE PET OWNERS.
  4. $3.6 million spent. LIFELINE OPERATES THREE LOW-COST AND NO-COST VETERINARY CLINICS. OUR TWO SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS ARE VITAL TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF UNWANTED ANIMALS ENTERING ATLANTA'S SHELTERS. LOCATED IN ATLANTA AND COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA, THE CLINICS HAVE PERFORMED OVER 200,000 STERILIZATION SURGERIES TO DATE. IN 2024, OUR CLINICS PERFORMED 14,037 SURGERIES, MAKING LIFELINE THE LARGEST LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER RESOURCE IN THE AREA. OUR THIRD VETERINARY CLINIC PROVIDES LOW-COST, FULL-SERVICE VETERINARY CARE IN ATLANTA, WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING AFFORDABLE, QUALITY VETERINARY CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PET OWNERS. IN 2024, OVER 9,500 ANIMALS RECEIVED CARE IN OUR FULL-SERVICE CLINIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.