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Robert Potter League for Animals Inc

EIN 05-0301553 · Middletown, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS THE HEART OF A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, WE ENRICH LIVES AND PROMOTE THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
17.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
85
Volunteers
442
Highest pay
$172,391, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 July 31, 2025, 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. $1.9 million spent. SHELTERING AND ADOPTIONS: THE LEAGUE INVESTS IN BEHAVIOR, FOSTER CARE, AND VETERINARY PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT ANIMALS ARE REHABILITATED AND ADOPTED. WE FOUND NEW HOMES FOR 1,493 ANIMALS, AND 183 LOST ANIMALS WERE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THE POTTER LEAGUE PROVIDED FREE VETERINARY WELLNESS CLINICS TO RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND OTHERS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING VETERINARY CARE, INCLUDING PHYSICAL EXAMS, VACCINES, AND MICROCHIPS, TO 1,058 ANIMALS WHOSE FAMILIES WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD CARE. OUR PET FOOD BANK AND VETERINARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUPPORT ANIMALS WHO BELONG TO FAMILIES THAT ARE ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED. WE SUPPLIED 48,399 POUNDS OF PET FOOD TO FOOD PANTRIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND SUBSIDIZED OVER $23,630 IN VETERINARY CARE FOR NEWPORT COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD CARE FOR THEIR PETS. THE LEAGUE'S PETSAFE PROGRAM PROVIDED EMERGENCY HOUSING AND CARE FOR 85 PETS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, NATURAL DISASTERS, FIRES, AND OTHER CRISES FOR A TOTAL OF 5,525 DAYS. COLLABORATION IS CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION. THE POTTER LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER JR COMMUNITY CENTER, THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER, LUCY'S HEARTH, NEWPORT PUBLIC HOUSING, AND COYOTE SMARTS.
  2. $536,119 spent. EDUCATION, BEHAVIOR & TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS- BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING: AS THE ANIMAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR NEWPORT COUNTY (RI) AND BEYOND, THE POTTER LEAGUE OFFERS VARIOUS PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT OUR ANIMAL CARE AND PROTECTION MISSION. OUR EFFORTS ALSO AIM TO SUPPORT THE BONDS BETWEEN ANIMALS AND THEIR FAMILIES; WE AIM TO KEEP ANIMALS IN THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF OUR SHELTER. TOWARDS THIS END, 2,245 DOGS AND PUPPIES IN OUR COMMUNITY ATTENDED VARIOUS CLASSES AND PLAYGROUPS. WE PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE CUSTOMIZED TRAINING FOR THE MORE CHALLENGING ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, ALLOWING THEM TO LEARN ACCEPTABLE MANNERS. OUR BEHAVIOR HELPLINE HELPED 339 PEOPLE BY PHONE AND HUNDREDS MORE BY EMAIL. EDUCATION PROGRAM: OUR EDUCATORS WORK WITH BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN TO STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND. WE HELD 84 LESSONS WITH 1,831 STUDENTS IN ADDITION TO OUR SUMMER CAMP.
  3. $957,803 spent. SPAY AND NEUTER-THE POTTER LEAGUE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC PERFORMED 5,425 SURGICAL PROCEDURES AND PROVIDED 3,054 VACCINES. THOUGH OUR CLINIC ALREADY HAS VERY LOW PRICING, WE FURTHER REDUCED PRICING THROUGH ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIES FOR A TOTAL OF $20,813 TO PUT SPAY/NEUTER WITHIN REACH OF EVERYONE. CLIENTS INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS, ANIMAL SHELTERS, ANIMAL RESCUES, AND GROUPS ENGAGED IN TRAP NEUTER AND RETURN OF COMMUNITY CATS.
  4. $902,537 spent. VETERINARY CARE: IN OCTOBER 2020, THE POTTER LEAGUE ACQUIRED THE PETS IN NEED VETERINARY CLINIC (PIN). LOCATED IN EAST PROVIDENCE, THE CLINIC SEES THE PETS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN RHODE ISLAND WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. WITHOUT THE CLINIC, MOST OF THE PETS WE SEE WOULD HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. PETS IN NEED VETERINARY CLINIC (PIN) WAS TRANFERRED OVER TO RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY PET PROJECT IN APRIL 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 July 2025.

    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 December 1951.

    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.