Skip to the page content
Check before you give

American Kennel Club Inc

EIN 13-4923060 · New York, NY

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceNot ratedToo small or too little detailImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AKC IS A PUREBRED DOG REGISTRY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE SPORT OF PUREBRED DOGS, RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDING, CANINE HEALTH & WELL-BEING, AND THE RIGHTS OF ALL DOG OWNERS; AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, INC. (AKC) IS DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING THE INTEGRITY OF ITS REGISTRY, PROMOTING THE SPORT OF PUREBRED DOGS AND BREEDING FOR TYPE AND FUNCTION. FOUNDED IN 1884, AKC AND ITS AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATE FOR THE PUREBRED DOG AS A FAMILY COMPANION, ADVANCE CANINE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, WORK TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF ALL DOG OWNERS AND PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP.

Income
$99.6 million
Spending
$96.4 million
Employees
509
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$1.7 million, president & ceo

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

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

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

Governance

This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (5)
  1. $26.4 million spent. DOG EVENTS, PERFORMANCE, AND JUDGING: CONFORMATION, COMPANION, AND PERFORMANCE EVENTS FUNCTION AS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF BREEDS (29,426 EVENTS HELD) AND PROMOTES PARTICIPATION OF RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP IN NUMEROUS TYPES OF COMPETITIVE DOG EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
  2. $26.0 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CANINE WELFARE: EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND BREEDING, PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE ABOUT PROPER CARE, HEALTH, AND TRAINING FOR ALL DOGS, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR CHARITABLE CAUSES FURTHERING CANINE WELFARE.
  3. $23.2 million spent. DOG & LITTER REGISTRATIONS: REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF PUREBRED DOGS AND LITTERS, CONTRIBUTED TO ACCURATE GENEALOGY RECORDS AND ADVANCED THE QUALITY OF EACH BREED. EDUCATING THE DOG-LOVING PUBLIC ABOUT RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP AND BREEDING, PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE ABOUT PROPER CARE, HEALTH AND TRAINING FOR ALL DOGS.
  4. $5.7 million spent. CANINE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS: DELIVERY OF CANINE RECOVERY SERVICES, ADVISORY SERVICES AND DOG PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT DOG OWNERSHIP AND WELLNESS.
  5. (Expenses $ 5,677,258 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 5,834,621) CANINE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS: DELIVERY OF CANINE RECOVERY SERVICES, ADVISORY SERVICES AND DOG PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT DOG OWNERSHIP AND WELLNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 April 1956.

    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 November 4, 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.