Friends of Animals Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF ANIMALS WORKS TO CULTIVATE A RESPECTFUL VIEW OF NON-HUMAN ANIMALS, FREE-LIVING AND DOMESTIC. OUR GOAL IS TO FREE ANIMALS FROM CRUELTY AND INSTITUTIONALIZED EXPLOITATION.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 27.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $156,521, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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 (3)
- $655,961 spent. SPAYING AND NEUTERING PROGRAM - FRIENDS OF ANIMALS HAS ADVOCATED LOW-COST SPAYING AND ALTERING AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PREVENTING THE BIRTHS OF UNWANTED DOGS AND CATS, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT ABANDONMENT, SUFFERING AND MASS KILLING. FOR 59 YEARS, WE HAVE OPERATED A NATIONWIDE BREEDING CONTROL PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES FACILITATING MORE THAN 2.7 MILLION SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES. PET OWNERS MAY PURCHASE A CERTIFICATE FROM FRIENDS OF ANIMALS THAT CAN BE USED FOR A ROUTINE SPAY OR NEUTER SURGERY AT ANY OF FRIENDS OF ANIMALS PARTICIPATING VETERINARY HOSPITALS. THIS YEAR MORE THAN 24,000 CATS AND DOGS WERE NEUTERED THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.
- $2.9 million spent. PUBLIC INFORMATION AND ANIMAL PROTECTION- THROUGH ANIMAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS AND INTERVENTIONS, FOA PROMOTES ENDANGERED SPECIES AND OTHER WILDLIFE PROTECTION. CAMPAIGNS AGAINST WILD HORSE ROUND-UPS AND THE WILD BIRD TRADE; THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE TRADE; THE FUR TRADE; HUNTING AND PREDATOR CONTROL, INCLUDING STATE-SPONSORED WOLF CONTROL PROGRAMS IN ALASKA AND THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. SPONSORS CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN WEST AFRICA, AND PRIMATE SANCTUARY IN TEXAS. VEGAN ADVOCACY PROJECTS EXPLAIN THAT A PLANT-BASED DIET IS THE BEST RESPONSE TO AN ECOLOGICAL CRISIS VIA EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, SPEECHES AND ADS. PUBLISHED FOUR QUARTERLY ISSUES OF ACTIONLINE MAGAZINE; OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS PRODUCED FOR MEMBERS, THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA.
- $525,491 spent. ASSISTED ANOTHER 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION WITH SUPPORT TO MANAGE A SANCTUARY FOR PRIMATES AND OTHER ANIMALS ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS OR DISCARDED BY ZOOS, THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND MEDICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1959.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.