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Erie County SPCA

EIN 16-0425315 · West Seneca, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT THE SPCA SERVING ERIE COUNTY, OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A MORE HUMANE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION; RESCUING, PROTECTING, AND ENHANCING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS; AND NURTURING THE BOND BETWEEN ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$9.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
19.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
168
Volunteers
1,831
Highest pay
$171,679, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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

    28 of 28 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $7.2 million spent. THE SPCA SERVING ERIE COUNTY IS A PRIVATE HUMANE SOCIETY FUNDED BY DONATIONS. THE SPCA PROVIDES HUMANE CARE FOR DISTRESSED ANIMALS, INCLUDING HOUSING, PLACEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF SAME. THE ERIE COUNTY SPCA ALLOWS ADOPTION OF ANIMALS AND HAS MULTIPLE SATELLITE ADOPTION LOCATIONS. THE SPCA ACCEPTS STRAY DOGS, CATS, AND OTHER ANIMALS. STRAY ANIMALS ARE KEPT IN SPECIALLY-DESIGNATED AREAS AWAY FROM ADOPTION AREAS TO PREVENT SPREAD OF POTENTIAL DISEASES, BITES, AND TO GIVE OWNERS A CHANCE TO LOCATE THEM AT THE SHELTER. OVER 9,233 DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMALS WERE ADMITTED AND CARED FOR THIS PAST YEAR WITH EACH ANIMAL BEING EXAMINED BY BOTH OUR VETERINARY AND BEHAVIOR STAFF FOR GOOD HEALTH AND TEMPERAMENT BEFORE BEING PLACED IN THE ADOPTION PROGRAM.OVER 2,870 ANIMALS OF ALL KINDS (CATS, DOGS, FARM ANIMALS, SMALL PETS, REPTILES) WERE ADOPTED INTO NEW HOMES.OVER 1,423 ANIMALS RECEIVED FOSTER CARE PREPARING THEM FOR SUBSEQUENT ADOPTION, WITH MORE THAN 708 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES PARTICIPATING IN OUR FOSTER/FOSTER-TO-ADOPT PROGRAM.SPECIAL AGENTS RESPONDED TO OVER 1,898 CALLS FOR SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY AND FOR DOMESTIC AND WILD ANIMAL RESCUE RESULTING IN OVER 1,655 DOMESTIC ANIMALS BEING BROUGHT TO THE SPCA BY OFFICERS IN 2025. 1,172 ANIMALS WERE SEIZED ON CRUELTY COMPLAINTS.3,683 SICK, INJURED AND ORPHANED WILDLIFE WERE TREATED AT THE SPCA'S WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER AND CLINIC, WITH OVER 156 DIFFERENT WILD SPECIES CARED FOR. OVER 478 PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED WITH OUR HUMANE EDUCATORS TO OVER 9,537 CHILDREN WHICH INCLUDED GIRL SCOUTS TOURS, SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY.2,723 DOGS, CATS, AND RABBITS WERE SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT THE SPCA'S SURGICAL UNITS, AND OVER 560 SURGICAL AND MEDICAL TREATMENTS WERE PERFORMED BY THE SHELTER'S MEDICAL TEAM THROUGH THE YELP FOR HELP PROGRAM. 1,528 DOGS AND CATS WERE SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT THE SPCA'S LIPSEY CLINIC SURGICAL UNITS, 130 DENTAL PROCEDURES, AND 198 OTHER SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED BY THE LIPSEY CLINIC'S MEDICAL TEAM.THE SPCA HAD 1,831 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS LOGGING 39,303 HOURS IN THE SHELTER PLUS VOLUNTEERS LOGGING 4,428 HOURS IN THE PAWS FOR LOVE PROGRAM.OF THE FARM ANIMALS AND FOWL ADMITTED TO THE EDUCATIONAL FARM AND BARN AS CRUELTY CASES, STRAYS, AND SURRENDERS, 48 FARM ANIMALS WERE PLACED FOR ADOPTION, RETURNED TO OWNER, OR TRANSFERRED OUT DURING THE YEAR. THE PET PANTRY DISTRIBUTED OVER 439,576 PET MEALS, MORE THAN 37,126 POUNDS OF LITTER, AND OVER 6,859 OTHER PET SUPPLIES.THE VACCINE CLINICS VACCINATED OVER 1,956 PETS AND MICROCHIPPED OVER 635 PETS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 November 6, 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 September 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 August 1958.

    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.