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American Anti-Vivisection Society

EIN 23-0341990 · Jenkintown, PA

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

SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1883, THE MISSION OF AAVS HAS BEEN TO UNEQUIVOCALLY OPPOSE AND WORK TO END THE USE OF ANIMALS IN SCIENCE AND TO OPPOSE ALL FORMS OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. WE ACHIEVE OUR MISSION BY MONITORING AND INVESTIGATING SCIENTIFIC USES OF ANIMALS, EXPOSING THE INHERENT CRUELTY IN ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION. WE THEN PRESENT RELIABLE INFORMATION AND AN INFORMED VIEWPOINT FOR ADVOCATING PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES. WE PROVIDE RESOURCES TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, THE MEDIA, POLICY MAKERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE, NON-ANIMAL METHODS IN SCHOOLS AND LABORATORIES WORLDWIDE.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 58%
Employees
16
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$126,016, president, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 25

    6 of 7 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, 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)
  1. $1.1 million spent. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE LEGAL, PUBLIC POLICY, AND EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TO HELP ANIMALS USED IN LABORATORIES, ALONG WITH PUBLICATIONS AND ACTION ALERTS THAT PROVIDE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS WITH TIMELY ANALYSIS AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY TOOLS. IN 2025, AAVS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND ACTION ON ISSUES INVOLVING ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION, FEDERAL OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT, AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN-RELEVANT, NON-ANIMAL METHODS, ESPECIALLY IN FEDERALLY FUNDED BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THIS WORK INCLUDED PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY AND ANALYSIS CONCERNING BIRDS AND OTHER ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY RECEIVED INADEQUATE LEGAL PROTECTION, AS WELL AS SCRUTINY OF GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANIMAL WELFARE REQUIREMENTS. A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, A-V, AND A MONTHLY ONLINE NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS PROVIDED RELIABLE INFORMATION, UNIQUE INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT. IN 2025, AAVS ALSO PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL GRANTS TO SANCTUARIES TO EXPAND CAPACITY AND CARE FOR ANIMALS RELEASED FROM LABORATORIES. THIS CRITICAL SUPPORT INCLUDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP OFFSET RISING VETERINARY COSTS. AN ANNUAL GRANT WAS ALSO MADE TO SUPPORT LIFETIME CARE FOR YOUNG CHIMPANZEES RELEASED FROM A LABORATORY WHEN BABIES, NOW LIVING AT CHIMP HAVEN. AAVS CONTINUED ITS MEMBERSHIP IN WORLD FEDERATION FOR ANIMALS AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADVANCE PROTECTION FOR ANIMALS. NOTE THAT THE GRANTS EXPENSE ABOVE INCLUDES GRANTS PAID IN 2025 ($ 392,211) PLUS A GRANTS PAYABLE LIABILITY ADJUSTMENT OF ($25,735) RELATED TO A LONG-TERM FUNDING COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE LIFETIME CARE FOR YOUNG CHIMPANZEES RELEASED FROM A LABORATORY WHEN BABIES, NOW LIVING AT CHIMP HAVEN.
  2. $309,745 spent. AAVS'S ANIMALEARN PROGRAM WORKS TO END VIVISECTION AND DISSECTION IN THE CLASSROOM BY ADVOCATING FOR AND PROMOTING HUMANE SCIENCE EDUCATION POLICY. ITS HIGHLY REGARDED FREE LENDING LIBRARY, THE SCIENCE BANK, PROVIDES EFFECTIVE NON-ANIMAL ALTERNATIVES FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS, FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH ADVANCED TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. IN 2025, THE SCIENCE BANK CONTINUED TO FULFILL INCREASING NUMBERS OF REQUESTS FOR HUMANE EDUCATION MATERIALS. ANIMALEARN STAFF HOST DEMONSTRATIONS AT EDUCATOR CONFERENCES, EXPOSING TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO THE DISSECTION OF FROGS, CATS, FETAL PIGS, AND OTHER ANIMALS. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ALSO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE HARMS OF ANIMAL USE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION, INCLUDING ETHICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND LONG-TERM COST CONCERNS. OUTSTANDING HUMANE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS WERE PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED BY ANIMALEARN IN 2025 AND PRESENTED WITH AWARDS CONSISTING OF NON-ANIMAL DISSECTION ALTERNATIVES AND HUMANE SCIENCE RESOURCES.
  3. $472,340 spent. AAVS MANAGES THE LEAPING BUNNY PROGRAM OF THE COALITION FOR CONSUMER INFORMATION ON COSMETICS (CCIC), WHICH IS CHAIRED BY AAVS PRESIDENT LUKE KLEIN. THE LEAPING BUNNY PROGRAM PROVIDES A HIGHLY VALUED AND TRUSTED SERVICE FOR COMPASSIONATE CONSUMERS SEEKING PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS. THROUGH ITS CRUELTY-FREE STANDARD AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEAPING BUNNY LOGO, THE PROGRAM CERTIFIES COMPANIES PRODUCING CRUELTY-FREE COSMETICS, PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS, AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS. THE LIST OF MORE THAN 2,300 CERTIFIED COMPANIES IS MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AT NO COST ON LEAPINGBUNNY.ORG AND THROUGH SMARTPHONE APPS. PROGRAM STAFF OVERSEE ANNUAL RECOMMITMENTS BY CERTIFIED COMPANIES AND CONDUCT AUDITS OF SELECTED COMPANIES TO HELP ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARD. THE PROGRAM ALSO CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEAPING BUNNY CHINA QUALIFICATION PROGRAM, REQUIRING CERTIFIED COMPANIES TO PERMIT AUDITS OF RELEVANT REGISTRATIONS IN CHINA BY CCIC-SELECTED EXPERTS IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THAT ANIMAL TESTING IS NOT CONDUCTED IN RESPONSE TO THAT COUNTRY'S REGULATORY SYSTEM. CONSUMERS WERE INFORMED THROUGH ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND A POPULAR MONTHLY ONLINE NEWSLETTER. PROGRAM STAFF ALSO SERVED AS A RESPECTED RESOURCE FOR MEDIA, DELIVERED PRESENTATIONS TO COMPANIES, AND WERE INTERVIEWED ON THE TOPIC OF ANIMAL TESTING FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.