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Columbia County Humane Society

EIN 23-7219878 · Portage, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROTECTION OF ANIMALS/HUMAN EDUCATION

Income
$613,203
Spending
$579,330
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
26.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
16
Volunteers
75

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 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $386,282 spent. WE ACCEPT ANIMALS THROUGH STRAY INTAKE (108 IN 2025), OWNER SURRENDERS (61 IN 2025), AND TRANSFERS FROM OTHER SHELTERS (63 IN 2025). OUR ROLE IS TO PROVIDE SAFE, TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR UNWANTED AND STRAY ANIMALS WHILE ENSURING THEY RECEIVE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT. THIS BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF AT-LARGE ANIMALS THROUGH PROVIDING STRAYS WITH A SAFE PLACE TO GO RATHER THAN REMAINING LOOSE OR VULNERABLE. IT ALSO HELPS SUPPORT OVERBURDENED SHELTERS BY ACCEPTING ANIMAL TRANSFERS, WHICH ALLEVIATES OVERCROWDING AND REDUCES EUTHANASIA PRESSURES AT LARGER FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEIR PETS BY OFFERING RESPONSIBLE REHOMING OPTIONS THAT HELP PREVENT ABANDONMENT. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE WORK TO MATCH ANIMALS WITH PERMANENT, LOVING FAMILIES, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL ANIMAL WELFARE NETWORK THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.
  2. $84,148 spent. BIBI FUND CREATED BY CCHS TO ENSURE EVERY ANIMAL HAS A FAIR CHANCE AT ADOPTION, THE BIBI FUND SUPPORTS PETS REQUIRING SPECIALIZED VETERINARY CARE. THESE FUNDS MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE LIFE CHANGING PROCEDURES INCLUDING DENTALS, AMPUTATIONS, EYE REMOVALS, AND TUMOR REMOVALS. IN 2025, COMMUNITY GENEROSITY CONTRIBUTED $12,224 IN DONATIONS AND $12,166 THROUGH AUCTION PROCEEDS, ALLOWING US TO INVEST $8,418 IN MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ANIMALS WHOSE NEEDS ARE NOT INDIVIDUALLY ITEMIZED BUT DEEPLY MEANINGFUL.
  3. $2,275 spent. TRAP NEUTER RETURN (TNR) IS AN EFFECTIVE, HUMANE METHOD FOR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FREE ROAMING CATS AND IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH RABIES VACCINATION. COLUMBIA COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE FERAL CATS ON THEIR PROPERTY CAN CONTACT CCHS TO ARRANGE SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES AND RABIES VACCINATIONS THROUGH OUR VETERINARY PARTNERS. RESIDENTS HUMANELY TRAP THE CATS AND BRING THEM TO ONE OF OUR PARTNERING VETERINARIANS, WHERE EACH CAT IS STERILIZED, VACCINATED, AND EAR TIPPEDA SMALL NOTCH IN THE LEFT EAR THAT IDENTIFIES THE CAT AS ALREADY ALTERED. AFTER TREATMENT, THE CATS ARE RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION. IN 2025, FORTY ONE CATS PARTICIPATED IN THE TNR PROGRAM. TNR OFFERS MANY BENEFITS. IT PREVENTS THE BIRTH OF ADDITIONAL UNWANTED LITTERS, REDUCES THE OVERALL NUMBER OF FREE ROAMING CATS, AND SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASES NUISANCE BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SPRAYING, YOWLING, AND FIGHTING.

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 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 December 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 June 1975.

    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.

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