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Friends of the Animal Shelter and Guardians of the Homeless Animals

EIN 23-7355910 · Aldie, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO SAVING HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS, FOHA PROVIDES RESCUE, MEDICAL CARE, AND ADOPTION SERVICES IN THE WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN REGION. MORE THAN 17,500 CATS AND DOGS HAVE FOUND A SAFE HAVEN WITH FRIENDS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
27
Volunteers
473
Highest pay
$95,590, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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

    10 of 10 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $1.2 million spent. FOHA'S EXPENSES ARE USED TO SHELTER, FEED, TRAIN, REHABILITATE AND ADOPT CATS AND DOGS OF EVERY SHAPE, SIZE, AGE, AND BREED. FOHA DOGS AND CATS ARE OFTEN MORE CHALLENGING TO ADOPT DUE TO MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, OR OLDER AGE. IN 2025 FOHA FOUND HOMES FOR 208 DOGS AND 186 CATS. FOHA RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS TO CONTINUE OUR RESCUE EFFORTS. FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025, FOHA HAD 473 UNIQUE VOLUNTEERS WHO LOGGED 19,337 VOLUNTEER HOURS. AT THE STANDARD VOLUNTEER RATE OF $34.79 PER HOUR THIS EQUALS A VOLUNTEER HOURS VALUE OF $627,741.20 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
  2. $297,781 spent. FOHA PROVIDES EXCELLENT MEDICAL CARE TO ALL ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. EACH DOG OR CAT RECEVIED AN EXAMINATION UPON ARRIVAL, ALL ANIMALS ARE SPAYED/NEUTERED, AND ALL VACCINATIONS ARE UP TO DATE. ANY MEDICAL ISSUES ARE TREATED, INCLUDING DENTAL PROBLEMS. FOHA ALSO TAKES IN ANIMALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SUCH AS HEARTWORM POSITIVE DOGS AND FIV POSITIVE CATS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 March 1974.

    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 October 21, 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.