Humane Society of Grand Forks
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE CICRLE OF FRIENDS ANIMAL SHELTER IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF PETS THROUGH HEALING, EDUCATION AND CONNECTING COMPANIONS.
- Income
- $716,763
- Spending
- $665,367
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 370
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 30% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
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 March 31, 2026, 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)
- $613,511 spent. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ANIMAL SHELTER IS OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. THE PETS SHELTERED AT OUR FACILITY NEED A FUREVER COMPANION. THEY ARE INVALUABLE AS LOYAL COMPANIONS AND BELOVED FRIENDS WHO DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND DEVOTION. OUR GOAL IS TO PLACE EACH OF OUR PETS IN PERMANENT, LOVING HOMES TO LIVE WITH THEIR HUMAN COMPANION FOR THEIR LIFE. ALL ANIMALS LEAVING OUR SHELTER HAVE BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED, MICROCHIPPED AND ARE CURRENT ON VACCINATIONS. THIS YEAR 1,260 ANIMALS CAME TO THE SHELTER. OF THOSE, 793 WERE ADOPTED AND 374 WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS. WE PARTNER WITH THE GRAND FORKS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REUNITE PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE SAFEKEEPING FOR PETS THAT NEED A PLACE TO STAY WHILE THE OWNER IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE CARE DUE TO UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS YEAR WE TEMPORARILY CARED FOR 85 PETS. FOSTERING IS A TERRIFIC WAY TO HELP SAVE A LIFE. THROUGH FOSTERING, KENNEL SPACE IS FREED UP, WHICH ALLOWS US TO HELP MORE ANIMALS. BY FOSTERING, YOU WILL GET TO KNOW THAT ANIMAL'S PERSONALITY. THIS WILL HELP US WHEN IT COMES TO PLACING THEM INTO A PERMANENT, LOVING HOME. THIS YEAR 241 PETS WERE PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ANIMAL SHELTER BELIEVES IT IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITIES TO OFFER ANIMAL WELFARE EDUCATION TO FURTHER OUR MISSION TO HELP PETS AND PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFFER EDUCATION ABOUT PROPER PET CARE, ISSUES IMPACTING OUR SHELTER PETS, AND HOW WE CAN ALL CREATE A SAFER, MORE COMPASSIONATE WORLD FOR BOTH PETS AND PEOPLE ALIKE. WE HAD OVER 9 CHILDREN AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT CAME TO INTERACT WITH THE PETS, MAKE BLANKETS AND LEARN ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE. VOLUNTEERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ORGANIZATION. OUR VOLUNTEERS PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN FURTHERING OUR MISSION TO ENSURE EVERY ANIMAL THAT COMES THROUGH OUR DOORS GETS THE WONDERFUL LIFE THEY DESERVE. THIS YEAR, OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED OVER 2,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.
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 May 1974.
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.