World Animal Awareness Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The World Animal Awareness Society is a 501(c)(3) educational and scientific nonprofit dedicated to exploring, inspiring, and supporting the global animal welfare community. Our primary exempt purpose is to translate emotional commitment into tangible progress by focusing on the animals people save and the people saving them. We fulfill this through three core areas: (1) Scientific Research & Data: Conducting systematic street-level animal population surveys, GPS asset mapping, and spatial data analysis to help municipalities and NGOs allocate resources effectively; (2) Community Empowerment: Applying Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) models to build sustainable, community-driven animal welfare programs and alliances; and (3) Educational Media: Producing unobtrusive documentary films, public service campaigns, and educational programming to amplify animal stories and promote humane education globally without exploitation.
- Income
- $64,080
- Spending
- $58,973
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $52,876 spent. World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S) - 2025 Program Service Accomplishments In 2025, the World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S) significantly advanced its educational, scientific, and charitable mission through three primary programmatic focus areas although our revenue was short by $100,000 in 2025 due to loss in YouTube ad revenue: (1) Scientific Research, Spatial Data & Community Mapping; (2) Educational Media & Documentary Production; and (3) Community Empowerment & Public Engagement Initiatives. Operating under the philosophy of "Community Cooperation Converting Caring Into Change," all activities directly served our primary exempt purpose of translating emotional commitment to animals into tangible, community-driven progress. 1. Scientific Research, Spatial Data & Community Mapping Throughout 2025, WA2S expanded its street-level research and spatial data collection initiatives to help municipalities, animal welfare organizations, and local advocates strategically deploy resources. Street-Level Population Surveys & Spatial Tracking: Utilized open-source digital mapping tools, mobile spatial tracking applications (including OSMTracker database traces), and high-resolution camera systems to conduct systematic observational surveys of stray and free-roaming dog populations. This empirical data provides objective baselines for municipal planning and targeted community intervention. GIS Story Mapping Partnerships: Collaborated with academic and geographic information system (GIS) research partners to process raw observational survey data into interactive digital story maps. These visualizations transform complex field data into accessible educational tools for community stakeholders, researchers, and public officials. 2. Educational Media & Documentary Production WA2S utilized unobtrusive documentary production and multi-platform storytelling to educate the public, elevate grassroots animal welfare advocates, and promote humane education globally without animal exploitation. Unleashed: The Dogs of San Antonio: Achieved substantial progress on the longitudinal feature documentary film capturing the systemic, cultural, and socioeconomic dynamics of free-roaming dog populations in South Texas. In 2025, the project advanced through critical field filming, digital asset organization, and editing phases-documenting both the municipal challenges and the tireless efforts of independent rescuers on the front lines. Riding Shotgun with Strays: Conducted early development, conceptualization, and production planning for an immersive ride-along podcast interview series. The program is structured to highlight the lived experiences, field methodologies, and emotional realities of grassroots animal welfare workers, animal control officers, and independent rescuers operating directly in the field. 3. Community Empowerment & Public Engagement Initiatives WA2S applied proven sociological frameworks to build sustainable, community-driven animal welfare infrastructure and foster productive public dialogue. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Implementation: Actively integrated the ABCD framework across all ongoing community outreach programs. Rather than imposing external solutions, WA2S worked directly within neighborhoods to identify, connect, and mobilize existing local assets-empowering citizens, local businesses, and independent advocates to build self-sustaining animal welfare networks. Dogs of San Antonio: An Open Forum Series: Organized and hosted public community forum gatherings bringing together neighborhood residents, independent rescuers, municipal leaders, and animal welfare organizations. These structured events provided a neutral, constructive environment to review street-level survey data, discuss localized challenges, and collaboratively formulate grassroots solutions. Animalis Fabula Film Festival: Planned, organized, and hosted the annual animal story film festival during Thanksgiving weekend. The event served as a vital educational platform and public forum, showcasing diverse animal stories from global filmmakers, celebrating the human-animal bond, and fostering community dialogue around animal welfare without reliance on traditional industry competition frameworks.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.