Four Paws International Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR VISION IS A WORLD WHERE HUMANS TREAT ANIMALS WITH RESPECT, EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. FOUR PAWS MISSION IS TO BE THE STRONG, GLOBAL AND INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR ANIMALS.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $159,187, country director
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $1.5 million spent. FOUR PAWS' EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY WORK ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS - FOUR PAWS IS WORKING TO EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTIONS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT AND PROTECTION, AND POSITIVE SOCIAL AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES FOR ANIMALS. FOUR PAWS IS DOING THIS IN SEVERAL WAYS: PROTECTING WILD ANIMALS FROM SUFFERING WORLDWIDE: FOUR PAWS WORKS TO END THE FARMING, INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND EXPLOITATION OF BIG CATS THROUGH PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA, EUROPE, AND THE UNITED STATES. IN 2025, FOUR PAWS AND COALITION PARTNERS CELEBRATED THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON STATE TO END THE USE OF CERTAIN WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES AND TRAVELING SHOWS, AND CONTINUED TO SUPPORT SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK AND ILLINOIS. FOUR PAWS OPERATES SANCTUARIES FOR RESCUED BIG CATS AND BEARS ACROSS MULTIPLE CONTINENTS. OUR LIONSROCK BIG CAT SANCTUARY IN SOUTH AFRICA PROVIDES PERMANENT, SPECIES-APPROPRIATE HOMES FOR OVER 90 RESCUED BIG CATS FROM CIRCUSES, PRIVATE KEEPING, CANNED HUNTING FACILITIES, AND WAR-TORN ZOOS. OUR FELIDA BIG CAT SANCTUARY IN THE NETHERLANDS SPECIALIZES IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR TRAUMATIZED BIG CATS, WHILE TIERART WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY IN GERMANY CARES FOR RESCUED TIGERS AND REHABILITATES NATIVE WILDLIFE FOR RELEASE. IN TOTAL, FOUR PAWS CARES FOR OVER 130 RESCUED BIG CATS GLOBALLY. FOR BEARS, FOUR PAWS OPERATES SANCTUARIES IN AUSTRIA, BULGARIA, GERMANY, KOSOVO, UKRAINE, SWITZERLAND, AND VIETNAM, CARING FOR OVER 1,350 RESCUED BEARS. IN VIETNAM, OUR BEAR SANCTUARY NINH BINH HOUSES OVER 40 BILE BEARS CONFISCATED FROM FARMS WHERE BEARS WERE SUBJECTED TO THE CRUEL PRACTICE OF BILE EXTRACTION. IN UKRAINE, OUR BEAR SANCTUARY DOMAZHYR PROVIDES LIFELONG CARE TO MORE THAN 25 BROWN BEARS RESCUED FROM ABUSIVE CONDITIONS INCLUDING BAITING OPERATIONS AND ROADSIDE CAPTIVITY. IN 2025, FOUR PAWS REACHED NEW AUDIENCES WITH THE FOURTH ANNUAL MARCH NAPNESS CAMPAIGN, A TOURNAMENT-STYLE PUBLIC EDUCATION INITIATIVE CELEBRATING RESCUED BEARS AND THEIR STORIES. IMPROVING THE LIVES OF DOGS AND CATS: FOUR PAWS STRAY ANIMAL CARE (SAC) PROJECTS OPERATE ACROSS EASTERN EUROPE AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, INCLUDING THAILAND, UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, AND BULGARIA. IN 2025, FOUR PAWS PROVIDED VETERINARY CARE - INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES, VACCINATIONS, AND MEDICAL TREATMENT - TO OVER 25,000 STRAY AND COMMUNITY-OWNED DOGS AND CATS ACROSS NINE COUNTRIES, THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VETERINARY TRAINING, AND REHOMING EFFORTS. FOUR PAWS ALSO WORKS TO END THE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, WHERE AN ESTIMATED 10 MILLION DOGS AND SEVERAL MILLION CATS ARE KILLED ANNUALLY. THROUGH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS IN CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, AND INDONESIA, FOUR PAWS DELIVERS COMMUNITY EDUCATION, RESCUES, SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS, AND VETERINARY SERVICES, WHILE ENGAGING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS CONNECTED TO THE TRADE. GIVING FARM ANIMALS A VOICE: THROUGH OUR WEAR IT KIND PROGRAM, FOUR PAWS ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF GLOBAL FASHION BRANDS TO IMPROVE ANIMAL WELFARE POLICIES, REDUCE USE OF ANIMAL-DERIVED MATERIALS, AND INCREASE SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSPARENCY. IN THE U.S. IN 2025, FOUR PAWS SUPPORTED STATE LEGISLATION TO BAN NEW RETAIL FUR SALES AND LAUNCHED THE BE THEIR VOICE CAMPAIGN TO END LIVE LAMB CUTTING IN THE AUSTRALIAN WOOL INDUSTRY. THIS CAMPAIGN FEATURED CELEBRITY AMBASSADORS MALLORY LEWIS AND LAMB CHOP, AND THE ANIMATED SHORT FILM SUNNY THE LAMB, WHICH RECEIVED THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD AT THE SMILEY CHARITY FILM AWARDS. ADVANCING THE ONE HEALTH APPROACH: FOUR PAWS ADVOCATES FOR GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT A ONE HEALTH APPROACH THAT INTEGRATES ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE AS A PILLAR OF PANDEMIC PREVENTION. IN 2025, FOUR PAWS CELEBRATED THE ADOPTION OF THE PANDEMIC AGREEMENT AT THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY IN GENEVA - THE FIRST TIME THE ONE HEALTH APPROACH HAS BEEN ANCHORED IN AN INTERNATIONAL, LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT. FOUR PAWS PRESENTED POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK, SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING FOR COMMITMENTS TO IMPROVE ANIMAL HEALTH, HUSBANDRY, AND WELFARE TO REDUCE ANTIMICROBIAL USE IN FARMING. DISASTER RESILIENCE AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS: FOUR PAWS WORKS TO BUILD DISASTER-RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH POLICIES THAT INCLUDE ANIMALS. IN 2025, FOUR PAWS CONTINUED TO BUILD A GLOBAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK CONNECTING ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN ANIMAL WELFARE, DISASTER RESPONSE, AND VETERINARY MEDICINE. IN THE U.S., EFFORTS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDES, CHECKLISTS, AND TOOLKITS FOR ANIMAL OWNERS IN COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES, FLOODING, HURRICANES, AND EARTHQUAKES. EMERGENCY RESCUE RESPONSE: FOUR PAWS DEPLOYS ITS RAPID RESPONSE TEAM TO MONITOR AND RESPOND TO CRISIS SITUATIONS WORLDWIDE USING A REVEAL, RESCUE, AND RESPOND (RRR) APPROACH. IN AUGUST 2025, FOUR PAWS WAS INVITED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ARGENTINA TO ASSESS CONDITIONS AT THE FORMER ZOO LUJN IN BUENOS AIRES, WHICH HAD BEEN CLOSED DUE TO ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS. THE ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIED SERIOUS RISKS TO OVER 60 BIG CATS AND TWO BEARS. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2025, FOUR PAWS ASSUMED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HUSBANDRY MANAGEMENT, VETERINARY CARE, AND OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THESE ANIMALS - REPRESENTING ONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPLEX EMERGENCY MISSIONS TO DATE.
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
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 October 13, 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 February 2012.
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 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.