Hamilton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SPCA CINCINNATI IS AN ANIMAL SHELTER AND HUMANE SOCIETY THAT CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AND IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS BY FOSTERING THE HUMANE CARE AND TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS.
- Income
- $6.5 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 45.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 61
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $137,043, beginning of employment: 3/31/2025
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 45.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 2519 of 19 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 (5)
- $1.5 million spent. DURING 2025, SPCA CINCINNATI PLACED NEARLY 2,500 CATS AND DOGS.
- $533,888 spent. SHELTER TO SHELTER TRANSPORT PROGRAM - DURING 2025 SPCA CINCINNATI TRANSFERRED IN MORE THAN 750 ANIMALS FROM SEVERAL SHELTERS NATIONWIDE WITH EXCESS ANIMALS. THESE ANIMALS WERE PROVIDED THE NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATEMENT TO MAKE THEM ADOPTABLE.
- $1.2 million spent. DURING 2025 THE SPCA CINCINNATI MEDICAL TEAM PERFORMED MORE THAN 1,300 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES, ADMINISTERED MORE THAN 5,000 VACCINES, AND PROVIDED LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT TO MANY ANIMALS IN CARE.
- $1.2 million spent. $94,851-DURING 2025, THE FARM SAW HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS VISIT TO SPCA SIMMONDS FARM TO RECEIVE HANDS-ON FARM EDUCATION ON THE PROPER/HUMANE TREATMENT OF A WIDE VARIETY OF ANIMALS. $198,922 - HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS $589,162- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT $345,460-UNALLOCATED DEPRECIATION EXPENSE
- $94,851-DURING 2025, THE FARM SAW HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS VISIT TO SPCA 1228395. 0. 0.
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 November 1965.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York, NY), EIN 13-1623829. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.