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Licking County Humane Society

EIN 31-6062704 · Heath, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 70 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE LICKING COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY RESCUES ANIMALS TO IMPROVE LIVES. THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES, LCHS TOUCHES THE LIVES OF 5,000 ANIMALS AND 10,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 32%
Employees
87
Volunteers
325
Highest pay
$136,900, executive di

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

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 70 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 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. $986,143 spent. ANIMAL SHELTERING: LICKING COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY PLACED 1,894 ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION IN 2025. THE MAJORITY WERE OWNER-SURRENDERED FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPERIENCING A CRISIS SUCH AS LOSS OF HOME, ILLNESS, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT, DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER, ETC. SOME ANIMALS ARRIVED DUE TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND SOME WERE STRAYS. LCHS ALSO ACCEPTS TRANSFERS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST WITH THE OVER-POPULATION ISSUES. WHILE AT LCHS, ANIMALS' HOUSING, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS ARE MET. LCHS HAS AN OVER 97.5% LIVE RELEASE RATE.
  2. $264,980 spent. HUMANE AGENT: THE HUMANE AGENT INVESTIGATES CASES AND PROVIDES EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS ALWAYS OUR GOAL TO KEEP ANIMALS WITH THEIR PEOPLE. ANIMALS MAY BE CONFISCATED DUE TO CRUELTY. THE ANIMALS ARE CARED FOR AT LCHS UNTIL THE PET IS READY FOR ADOPTION. THE FOLLOWING JURISDICTIONS ARE SERVED BY LCHS HUMANE AGENT: UNINCORPORATED LICKING COUNTY, HEATH, GRANVILLE, PATASKALA, BUCKEYE LAKE, HEBRON, REYNOLDSBURG, JOHNSTOWN, NEWARK, AND UTICA.
  3. $803,555 spent. LOW-COST CLINICS: LCHS PROVIDES LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. SINCE INCEPTION, 22,609 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ALTERED. LCHS ALSO OFFERS WELLNESS TO THE PUBLIC AT REDUCED FEES. IN OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO PREVENT ANIMALS FROM ENTERING SHELTERS, LCHS BEGAN A NEW PROGRAM IN 2023 THAT PROVIDES FREE VACCINES AND WELLNESS CARE TO THE PETS OF THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION. IT IS CALLED THE BRIGHT SPOT CLINIC. IT HAS NOW BEEN EXPANDED TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH LIMITED INCOME. WE ALSO BEGAN THE JT CALLENDAR FUND WHICH PROVIDES SUPPLIES TO THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION INCLUDING SLEEPING BAGS FOR PETS & PEOPLE, PET FOOD, ACCESS TO PET-FRIENDLY WARMING CENTERS AND MORE. LCHS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO AT-RISK POPULATIONS OF ANIMAL OWNERS, INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZENS (MEALS ON WHEELS PET FOOD PANTRY,) THE UNSHELTERED PET-OWNING POPULATION AT THE LOCAL WARMING CENTER, AND PROVIDING PET FOOD TO THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY FOR CLIENTS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH PET FOOD. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL JOINT VOCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR STEM RELATED PROGRAMMING TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN VETERINARY SCIENCE. LOW-COST CLINICS: LCHS PROVIDES LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. SINCE INCEPTION, 22,609 ANIMALS HAVE BEEN ALTERED. LCHS ALSO OFFERS WELLNESS TO THE PUBLIC AT REDUCED FEES. IN OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO PREVENT ANIMALS FROM ENTERING SHELTERS, LCHS BEGAN A NEW PROGRAM IN 2023 THAT PROVIDES FREE VACCINES AND WELLNESS CARE TO THE PETS OF THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION. IT IS CALLED THE BRIGHT SPOT CLINIC. IT HAS NOW BEEN EXPANDED TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH LIMITED INCOME. WE ALSO BEGAN THE JT CALLENDAR FUND WHICH PROVIDES SUPPLIES TO THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION INCLUDING SLEEPING BAGS FOR PETS & PEOPLE, PET FOOD, ACCESS TO PET-FRIENDLY WARMING CENTERS AND MORE. LCHS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO AT-RISK POPULATIONS OF ANIMAL OWNERS, INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZENS (MEALS ON WHEELS PET FOOD PANTRY,) THE UNSHELTERED PET-OWNING POPULATION AT THE LOCAL WARMING CENTER, AND PROVIDING PET FOOD TO THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRY FOR CLIENTS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE WITH PET FOOD. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH OUR LOCAL JOINT VOCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR STEM RELATED PROGRAMMING TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN VETERINARY SCIENCE.
  4. $85,617 spent. OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT LCHS MISSION.
  5. OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT LCHS MISSION.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 1986.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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