The Cleveland Animal Protective League
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CLEVELAND ANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEAGUE'S (APL) MISSION IS TO FOSTER COMPASSION AND END ANIMAL SUFFERING. THE APL PROVIDES SHELTER, CARE, AND MEDICAL TREATMENT TO ANIMALS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND/OR SUFFERED CRUELTY OR NEGLECT. IT ALSO PROVIDES HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES FOR SHELTER ANIMALS AND COMMUNITY PETS, OPERATES A LOW-COST VETERINARY CLINIC FOR PET OWNERS IN CLEVELAND FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, AND OFFERS RESOURCES TO INCOME-QUALIFIED PET OWNERS IN CLEVELAND TO HELP THEM ACCESS THE CARE THEY NEED AND WANT FOR THEIR PETS KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER. IN 2024, THE APL HELPED MORE THAN 21,000 ANIMALS THROUGH AN ARRAY OF PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS. THE APL RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF PRIVATE DONORS AND FEES FOR SERVICE TO MAKE ALL THIS WORK POSSIBLE. THE APL DOES NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR OPERATIONS AND IS NOT GOVERNED BY, NOR DOES IT RECEIVE REGULAR OPERATING SUPPORT FROM, ANY NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION.
- Income
- $10.4 million
- Spending
- $10.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 29.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 131
- Volunteers
- 1,355
- Highest pay
- $257,199, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
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, 2024, 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 (6)
- $4.0 million spent. ANIMAL SHELTERING & CARE*: THE APL OPERATES A 40,000-SQUARE-FOOT ANIMAL SHELTER AND RESOURCE CENTER IN CLEVELAND. IN 2024, THE APL BROUGHT IN 6,952 ANIMALS THAT WERE SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS, VICTIMS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND IMPOUNDED BY OUR HUMANE AGENTS, TRANSFERRED IN FROM OVERCROWDED SHELTERS, BROUGHT IN TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN OTHER AREAS, OR STRAY CATS FOUND BY GOOD SAMARITANS. ONCE AT THE APL, THESE ANIMALS RECEIVE THE CARE AND TREATMENT THEY NEED UNTIL THEY CAN BE PLACED FOR ADOPTION. WHEN THE SHELTER IS FULL OR WHEN ANIMALS HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS BETTER MET IN A HOME SETTING, THEY ARE PLACED WITH TEMPORARY VOLUNTEER FOSTER FAMILIES UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO RETURN TO THE APL FOR ADOPTION. IN 2024, 3,126 OF THE 6,952 ANIMALS **************** (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) ******************* ...ADMITTED TO THE APL RECEIVED CARE IN FOSTER HOMES. BY THE END OF 2024, WE ACHIEVED AN OVERALL 92% SAVE RATE FOR ANIMALS THROUGH ADOPTIONS, REUNIFICATION WITH OWNERS, OR TRANSFER TO OTHER RESCUE GROUPS OR SHELTERS FOR ADOPTION.
- $852,756 spent. HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS*: THE APL IS THE LEAD AGENCY IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY FOR INVESTIGATING ANIMAL CRUELTY, NEGLECT, AND ABANDONMENT. UNDER OHIO LAW, THE CLEVELAND APL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT HUMANE SOCIETY AGENTS TO ENFORCE LOCAL AND STATE ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS; THESE APPOINTMENTS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROBATE COURT. THE APL DOES NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM; IT IS FUNDED SOLELY BY DONATIONS. IN 2024, THE HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS TEAM OPENED 2,106 NEW INVESTIGATIONS OF SUSPECTED ANIMAL ABUSE AND EITHER IMPOUNDED OR RESCUED 1,070 ANIMALS. THE APL'S HUMANE SOCIETY AGENTS ALSO SEEK JUSTICE FOR ANIMAL VICTIMS BY WORKING WITH PROSECUTORS TO SECURE CONVICTIONS FOR THOSE CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY **************** (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) ******************* ...OR NEGLECT. UNDER OHIO LAW, HUMANE AGENTS ARE MANDATED REPORTERS FOR CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE EXPENSES SHARED IN THIS SECTION REFLECT THE CORE COST OF OPERATING THE HUMANE INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM AND DO NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF CARING FOR CRUELTY VICTIMS, WHICH CAN RANGE FROM BASIC DAILY CARE TO EXTENSIVE, SOMETIMES COMPLEX, VETERINARY CARE TO HEAL BOTH THEIR BODIES AND SPIRITS AND SAVE THEIR LIVES.
- $1.6 million spent. SHELTER VETERINARY SERVICES*: THE APL'S VETERINARY CLINIC PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER, MEDICAL, AND OTHER SURGICAL SERVICES FOR ANIMALS ADMITTED TO THE SHELTER FOR REHOMING. ALL CATS, DOGS, AND RABBITS ARE STERILIZED PRIOR TO ADOPTION. THROUGH DONATIONS TO THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM, ANIMALS SURRENDERED TO THE APL WITH TREATABLE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES RECEIVE THE MEDICAL AND/OR SURGICAL CARE NEEDED FOR A HEALTHY LIFE. SOMETIMES, THIS CARE IS EXTENSIVE AND COMPLEX. IN 2024, 4,634 SHELTER ANIMALS WERE STERILIZED, AND 4,215 SHELTER ANIMALS RECEIVED 10,653 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, TREATMENTS, PROCEDURES, AND/OR SURGERIES.
- $638,238 spent. ANIMAL WELFARE CLINIC (AWC)*: THE APL'S AWC PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY CATS THROUGH TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN (TNR) AND STERILIZATION SERVICES FOR ADOPTABLE ANIMALS FROM OTHER SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS. IN 2024, 4,202 COMMUNITY CATS WERE STERILIZED THROUGH THE TNR PROGRAM, AND 2,163 ADOPTABLE ANIMALS FROM PARTNER SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS WERE STERILIZED.
- $473,968 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH*: THROUGH PROJECT CARE (COMMUNITY ANIMAL RETENTION EFFORT), THE APL HELPS INCOME-QUALIFIED PET OWNERS IN CLEVELAND ACCESS THE CARE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED AND WANT FOR THEIR PETS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PET FOOD, GROOMING, VACCINATIONS, WELLNESS CARE, AND CRISIS BOARDING FOR OWNERS FACING HOUSING INSECURITY OR FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN 2024, PROJECT CARE ASSISTED MORE THAN 3,697 PETS AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 17 TONS OF PET FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
- $1.2 million spent. COMMUNITY PET CLINIC (CPC): THE APL BELIEVES IN PRESERVING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AND THAT PET OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO GIVE UP THEIR PETS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD VETERINARY CARE. IN 2022, THE APL OPENED ITS COMMUNITY PET CLINIC (CPC) TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE VETERINARY CARE TO PET OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AFFORD CARE AT PRIVATE CLINICS OR AT ALL. THE CPC CURRENTLY SERVES PETS OWNED BY CLEVELAND AND EAST CLEVELAND RESIDENTS WHO ARE ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. IT ALSO SERVES CUYAHOGA COUNTY RESIDENTS LIVING IN HOMELESS SHELTERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, PUBLIC HOUSING, HOTELS, OR MOTELS, INDIVIDUALS REFERRED BY PRIVATE VETERINARY CLINICS DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY, AND THOSE REFERRED BY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CPC SERVES CLEVELAND APL ADOPTERS AND RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE 44113 ZIP CODE. IN 2024, THE CPC HELPED 4,390 ANIMALS, PERFORMED 1,025 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES, DENTALS, AND OTHER SURGERIES, CONDUCTED 2,223 DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, ADMINISTERED 5,076 VACCINES, AND PROVIDED HUMANE EUTHANASIA SERVICES TO 386 ANIMALS AT THEIR OWNERS' REQUEST.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 November 1948.
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.
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