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Friendship Animal Protective League

EIN 34-6529498 · Elyria, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDSHIP APL RECEIVES COMPANION ANIMALS THROUGH CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS, RESCUE FROM HIGH VOLUME SHELTERS AND DIRECT OWNER SURRENDER. THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CARE FOR THE ANIMALS UNTIL THEY ARE ADOPTED INTO A NEW HOME.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
16.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
31
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$110,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 25

    8 of 8 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 October 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. ANIMAL CARE AND RESCUE - PERFORMED AN ESTIMATED 573 CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS AND ASSISTED 6,544 ANIMALS. ALL CATS, DOGS, AND RABBITS ADOPTED OUT OF OUR FACILITY HAVE BEEN SPAYED AND NEUTERED TO REDUCE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION. THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RESCUES, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NON-PROFITS AND OUR CREATIVE USE OF MARKETING AND MEDIA, WE FOUND HOMES FOR AN AMAZING 92.3% OF THE DOGS AND 88.6% OF THE CATS RESCUED BY OUR TEAM.
  2. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANIMAL CARE AND RESCUE - PERFORMED AN ESTIMATED 573 CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS AND ASSISTED 6,544 ANIMALS, OF WHICH 6,302 WERE UNIQUE TO THE ORGANIZATION (IE NOT RETURNED). ALL CATS AND DOGS ADOPTED OUT OF OUR FACILITY HAVE BEEN SPAYED AND NEUTERED TO REDUCE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION. SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC IN APRIL OF 2019, FRIENDSHIP APL HAS SPAYED/NEUTERED OVER 20,500 DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS AT OUR SHELTER WITH THE HELP OF ONE VETERINARIAN. THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RESCUES, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND OUR CREATIVE USE OF MARKETING, WE FOUND HOMES FOR, TRANSFERRED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS AN AMAZING 92.3% OF THE DOGS AND 88.6% OF THE CATS RESCUED BY OUR TEAM.
  3. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANIMAL CARE AND RESCUE - PERFORMED AN ESTIMATED 573 CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS AND ASSISTED 6,544 ANIMALS, OF WHICH 6,302 WERE UNIQUE TO THE ORGANIZATION (IE NOT RETURNED). ALL CATS AND DOGS ADOPTED OUT OF OUR FACILITY HAVE BEEN SPAYED AND NEUTERED TO REDUCE ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION. SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC IN APRIL OF 2019, FRIENDSHIP APL HAS SPAYED/NEUTERED OVER 20,500 DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS AT OUR SHELTER WITH THE HELP OF ONE VETERINARIAN. THROUGH OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH RESCUES, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND OUR CREATIVE USE OF MARKETING, WE FOUND HOMES FOR, TRANSFERRED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS AN AMAZING 92.3% OF THE DOGS AND 88.6% OF THE CATS RESCUED BY OUR TEAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 13, 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 October 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 August 1959.

    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 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.