Vanderburgh County Humane Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE VANDERBURGH HUMANE SOCIETY IS COMMITTED TO THE ELIMINATION OF ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE PREVENTION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT, AND THE PROMOTION OF THE ANIMAL-HUMAN BOND.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 73
- Volunteers
- 133
- Highest pay
- $87,261, executive director
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
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 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $1.7 million spent. IN 2024, VHS SHELTERED 4,048 ANIMALS, AND ACHIEVED A 93% LIVE RELEASE RATE. VHS ALSO OFFERS SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP ANIMALS IN THEIR EXISTING HOME RATHER THAN BEING SURRENDERED, SUCH AS A PET FOOD BANK AND BEHAVIORAL TRAINING ADVICE. VHS ALSO WORKS WITH OTHER RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF ANIMALS. OVER 20,000 POUNDS OF FOOD WAS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE PET FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
- $602,503 spent. VHS OPERATES A LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC. IN 2024, 6,665 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED. ALL ANIMALS ARE ALTERED BEFORE BEING PLACED IN THEIR NEW HOME TO ENSURE NO BREEDING OCCURS ONCE ANIMALS LEAVE THE SHELTER. THE SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE SHELTER SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERWRITES THE COST OF THESE SURGERIES AND OTHER SERVICES TO ENSURE THE SURGERY IS AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF INCOME. THE CLINIC ALSO OPERATES AS A WELLNESS CLINIC TO PROVIDE LOW-COST MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPPING, PARASITE TREATMENT, AND MEDICAL TESTING.
- $242,925 spent. THE EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS OF THE VHS REACHED 5,082 KIDS IN 58 PROGRAMS IN 2024. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE TOURS OF THE SHELTER AND CLASS ROOM STYLE PRESENTATIONS ON BEING SAFE AROUND ANIMALS, PROPER CARE AND TREATMENT OF ANIMALS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PET RELATED SAFETY ISSUES. THE VHS EDUCATORS ALSO TAKE PRESENTATIONS TO THE SCHOOLS AND OTHER GROUP SETTINGS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHELTER OR HEAR PET RELATED TOPICS.
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 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 2024.
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 1964.
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.