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Humane Society for Hamilton County Inc

EIN 35-1610723 · Fishers, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) is saving lives, educating communities and completing families by providing a compassionate and healthy environment for the homeless animals of Hamilton County, Indiana, until they can be placed into permanent loving homes.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
117
Volunteers
952
Highest pay
$198,259, 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 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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. $3.5 million spent. HSHC is an open admission, no-kill facility serving as both the animal control facility and Humane Society for Hamilton County, Indiana. HSHC took in over 3,800 animals this year including hundreds at risk for euthanasia in other Indiana shelters. HSHC successfully adopted out 3,188 animals in 2024, returned 389 to their owners & placed over 1,000 animals into foster care. In addition to pet adoption, HSHC both funds and facilitates community outreach programs that connect children, at-risk youth, seniors, and Hoosier veterans with the healing power of pets. Our K-12 youth education and Scout programs are planting seeds of kindness, responsibility, and philanthropy in thousands of children each year. HSHC has also taken on a leadership role in the state of Indiana to educate against breed discrimination and development of stronger animal ordinances to offer better protection of domestic pets and stronger legal consequences for those convicted of animal cruelty.
  2. $624,075 spent. SURVIVOR PROGRAM: The Survivor Program funds 100% of the medical care that was provided to 2,481 animals in 2024. It also covers all costs, including daily care and the initial vetting, of the adoptable animals HSHC rescues from other Indiana shelters who are at-risk for euthanasia.
  3. $179,579 spent. PETS HEALING VETS PROGRAM: An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide each day while approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized in shelters every year. These alarming statistics prompted HSHC to make it our mission to improve the emotional well-being of Hoosier veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury by pairing them with carefully selected shelter animals in need of homes. The Pets Healing Vets program, which is fully funded and facilitated by HSHC, was established in 2012 to do just that. Pets Healing Vets is currently the only veteran-emotional support pet matching program in Indiana that will cover all costs of pet ownership for the life of the pet up to and including food, annual vaccines, preventatives, general supplies, training, boarding, grooming and emergency medical care. 40 veterans were paired with 41 animals in this program in 2024.

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

  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 2024.

    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 June 1990.

    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.

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.