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National Anti-Vivisection Society

EIN 36-2229588 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NAVS IS DEDICATED TO ENDING THE EXPLOITATION OF ANIMALS USED IN SCIENCE. NAVS WORKS TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE SOLUTIONS THAT ADVANCE HUMANE SCIENCE IN LABORATORIES AND CLASSROOMS.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
91.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
17
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$246,637, program consultant/attorne

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 91.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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

    6 of 6 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 June 30, 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. $1.1 million spent. NAVS WORKS URGENTLY TO RAISE AWRENESS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE USE OF ANIMALS IN EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND TESTING. NAVS PROMOTES AND FUNDS THE IDENTIFICATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND USE OF HUMANE, HUMAN-RELEVANT SOLUTIONS THAT CAN REPLACE THE CRUEL AND WASTEFUL USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH, TESTING, AND EDUCATION. NAVS DISSEMINATES CREDIBLE AND COMPELLING EDUCATIONAL CONTENT VIA ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS.
  2. $503,793 spent. LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS - NAVS ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY CHANGES THAT REPLACE OR REDUCE THE USE OF ANIMALS IN GOVERNMENT FUNDED RESEARCH. NAVS WORKS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL TO MONITOR AND TAKE ACTION ON PROPOSED LAWS THAT AFFECT ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH AND TESTING.
  3. $531,236 spent. SCIENCE PROGRAMS - NAVS WORKS WITH SCIENTISTS AND SCIENCE EDUCATORS TO IMPLEMENT HUMANE ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES AND CLASSROOMS. THROUGH CLASSROOM GRANTS AND SCIENCE FAIR AWARDS, NAVS ENCOURAGES YOUNG SCIENTISTS AND THEIR TEACHERS TO USE HUMANE SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN ANIMALS. NAVS ALSO SPONSORS RELEVANT SCIENCE CONFERENCES.
  4. $553,962 spent. COOPERATIVE EFFORTS - TO ADVANCE NAVS' MISSION BY SUPPORTING SANCTUARIES AND ANIMAL RESCUES IN TIMES OF NEED AND TO PROVIDE CREATIVE PLATFORMS FOR ADVOCATES AND POTENTIAL ADVOCATES TO PROMOTE THEIR VISIONS OF A MORE HUMAN AND JUST WORLD FOR ANIMALS.
  5. STUDENT/TEACHER PROGRAMS - TO PROMOTE INNOVATIVE SCIENCE EDUCATION, NAVS PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HUMANE SCIENCE PROJECTS AT INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL SCIENCE FAIRS AND MANAGES THE BIOLOGY EDUCATION ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM (BIOLEAP) TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT EDUCATORS WHO WISH TO TEACH THE LIFE SCIENCES WITHOUT HARMING ANIMALS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 1934.

    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.