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American Veterinary Medical Foundation

EIN 36-6117739 · Schaumburg, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION DEVELOPS RESOURCES TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE TO IMPROVE ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH. DONATIONS HELP SUPPORT CARE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED, VETERINARY STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$500,211, 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 10 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $2.3 million spent. CHARITABLE CARE - THROUGH THE AVMF REACH PROGRAM, AVMA MEMBER VETERINARIANS ARE EMPOWERED TO OFFER CHARITABLE VETERINARY SERVICES TO CLIENTS EXPERIENCING PERSONAL HARDSHIPS. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS VETERINARIANS TO ACCESS UP TO $1,000 IN SUPPORT PER MEMBER AND UP TO $5,000 PER CLINIC ADDRESS TO HELPS CLIENTS AFFORD NECESSARY CARE. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO ALL AVMA MEMBERS NATIONWIDE. IN 2024, AVMF AWARDED OVER $1.8 MILLION IN GRANTS, SUPPORTING CLINICS IN ALL 50 STATES AND HELPING BRIDGE THE GAP IN ACCESS TO CARE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED.
  2. $1.5 million spent. EDUCATION - AVMF IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS. IN 2024, WE AWARDED $1.2 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO VETERINARY STUDENTS AND TECHNICIANS, ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION AND MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANIMAL HEALTH, FOOD SAFETY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH. AVMF ALSO INVESTS IN CONTINUING EDUCATION THROUGH THE AVMA AXON PLATFORM AND THE AVMA CONVENTION.
  3. $272,144 spent. RESEARCH - AVMF ADVANCES ANIMAL HEALTH FUNDING BY FUNDING INNOVATIVE RESEARCH. WITH FUNDING FROM THE VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, AVMF AWARDS GRANTS TO RESEARCHERS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF ANIMAL DISEASES. IN 2024, AVMF COLLABORATED WITH THE STANTON FOUNDATION TO AWARD A $150,000 CANINE SPECTRUM OF CARE GRANT, SUPPORTING RESEARCH INTO AFFORDABLE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR CANINE PATIENTS AND PROMOTING BROADER ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE.
  4. $270,069 spent. DISASTER RELIEF - AVMF PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPORT DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS THROUGH REIMBURSEMENTS GRANTS TO VETERINARIANS AND ALLIED HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. THESE FUNDS ASSIST WITH THE TRANSPORT, SHELTER, AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS IMPACTED BY DISASTERS. AVMF ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY RELIEF TO ANYONE IN THE VETERINARY PROFESSION HELPING COVER IMMEDIATE NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, AND CLOTHING IN THE AFTERMATH OF A DISASTER.

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 November 1964.

    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.