Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Michigan Humane Society

EIN 38-1358206 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE AND SAVE LIVES THROUGH COMPASSIONATE CARE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY FOR ANIMALS.

Income
$31.8 million
Spending
$29.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
292
Volunteers
2,160
Highest pay
$365,074, president, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $6.5 million spent. VETERINARY SERVICES: DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 9/30/25, MICHIGAN HUMANE'S VETERINARY SERVICES TEAMS PERFORMED 8,836 SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES TO COMBAT ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION. THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE VETERINARY SERVICES TO ANIMALS WHOSE OWNERS WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO AFFORD SIMILAR TREATMENT. THE VETERINARY STAFF WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE CRUELTY INVESTIGATION AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT WHEN MEDICAL TREATMENT OR EXPERT TESTIMONY IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT PROSECUTIONS.
  2. $7.6 million spent. SHELTERING AND ADOPTION: DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 9/30/25, MICHIGAN HUMANE SHELTERED AND PROVIDED HUMANE TREATMENT FOR 8,842 ANIMALS. OF THOSE ANIMALS, 470 WERE TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF THOSE WERE BROUGHT IN DIRECTLY BY OUR TRANSPORT TEAM. 6,117 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED AND AN ADDITIONAL 1,037 WERE PROVIDED WITH A SECOND CHANCE BY EITHER BEING RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS, TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION OR RETURNED TO THE FIELD.
  3. $776,334 spent. CRUELTY INVESTIGATION AND RESCUE: DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 9/30/25, THE CRUELTY INVESTIGATION AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO 2,486 ANIMAL CRUELTY COMPLAINTS. THESE COMPLAINTS VARIED FROM ANIMALS THAT HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED FOOD, WATER, OR SHELTER TO ANIMALS THAT HAD BEEN MALICIOUSLY MAIMED, KILLED, OR FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN ILLEGAL EXPLOITATIVE ACTIVITIES LIKE DOG FIGHTING. MH'S CRUELTY INVESTIGATORS WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN CASES BROUGHT TO MH BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTING ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES. THE DEPARTMENT RESCUED 1,254 ANIMALS.
  4. $7.5 million spent. DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 9/30/25, MH PROVIDED NUMEROUS SUPPORT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN FAMILIES AND THEIR PETS. OUR CALL CENTER TOOK A TOTAL OF 126,451 CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC. MH WAS ALSO FORTUNATE TO HAVE 2,160 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ASSISTING WITH DAILY OPERATIONS, ANIMAL CARE AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND ADMINISTRATION. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTED 80,930 HOURS TOWARDS MEETING THE NEEDS OF ANIMALS IN THE METRO DETROIT COMMUNITY. MH ADMINISTERS A FREE PET FOOD BANK THAT PROVIDED 1,792,669 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE COMMUNITY'S PETS. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL TOURS OF OUR FACILITIES AND VISITS TO SCHOOLS REACHING 2,670 STUDENTS. THE FOSTER PROGRAM GREW TO OVER 1,000 FOSTER FAMILIES ENABLING MH TO PLACE AN AVERAGE OF 332 ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE EVERY MONTH AND IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, THIS PEAKS UP TO APPROXIMATELY 550 ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 March 1942.

    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.