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Wisconsin Humane Society

EIN 39-0810533 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM.

Income
$18.3 million
Spending
$19.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
14.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
357
Volunteers
2,600
Highest pay
$228,186, president & ceo

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

    19 of 19 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 (3)
  1. $9.0 million spent. SHELTERING AND ANIMAL CARE - THE CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY PLACED 14,123 DOGS, CATS AND SMALL ANIMALS INTO LOVING HOMES. THROUGH ITS COMPREHENSIVE ADOPTION PROGRAM, THE COUNSELORS WORK WITH FAMILIES TO MATCH THEM WITH HOMELESS COMPANION ANIMALS. THEY PROVIDE FOLLOW UP AND SUPPORT TO NEW ADOPTERS. THEY ALSO ASSIST CALLERS WITH INFORMATION RELATED TO TRAINING AND HEALTH ISSUES FOR THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS. THE BEHAVIOR DEPARTMENT PROVIDED BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS FOR DOGS AND CATS TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR PLACEMENT IN THE ADOPTION PROGRAM. THEY PROVIDED IN PERSON AND ONLINE TRAINING IN GROUP CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. THEY ALSO MANAGED AND SUPPORTED BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGED DOGS AND CATS THROUGH IN SHELTER BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND IN HOME SUPPORT PROGRAMS. OUR WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER IS THE LARGEST CENTER IN THE STATE IN TERMS OF ANNUAL ADMITS AND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION. WE ANNUALLY CARE FOR OVER 5,000 INJURED, SICK AND ORPHANED WILD ANIMALS OF ABOUT 150 DIFFERENT SPECIES. OUR GOAL IS TO RESCUE, REHABILITATE AND RETURN THEM TO THE WILD.
  2. $5.0 million spent. VETERINARY - THE VETERINARY DEPARTMENT PERFORMED 20,713 STERILIZATION SURGERIES INCLUDING 8,676 SURGERIES AT THE SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC. ALL DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS WERE STERILIZED PRIOR TO PLACING THEM INTO ADOPTION. DOGS AND CATS WERE MICROCHIPPED PRIOR TO ADOPTION. WE PERFORMED 96,052 VETERINARY EXAMS TO ENSURE ALL ANIMALS WERE HEALTHY BEFORE GOING INTO ADOPTION.
  3. $1.6 million spent. COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND OUTREACH - OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 2-18 IN OUR MISSION. FROM SCOUT NIGHTS TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND CAMPS, WE SERVED 7,233 YOUNG PEOPLE. EACH PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN ANIMAL BOND AND ENGAGE OUR NEXT GENERATION OF PET OWNERS. THE PETS FOR LIFE OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVES FAMILIES IN MILWAUKEE'S 53206 ZIP CODE AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE FAMILIES FACE MANY BARRIERS TO ACCESSING IMPORTANT SERVICES FOR THEIR PETS. THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE DOESN'T HAVE A VETERINARY CLINIC. THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH WE REACHED 3,776 FAMILIES AND PROVIDED 1,030 FREE SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES. WE ALSO PROVIDED FREE VACCINATIONS, FLEA TREATMENTS, COLLARS, CRATES, OTHER MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES TO THE ANIMALS IN OUR FOCUS COMMUNITY.

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 July 1941.

    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.