Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lakes Area Humane Society Inc

EIN 41-1669372 · Alexandria, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE LAKES AREA HUMANE SOCIETY IS TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE CARE AND TRAINING FOR HOUSEHOLD PETS THROUGH EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SHELTER HAVEN FOR LOST AND ABANDONED ANIMALS PENDING PLACEMENT IN SUITABLE PERMANENT HOMES.

Income
$419,760
Spending
$300,370
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
59.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
14
Volunteers
185
Highest pay
$71,941, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 59.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    6 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, 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. $260,080 spent. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SHELTER TO 408 ANIMALS AND REUNITED 96 LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS. PLACED 255 PETS IN NEW, PERMANENT HOMES OR TRANSFERRED TO RESCUE. EACH OF THESE ANIMALS WAS TESTED FOR SERIOUS DISEASES, VACCINATED AND SPAYED/NEUTERED BEFORE BEING ADOPTED. OFFERED ANIMAL BEHAVIOR COUNSELING AT NO CHARGE TO INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH NEGATIVE PET BEHAVIORS. SHELTER STAFF PROVIDED 9 TOURS AND PRESENTATIONS TO CHILDREN'S GROUPS. OVER 75 CHILDREN LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING KIND TO ANIMALS, ANIMAL SAFETY, AND RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP AND ABOUT THE SHELTER'S MANY SERVICES.
  2. $3,097 spent. THE LAKES AREA HUMANE SOCIETY STARTED OFFERING LOW-COST MICROCHIPPING TO OWNED PETS IN 2024. IN 2024, OVER 30 OWNED PETS WERE MICROCHIPPED, IN 2025 OVER 25 OWNED PETS WERE MICROCHIPPED. THE COST TO PET OWNERS IS APPROXIMATELY 75% LESS THAN COMPARED TO LOCAL VETERINARY CLINICS. LOST/STRAY ANIMALS MAKE UP 83% OF THE PETS ENTERING THE SHELTER. IN ADDITION, 190 ADOPTIVE PETS WERE MICROCHIPPED PRIOR TO ADOPTION AT NO EXTRA COST TO THEIR NEW OWNERS. THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-COST CLINICS IS TO PROVIDE PERMANENT, LIFE-LONG IDENTIFICATION FOR THE PETS. IN ADDITION, THE LAKES AREA HUMANE SOCIETY PROVIDES EACH ADOPTABLE ANIMAL A IDENTIFICATION TAG FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL ADOPTIVE PETS. THIS IN TURN, WILL ENABLE MORE LOST/STOLEN PETS TO BE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS.
  3. $388 spent. THE LAKES AREA HUMANE SOCIETY UTILIZING A SPECIAL MEDICAL FUND TO COVERING THE COST OF PROCEDURES FOR ADOPTIVE ANIMALS THAT REQUIRE VETERINARY PROCEDURES SUCH AS LEG AND TAIL AMPUTATIONS, TEETH EXTRACTIONS, EYE ENUCLEATIONS AND OTHER NECESSARY MEDICAL PROCEDURES. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT THE NEW PET OWNERS DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD ADOPTION FEES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.