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Homeward Animal Shelter Inc

EIN 45-0284164 · Fargo, ND

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CARE FOR, PROTECT AND PLACE ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION IN LIFE LONG HOMES, AND TO PREVENT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS BY EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY IN THE PROPER AND HUMANE CARE OF ALL ANIMALS.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
40
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$91,138, 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. HOMEWARD ANIMAL SHELTER (HAS) IS A LOCAL AND COMMUNITY-FUNDED, NON-PROFIT ANIMAL SHELTER. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1966, HOMEWARD ANIMAL SHELTER HAS PLACED OVER 45,000 ANIMALS IN LIFELONG HOMES.HAS STRIVES TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROPER AND HUMANE CARE OF ALL ANIMALS IN AN EFFORT TO STOP ANIMAL CRUELTY; AND SPAY/NEUTER OUTREACH TO BRING THE AWARENESS THAT SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES PREVENT ANIMAL OVER POPULATION AND ULTIMATELY SAVE ANIMAL LIVES.HAS MICROCHIPS AND VACCINATES ALL ANIMALS BEFORE ADOPTION, AND SPAYS/NEUTERS ALL ANIMALS 6 MONTHS OR OLDER BEFORE ADOPTION, AND PROVIDES LOW-COST MICROCHIP CLINICS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE, HOMEWARD (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) ANIMAL SHELTER PROVIDES A COMMUNITY PANTRY WITH DOG/CAT FOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD FOOD FOR THEIR ANIMALS. IN 2025, HOMEWARD ANIMAL SHELTER RESCUED OVER 90% OF ALL UNCLAIMED ANIMALS FROM THE FARGO POUND. WITH THE ENDING OF 2025, IT HAS BEEN 17 FULL YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME AN ADOPTABLE DOG WAS EUTHANIZED AND 13 YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME AN ADOPTABLE CAT WAS EUTHANIZED, IN ANY OF THE 3 LOCAL POUNDS.ALSO IN 2025, HAS PARTNERED WITH THE NDSU VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. DOGS AND CATS FROM HAS RECEIVE VETERINARY CARE FOR A REDUCED COST THROUGH THEIR ROLE AS ANIMAL EDUCATORS. STUDENTS LEARN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, DOG/CAT BREEDS AND COLORS, HUSBANDRY AND FEEDING, BASIC GROOMING, AND VETERINARY CARE. DOGS AND CATS, AND STUDENTS BENEFITS FROM ADDITIONAL TIME TOGETHER OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM SETTING - TRULY A GREAT PARTNERSHIP. HAS IS THE ONLY GROUP IN THE FM COMMUNITY WITH A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TAKE IN FERAL CATS. THEY ARE VACCINATED, SPAYED/NEUTERED, THEN ADOPTED OUT THROUGH THE BARN BUDDIES PROGRAM. HAS IS ALSO THE ONLY GROUP IN THE FM COMMUNITY TO TAKE IN CATS WITH FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS AND FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS. CATS WITH THESE VIRUSES ARE ADOPTABLE, AND JUST NEED THE RIGHT HOME TO CARE FOR THEM.

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 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 December 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 August 1966.

    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.