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Auburn Valley Humane Society

EIN 45-0638467 · Auburn, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AUBURN VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY ENRICHES THE LIVES OF COMPANION ANIMALS AND PEOPLE THROUGH ANIMAL SHELTERING, PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
129
Volunteers
545
Highest pay
$176,774, president

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

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

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 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 (1)
  1. $4.0 million spent. IN 2024, AUBURN VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY (AVHS) SERVED OVER 22,000 COMPANION ANIMALS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS ACROSS OUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHICH INCLUDE OUR NAMESAKE SHELTER IN AUBURN, WA, OUR AVHS THRIFT STORE AND PET FOOD PANTRY, OUR AVHS CAT CAFE AT THE OUTLET COLLECTION, AND NORTHWEST SPAY & NEUTER CENTER IN TACOMA, WA. AT OUR SHELTER, WE MAINTAINED A 98% LIVE RELEASE RATE AND FOUND HOMES FOR 1289 CATS AND DOGS. DOWN THE STREET AT OUR THRIFT STORE AND PET FOOD PANTRY, WE PROVIDED FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES TO SUPPORT ALMOST 900 PETS IN NEED. AT OUR CAT CAFE, OVER 7000 VISITORS SPENT TIME WITH KITTENS AND ADULT CATS WHO WERE ADOPTED AS SOON AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE. IN TACOMA, WE KEPT OUR TITLE AS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES IN WASHINGTON BY ALTERING 12,841 DOGS AND CATS, AND WE PROVIDED 2,289 WELLNESS EXAMS, MANY OF WHICH WERE THE PET'S FIRST TIME VISITING A VETERINARIAN. THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WERE SUPPORTED BY OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED FOSTER 582 CATS AND DOGS AND DONATED 24,470 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO HELP CARE FOR ANIMALS IN NEED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT!

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 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 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 May 2011.

    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.