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St Marys Animal Welfare League Inc

EIN 52-1679412 · Leonardtown, MD

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ST. MARY'S ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE SERVES PEOPLE AND PETS IN NEED THROUGH OUR RESCUE/ADOPTION PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ANIMAL WELFARE AND TO HELP ADDRESS THE REASONS WHY ANIMALS END UP IN SHELTERS.

Income
$235,915
Spending
$190,642
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
31.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2022, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.2 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 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2022, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 2022, 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 (5)
  1. $132,144 spent. ST. MARY'S ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE SERVES COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COMPANION ANIMALS THROUGH OUR RESCUE/ADOPTION PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ANIMAL WELFARE AND TO ADDRESS PET OWNER PROBLEMS WHICH CAN RESULT IN PETS BEING GIVEN UP TO A SHELTER. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE RESCUE/ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCY VETERINARY NEEDS, LOW COST VACCINATION CLINIC AND LOW COST MICROCHIPPING. ADDITIONALLY WE PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY RELATED TO LOST PETS AND GUIDANCE REGARDING REUNITING PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS AS WELL AS GUIDANCE REGARDING COMMON BEHAVIORAL ISSUES EXPERIENCED WITH PETS. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES, HAVE RESULTED IN MORE PETS STAYING WITH THEIR OWNERS AND REDUCTIONS IN PET EUTHANASIA BY OUR LOCAL SHELTER. OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE THE SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH THE DONATION OF VOLUNTEER TIME WHICH IN TURN HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR ADOPTION EVENTS. ST. MARY'S ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE SERVES COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COMPANION ANIMALS THROUGH OUR RESCUE/ADOPTION PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ANIMAL WELFARE AND TO ADDRESS PET OWNER PROBLEMS WHICH CAN RESULT IN PETS BEING GIVEN UP TO A SHELTER. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE RESCUE/ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCY VETERINARY NEEDS, LOW COST VACCINATION CLINIC AND LOW COST MICROCHIPPING. ADDITIONALLY WE PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY RELATED TO LOST PETS AND GUIDANCE REGARDING REUNITING PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS AS WELL AS GUIDANCE REGARDING COMMON BEHAVIORAL ISSUES EXPERIENCED WITH PETS. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES, HAVE RESULTED IN MORE PETS STAYING WITH THEIR OWNERS AND REDUCTIONS IN PET EUTHANASIA BY OUR LOCAL SHELTER. OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE THE SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH THE DONATION OF VOLUNTEER TIME WHICH IN TURN HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR ADOPTION EVENTS.
  2. $22,603 spent. OFFER LOW COST/FREE SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS EFFORT HAS RESULTED IN LESS BREEDING, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN LESS ANIMALS BEING SURRENDERED TO SHELTERS AND/OR EUTHANIZED.
  3. $1,066 spent. ST. MARY'S ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OFFERS LOW COST RABIES, DISTEMPER AND MICROCHIPPING TO OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP OF COMPANION ANIMALS. MICROCHIPPING ALLOWS VETERINARIANS, RESCUES AND SHELTERS TO REUNITE LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS. WE PROMOTE MICROCHIPPING AS A MEANS OF KEEPING PETS OUT OF SHELTERS AND BY PROVIDING REDUCED COST MICROCHIPS WE ENABLE MORE PET OWNERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO MICROCHIPPING.
  4. GRANT TO LOCAL HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION IN MEMORY OF A SUPPORTER OF SMAWL.
  5. GRANT TO LOCAL HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION IN MEMORY OF A SUPPORTER OF SMAWL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2022, 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? Caution.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2022. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.

    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 May 1993.

    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.