Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Washington Humane Society the Society for the Prevention of

EIN 53-0219724 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WASHINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY PROTECTS ANIMALS, SUPPORTS FAMILIES, AND ADVOCATES FOR POSITIVE CHANGE TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE ALL ANIMALS CAN THRIVE. WE ENRICH THE HUMANITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROMOTING COMPASSION AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO FIND JOY, COMFORT AND COMPANIONSHIP THROUGH THE LOVE AND APPRECIATION OF ANIMALS.

Income
$22.6 million
Spending
$22.6 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
326
Volunteers
1,570
Highest pay
$400,068, president and 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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. $2.0 million spent. ANIMAL PROTECTION AND HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT -WHS'S ANIMAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT PROTECTS ANIMALS AND SUPPORTS PET OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THROUGH HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. IN 2025, HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT CONDUCTED 2,703 INVESTIGATIONS INTO SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY AND NEGLECT, WHILE THE ANIMAL SUPPORT CENTER RESPONDED TO 9,891 CALLS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING ASSISTANCE OR REPORTING ANIMAL WELFARE CONCERNS.THE DEPARTMENT ALSO WORKS TO PREVENT ANIMALS FROM ENTERING THE SHELTER SYSTEM BY CONNECTING PET OWNERS WITH RESOURCES THAT HELP KEEP ANIMALS SAFE AND HEALTHY IN THEIR HOMES. IN 2025, WHS DISTRIBUTED 80,272 POUNDS OF PET FOOD TO PET OWNERS IN NEED. THROUGH ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, AND DIRECT COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHS WORKS TO PROTECT ANIMALS, REDUCE SUFFERING, AND STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS.
  2. $4.4 million spent. SHELTER AND COMMUNITY VETERINARY SERVICES - WHS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR 18,837 ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, RANGING FROM ROUTINE CARE TO ADVANCED SURGICAL PROCEDURES. OUR VETERINARY PROGRAM SUPPORTS BOTH SHELTER ANIMALS AND COMMUNITY PETS, WITH SERVICES TAILORED TO SUPPORT POPULATION HEALTH, EMERGENCY CARE, PREVENTIVE CARE AND INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PLANS. TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE, AFFORDABILITY IS MAINTAINED ACROSS SERVICES, ENSURING THAT COST IS NOT A BARRIER TO CRITICAL VETERINARY TREATMENT. WHS PRIORITIZES EARLY INTERVENTION AND MEDICAL TREATMENT AS A CORE STRATEGY TO MAINTAIN HIGH LIVE RELEASE RATES, MINIMIZE SUFFERING, AND HELP KEEP PETS AT HOME.
  3. $7.1 million spent. ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTIONS - ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND ADOPTIONS INCLUDE THE INTAKE OF HOMELESS ANIMALS, COORDINATION FOR ANIMAL FOSTER CARE, PET ADOPTIONS, AND ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SUPPORT ACROSS WHS CAMPUSES IN WASHINGTON, DC AND MADISON, NJ. IN 2025, WHS ADMITTED 11,119 ANIMALS.TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED ANIMAL WELLBEING AND PREVENT OVERCROWDING AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER, OVER 1,600 ANIMALS WERE PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES WITH WHS'S BROAD, DEDICATED NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS IN 2025. IN TOTAL, WHS ENGAGED 45,063 VOLUNTEER HOURS ACROSS BOTH CAMPUSES TO SUPPORT DAILY ANIMAL CARE, FOSTER CARE, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

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 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 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 June 1937.

    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.