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Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

EIN 54-0506328 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE RICHMOND SPCA IS CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO SAVING, PROTECTING AND ENRICHING ANIMAL LIVES WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN A NO-KILL COMMUNITY.

Income
$14.3 million
Spending
$12.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
48.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
226
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$250,250, chief executive officer/di

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 48.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 30 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. OUR SUSAN M. MARKEL VETERINARY HOSPITAL IS A FULL-SERVICE FACILITY PROVIDING QUALITY CARE AT LOW COST FOR PETS OF INCOME-QUALIFIED FAMILIES IN THE GREATER RICHMOND REGION AND THOSE ADOPTED FROM OUR HUMANE CENTER. OUR HOSPITAL ENSURES FAMILIES OF ALL MEANS HAVE ACCESS TO TREATMENT OPTIONS THEY CAN AFFORD FOR THEIR ANIMAL COMPANIONS. AS AN EXPANSION OF THE RICHMOND SPCA'S PET-RETENTION SERVICES, OUR SUSAN M. MARKEL VETERINARY HOSPITAL HELPS PETS STAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHILE ENJOYING A GREATER QUALITY OF LIFE.
  2. $5.4 million spent. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS DELIVERED LOVING CARE AND ENRICHMENT TO 4,383 HOMELESS ANIMALS - BOTH IN OUR HUMANE CENTER AND IN FOSTER HOMES. THE MAJORITY OF PETS WE BROUGHT INTO OUR CARE WERE ONES WE TRANSFERRED FROM UNDER RESOURCED GOVERNMENT SHELTERS. IN TOTAL, WE PARTNERED WITH 78 SHELTERS LAST YEAR (63 OF WHICH WERE IN VIRGINIA) TO BRING VULNERABLE PETS INTO OUR CARE. THE REMAINING PETS THE RICHMOND SPCA TOOK INTO OUR CARE WERE ONES SURRENDERED TO US BY THEIR FORMER OWNERS OR WHO WERE FOUND STRAY BY GOOD SAMARITANS OR WHO WERE ABANDONED. MORE THAN 80% OF THE HOMELESS PETS IN OUR HUMANE CENTER REQUIRED CRUCIAL VETERINARY TREATMENT, WHICH OUR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL STAFF DELIVERED, FOR A VARIETY OF ILLNESSES AND INJURIES PRIOR TO ADOPTION TO LASTING HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
  3. $1.5 million spent. HUMANE EDUCATION AT THE RICHMOND SPCA INCLUDES PROGRAMS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT INSTILL COMPASSION, KINDNESS, AND EMPATHY FOR BOTH HUMANS AND ANIMALS, DEVELOP CHARACTER AND PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE CARE FOR ALL CREATURES. PROGRAMS DELIVERED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 INCLUDED SUMMER CAMP, PUBLIC TRAINING CLASSES AND SEMINARS, A DAY TRAINING SERVICE AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.
  4. $738,058 spent. THE RICHMOND SPCA SMOKY'S SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC PROVIDES STERILIZATION SERVICES TO PETS IN THE CARE OF OTHER SHELTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS TO UNOWNED FREE-ROAMING CATS BROUGHT TO US BY CAREGIVERS PERFORMING TRAP-NEUTER-VACCINATE-RETURN (TNVR).

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 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 September 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 March 1942.

    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.