Animal Welfare League of Arlington Va Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Improving the lives of animals and people by providing resources, care, and protection.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 41%
- Employees
- 63
- Volunteers
- 380
- Highest pay
- $168,706, president/ceo to 12/24
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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)
- $2.0 million spent. Shelter Operations - the League serves as an animal shelter for Arlington County, VA and accepts any animal regardless of condition from within Arlington County. We also accept other animals from outside of Arlington County when we have the space to do so. The League has a contract with the City of Falls Church to provide the same services. Some of the animals we help are lost pets that are reunited with their owners; some are given up by owners who could no longer care for them; some are found abandoned and others were transferred to us by other rescue partners. We also take in wildlife that may be injured, orphaned or trapped and in many cases are rehabilitated and returned to the wild. The League adopts dogs, cats and small companion animals. In FY25, the League's positive outcome rate for companion animals is 95%.
- $1.1 million spent. Community Services - AWLA provides services at low or no cost to pet owners who are residents of Arlington County or the City of Falls Church. These include vaccinations, spay/neuter vouchers, supplies, and pet food at both the shelter and regular events hosted throughout the community. The League has an active volunteer program that supports its shelter and community-based work and a robust humane education program that hosts programming on site and at partner locations throughout the year. Additionally, the League provides temporary safe housing and care for animals whose owners have encountered a medical, housing, or other short term emergency.
- $743,140 spent. Animal Control - Operates Animal Control on behalf of Arlington and is responsible for enforcing both Arlington County and State of Virginia animal care and control regulations.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.