Animal Welfare League of Alexandria Virginia Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is to inspire compassion for all living things, to provide shelter to animals in need, and to promote adoptions, animal welfare, and responsible pet ownership. Our belief that all animals deserve love and care, and that supporting people AND pets enriches our community, is the motivation that fuels our mission.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 27.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 61
- Volunteers
- 61
- Highest pay
- $200,947, executive director
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 74% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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 (4)
- $1.5 million spent. ANIMAL CARE: In FY25, we cared for 2,386 animals (1201 cats, 981 dogs, 204 small animals), and providing their daily care was our largest expense. Our team of shelter volunteers assisted AWLA staff to provide top-level care for every animal at the shelter. In FY25, shelter volunteers donated 23,094 hours to the AWLA, roughly equivalent to 11 full-time employees. These volunteers performed a range of tasks, including helping with laundry and dishes; walking dogs; staffing events; cleaning animal enclosures; maintaining the yards and landscaping; cleaning carriers; transporting animals to vet appointments; stocking supplies; socializing cats, feeding animals and helping at events. Volunteers also donated their time from home, helping our organization administratively as well as with enrichment activities for animals.To expand our sheltering capability and provide a unique, home-like environment for animals who might not thrive in the shelter (including newborn and sick or injured animals), we also coordinated a team of more than 100 volunteer foster providers to care for 369 animals in their homes in FY25. The AWLA strives to find placement for every animal that can safely and humanely be rehomed, and in FY25, we found placement for 96% of the pets in our care. To achieve this goal, our staff and volunteers went above and beyond to assist animals in our custody, focusing on animals' health, behavior, enrichment and more to provide them with the best care on their way to finding new homes. We also continue to work closely with other regional shelters and rescues in areas that may not have the same resources as ours, transferring animals to our facility to help those organizations with overpopulation and to increase our combined life-saving efforts. In FY25, we brought in 504 animals from several shelters and rescues in Virginia, as well as West Virginia, Maryland, and Florida. Many of the animals that come to us have health issues ranging from fairly minor to extremely serious, including infections, bone breaks/fractures, heart problems, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Our shelter veterinarian is responsible for examining the animals at the shelter and determining how to best meet each of their medical needs. In FY25, 329 animals with major medical concerns were treated by the AWLA.
- $668,116 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: In FY25 we expanded our efforts to provide support to pet owners, so no one would need to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender a beloved pet for financial reasons. Through our Community Pet Pantry, we distributed over 65,000 pounds of pet food and supplies supporting more than 3,500 pets, and more than 51,000 meals were provided to the pets of senior/housebound pet owners through our AniMeals program. Our Spay and Neuter Assistance program 523 vouchers for this life-changing surgery, helping to control the population of homeless animals and prevent unexpected litters that might lead to animal surrender. Additionally, 1,742 vaccinations and 380 microchips were provided to pets across the community. And the AWLA's Crisis Care program continued to provide limited-term boarding for pets whose owners are undergoing emergencies like loss of housing or hospital stays. Through these programs, we help countless animals in our community stay where they belong -- in homes where they are loved.
- $507,251 spent. ADOPTIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES: In FY25, the AWLA administered 1457 adoptions, including dogs and cats but also rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, and even sugar gliders. We expanded our efforts to make sure all adopters are receiving the level of follow-up support they need in case they have any behavioral or medical questions about their new pet, and our Behavior Hotline has offered guidance to dozens of pet owners to help overcome issues that might otherwise lead to the surrender of a pet. In FY25, our total number of in shelter training sessions was more than 10,000. Additionally, we continued the Alexandria Animal Academy, a virtual training program assisting dog guardians with common training issues helping ~ 50 community members.
- $537,924 spent. ANIMAL SERVICES: Residents made 3251 calls for assistance for animal-related issues in the City of Alexandria in FY25, including 322 calls about animal bites, 172 calls about possible abuse and/or neglect, 1338 wildlife-related calls and 445 calls about stray animals, as well as others. As first responders, our Animal Services officers rescue animals, transport injured/sick animals for veterinary care, provide support to pet owners in need across Alexandria and educate the public about living humanely with wildlife and proper treatment of animals.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.