Mercy for Animals
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MERCY FOR ANIMALS' MISSION IS TO CONSTRUCT A COMPASSIONATE FOOD SYSTEM THAT IS NOT JUST KIND TO ANIMALS BUT ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET AND ALL WHO SHARE IT. OUR VISION OF A WORLD WHERE ANIMALS ARE RESPECTED, PROTECTED, AND FREE DRIVES THE WORK WE DO EVERY DAY.
- Income
- $23.3 million
- Spending
- $23.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 133
- Volunteers
- 205
- Highest pay
- $202,361, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 128% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $16.3 million spent. OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM EXPANDED ITS REACH, INSPIRING NEWS STORIES IN LARGE MEDIA OUTLETS, COLLABORATING AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH CELEBRITIES TO EXPAND OUR REACH, PRODUCING HARD-HITTING VIDEOS THAT EXPOSE FACTORY FARMING, AND EDUCATING MILLIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE BENEFITS OF PLANT-BASED EATING. OUR CONTENT REACHED MILLIONS OF VIEWERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA USERS, HELPING TO RAISE AWARENESS AND INSPIRE ACTION FOR ANIMAL WELFARE GLOBALLY.WE ALSO SUPPORTED SIGNIFICANT CORPORATE AND LEGISLATIVE WINS, ENSURING ONGOING PROGRESS FOR FARMED ANIMALS. OUR CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT TEAM HELPED ADVANCE CAMPAIGNS TO IMPROVE PROTECTIONS FOR FARMED ANIMALS AND PROMOTE PLANT-BASED EATING.
- $1.2 million spent. TRANSFARMATION. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD COLLECTIVE POWER SUFFICIENT TO REALIZE A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM. TRANSFARMATION DOES THIS BY HELPING FARMERS TRANSITION FROM INDUSTRIAL ANIMAL AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS TO RAISING CROPS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. BY CREATING MODELS OF ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH OTHER MOVEMENTS, AND SHIFTING SOCIETAL NARRATIVES TO CHANGE CULTURE, WE WILL REALIZE A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM.
- $686,727 spent. INVESTIGATIONS SHOW THE HARSH REALITIES OF THE TREATMENT OF FARMED ANIMALS. OUR INVESTIGATIONS LAND COVERAGE IN MEDIA, AND CAN HELP LEAD TO MAJOR CHANGES IN THE ANIMAL AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION TO FURTHER ACTION FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND PROTECTION OF FARMED ANIMALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 March 2004.
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.