Humane Society of Fairfax County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY IS TO PROMOTE HUMANE EDUCATION; TO PREVENT ALL FORMS OF CRUELTY TO ALL ANIMALS BY EVERY LEGITIMATE MEANS; AND TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $858,441
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 1,810
- Highest pay
- $51,833, director
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
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 more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 64% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 73% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $60,945 spent. THRIFT STORE: OUR THRIFT STORE, SECOND CHANCE LOCATED IN FAIRFAX, VA, ACCEPTS GENTLY USED ITEMS, SUCH AS BOOKS, TOYS, CLOTHING, AND HOUSEWARES. THE SALES MADE FROM THE DONATIONS ARE USED TO HELP FEED, CARE AND DEFRAY MEDICAL COSTS FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.
- $538,544 spent. FARM:OUR FARM, LOCATED IN CENTREVILLE, VA, ALLOWS FOR INTAKE OF DOGS AND HORSES IN NEED OF A HOME THAT COME FROM THE COMMUNITY SURRENDERING THEIR ANIMALS, ANIMAL SHELTERS, OTHER RESCUE GROUPS, ETC. THE ANIMALS ARE PROVIDED CARE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION AS NEEDED AND ARE OFFERED FOR ADOPTION TO LOVING HOMES.IN 2024, THE HSFC BROUGHT IN 23 DOGS AND 1 HORSE AND ADOPTED OUT 28 DOGS AND 1 HORSE.
- $245,697 spent. BUILDING/OUTREACH/SPAY-NEUTER:OUR FAIRFAX OFFICE IS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF FAIRFAX COUNTY (HSFC). WE TAKE IN CATS AND OTHER SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS IN NEED OF A HOME THAT COME FROM THE COMMUNITY SURRENDERING THEIR ANIMALS, ANIMAL SHELTERS, OTHER RESCUE GROUPS, ETC. THE ANIMALS ARE PROVIDED CARE AND MEDICAL ATTENTIONS AS NEEDED AND OFFERED FOR ADOPTION TO LOVING HOMES. IN 2024, THE HSFC BROUGHT IN 28 CATS AND 1 RABBIT AND ADOPTED OUT 38 CATS AND 1 RABBIT.WHEN FAMILIES FALL ON HARD TIMES, THEY SOMETIMES STRUGGLE TO FEED THEIR PETS. AS PART OF OUR MISSION TO KEEP FAMILIES AND PETS TOGETHER, WE'VE SET UP ANI-MEALS, OUR PET FOOD PANTRY. ANI-MEALS PROVIDES FOOD AND PET CARE ITEMS TO PEOPLE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.THE HSFC SUPPORTS THE TRAP, SPAY/NEUTER AND RETURN OF COMMUNITY CATS (TNR) TO THEIR ORIGINAL FEEDING SOURCE BY PROVIDING FOOD AND MEDICAL COSTS.
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 November 6, 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 June 1966.
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 November 4, 2026.
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