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Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Wake County Inc

EIN 56-0891732 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LOCATED IN RALEIGH, NC, THE SPCA OF WAKE COUNTY WORKS IN OVER HALF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SAVE PETS AND HELP PEOPLE. SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: DECREASING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS ENTERING ANIMAL SHELTERS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS LEAVING THESE SHELTERS, AND CHANGING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO VALUE ALL COMPANION ANIMALS. OUR MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF PETS AND PEOPLE THROUGH PROTECTION, CARE, EDUCATION, AND ADOPTION. OUR VISION IS TO CREATE A HUMANE COMMUNITY.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$7.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
97
Volunteers
478
Highest pay
$176,722, president / ceo

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 25

    19 of 19 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 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)
  1. $4.6 million spent. SHELTERING, CARE AND ADOPTION: BETWEEN JULY 2024 AND JUNE 2025, THE SPCA OF WAKE COUNTY TOOK IN A TOTAL OF 3,896 HOMELESS PETS. A COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION BETWEEN SPCA WAKE AND AREA ANIMAL SHELTERS CREATED A LIFESAVING SHELTER TRANSFER PROGRAM, AND 2,544 PETS WERE TRANSFERRED FROM PARTNER SHELTERS INTO SPCA WAKE'S CARE DURING FY25. THESE TRANSFERRED PETS REDUCE SHELTER PET EUTHANASIA REGIONALLY AND POSITIVELY IMPACT EACH SHELTER'S CAPACITY FOR CARE. DIVERSION PROGRAM: AN ADDITIONAL 1,342 PETS WERE TAKEN IN FROM INDIVIDUALS TO PREVENT THOSE PETS FROM ENTERING THE ALREADY OVERBURDENED ANIMAL SHELTER SYSTEM. A ROBUST FOSTER CARE PROGRAM ALLOWS SPCA WAKE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO EMERGENCY PET INTAKE NEEDS, WHETHER FROM PARTNER SHELTERS OR DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS. APPROXIMATELY 54% OF ALL INCOMING ANIMALS WERE CARED FOR IN A VOLUNTEER FOSTER HOME FOR A BRIEF TIME.SPCA WAKE'S VETERINARY AND BEHAVIOR RESOURCES MAKE IT ONE OF THE FEW SHELTERS IN NC THAT CAN TREAT AND REHABILITATE A LARGE VOLUME OF SICK, INJURED OR BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGED PETS. THIS SAFETY NET PROGRAM IS ESPECIALLY HELPFUL IN ELIMINATING EUTHANASIA AS THE ONLY OPTION FOR INJURED PETS AT AREA SHELTER PARTNERS OPERATING WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. INNOVATIVE ADOPTION PROGRAMMING REHOMED 3,797 PETS IN FY25 AND SPCA WAKE'S LIVE RELEASE RATE WAS 97.39%. SPCA WAKE WILL NEVER EUTHANIZE A PET DUE TO LACK OF SPACE AND IS COMMITTED TO SAVING EVERY ANIMAL TAKEN IN. SPCA WAKE ONLY EUTHANIZES PETS THAT ARE TOO ILL OR TOO BEHAVIORALLY UNSOUND TO BE REHABILITATED AND ADOPTED. MATCHING LOVING FAMILIES WITH SHELTER PETS IS THE HEART OF WHAT SPCA WAKE DOES DAILY
  2. $955,716 spent. PREVENTION & SPAY/NEUTER: PREVENTING UNWANTED PETS FROM BEING BORN IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND MOST HUMANE METHOD OF DECREASING THE OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF HOMELESS PETS ENTERING AREA ANIMAL SHELTERS. IN FY25, SPCA WAKE SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS EFFECTIVELY IMPACTED THREE KEY AREAS OF NEED. FIRST, THE SAVING LIVES SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC ENABLES SPCA WAKE TO TRANSFER THOUSANDS OF UNSTERILIZED ANIMALS FROM SURROUNDING RURAL SHELTERS WHO HAVE FEW SPAY/NEUTER RESOURCES. THOSE PETS ARE ADOPTED THROUGH THE SPCA, FREEING SHELTER PARTNERS TO USE LIMITED RESOURCES FOR REMAINING ANIMALS. SECOND, DOZENS OF AREA ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS ALSO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE THIS LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER OPTION AND TAKE ANIMALS BACK INTO THEIR CARE FOR ADOPTION. THIRD, THE NEED OF THE PETS AND PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE LOW-COST PRICE POINT PROVIDED BY THE SAVING LIVES SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC ENABLES FAMILIES IN NEED TO ACCESS THIS VITAL SERVICE. IN TOTAL, SPCA WAKE FACILITATED OVER 2,648 SURGERIES IN FY25. SPCA WAKE ALSO PARTNERS WITH VETERINARY PRACTICES IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE VOUCHER-DISCOUNTS FOR SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY AT THOSE PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS.
  3. $325,585 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION ARE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR LASTING CHANGE FOR ANIMALS. THE LARGE NUMBER OF PETS EUTHANIZED IN AREA SHELTERS IS A SYMPTOM OF BIGGER ISSUE: A LACK OF THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO KEEP PETS IN HOMES AND OUT OF SHELTERS. BY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT PET HOMELESSNESS AS A COMMUNITY ISSUE AND ENGAGING PEOPLE IN LIFESAVING EFFORTS, SPCA WAKE IS ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AT THE SOURCE. SPCA WAKE PROGRAMS DIRECTED AT HELPING ANIMALS BY HELPING THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES: A DEDICATED, STAFFED PET HELPLINE, WHICH RECEIVED 7,444 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN FY25 FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE FACING ANIMAL CARE RELATED ISSUES. THE PET HELPLINE WAS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO FIND AND ACCESS PET RESOURCES AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO OUR COMMUNITY'S GREATEST NEEDS FOR SERVICES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PROGRAMS.SPCA WAKE'S PET FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS HELP KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF AREA ANIMAL SHELTERS. IN FY25, SPCA WAKE PROVIDED 233,286 PET MEALS TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND HOMEBOUND SENIOR CITIZENS. THESE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE PET FOOD AND SUPPLIES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HUMAN AND ANIMAL SERVICE AGENCIES.SPCA WAKE'S LOW-COST WELLNESS CLINICS HELP PET OWNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY RECEIVE AFFORDABLE, FUNDAMENTAL VET CARE LIKE VACCINES AND MICROCHIPS. IN FY25, SPCA WAKE HOSTED FIVE CLINICS WHICH PROVIDED 1,670 PETS FROM 943 FAMILIES WITH THESE MUCH-NEEDED SERVICES.

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

  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 June 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 June 1968.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York, NY), EIN 13-1623829. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.