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Asheville Humane Society Inc

EIN 56-1444098 · Asheville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY IS BUILDING A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY THAT POSIVITELY IMPACTS PETS AND PEOPLE.

Income
$8.8 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
114
Volunteers
307
Highest pay
$186,293, executive di

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 25

    15 of 15 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 (1)
  1. $5.6 million spent. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTED OUT 1,718 ANIMALS, REUNITED 380 LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS, COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL PLACEMENT PARTNERS, AND TRANSFERRED 185 ANIMALS TO OTHER ADOPTION/RESCUE AGENCIES. ANIMALS SAVED IN TOTAL: 2,339. WE ALSO AIDED 13,389 COMMUNITY ANIMALS WHO NEVER ENTERED THE SHELTER. TOTAL ANIMALS SERVED IN OUR COMMUNITY: 15,728. IN 2025 WE CONTINUED TO ASSIST WITH THE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES OF THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AND COMMUNITY AND PARTNER PETS. IN 2025 TOTAL SHELTER ANIMAL SPAYS AND NEUTERS TOTALED 3,362 AND COMMUNITY/PARTNER SPAYS AND NEUTERS TOTALED 809 ANIMALS. ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY IS MOSTLY KNOWN AS THE OPEN-ADMISSION SHELTER FOR BUNCOMBE COUNTY AND A FANTASTIC PLACE TO ADOPT A PET, BUT WE ARE SO MUCH MORE. AS PART OF OUR ANIMAL SHELTER, WE HELP ANIMALS THAT ARE LOST, SURRENDERED, NEGLECTED OR MISTREATED; WHO ALL DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH A LOVING FAMILY OF THEIR VERY OWN. WE PROVIDE A SOFT BED, FOOD, SAFETY, COMFORT, MEDICAL EVALUATION, MEDICAL TREATMENT, VACCINATIONS, AND BEHAVIORAL TESTING FOR EACH ANIMAL. FROM OUR ADOPTION CENTER WE PLACE ALL ANIMALS WHO CAN HUMANELY AND SAFELY BE ADOPTED INTO A LOVING HOME. OUR INCREDIBLY DEDICATED STAFF, GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS, FOSTER FAMILIES, AND DONORS ENSURE EACH ANIMAL RECEIVES ALL OF THE CARE AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM THRIVE IN A NEW FOREVER HOME. ALL OF OUR ANIMALS IN THE ADOPTION AND EDUCATION CENTER STAY WITH US UNTIL THEY FIND THEIR NEW FAMILY, WHETHER IT TAKES HOURS OR MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO US, WE ALSO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE NUMEROUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY. FROM LOST & FOUND, TO LOW COST CLINICS, TO SAFETY NET OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES WHERE THEY ARE LOVED. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 WE OFFERED 28 VACCINE OR WELLNESS CLINICS, AND SERVED 9,278 PETS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTED OUT 1,718 ANIMALS, REUNITED 380 LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS, COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL PLACEMENT PARTNERS, AND TRANSFERRED 185 ANIMALS TO OTHER ADOPTION/RESCUE AGENCIES. ANIMALS SAVED IN TOTAL: 2,339. WE ALSO AIDED 13,389 COMMUNITY ANIMALS WHO NEVER ENTERED THE SHELTER. TOTAL ANIMALS SERVED IN OUR COMMUNITY: 15,728. IN 2025 WE CONTINUED TO ASSIST WITH THE SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES OF THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER AND COMMUNITY AND PARTNER PETS. IN 2025 TOTAL SHELTER ANIMAL SPAYS AND NEUTERS TOTALED 3,362 AND COMMUNITY/PARTNER SPAYS AND NEUTERS TOTALED 809 ANIMALS. ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY IS MOSTLY KNOWN AS THE OPEN-ADMISSION SHELTER FOR BUNCOMBE COUNTY AND A FANTASTIC PLACE TO ADOPT A PET, BUT WE ARE SO MUCH MORE. AS PART OF OUR ANIMAL SHELTER, WE HELP ANIMALS THAT ARE LOST, SURRENDERED, NEGLECTED OR MISTREATED; WHO ALL DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY WITH A LOVING FAMILY OF THEIR VERY OWN. WE PROVIDE A SOFT BED, FOOD, SAFETY, COMFORT, MEDICAL EVALUATION, MEDICAL TREATMENT, VACCINATIONS, AND BEHAVIORAL TESTING FOR EACH ANIMAL. FROM OUR ADOPTION CENTER WE PLACE ALL ANIMALS WHO CAN HUMANELY AND SAFELY BE ADOPTED INTO A LOVING HOME. OUR INCREDIBLY DEDICATED STAFF, GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS, FOSTER FAMILIES, AND DONORS ENSURE EACH ANIMAL RECEIVES ALL OF THE CARE AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM THRIVE IN A NEW FOREVER HOME. ALL OF OUR ANIMALS IN THE ADOPTION AND EDUCATION CENTER STAY WITH US UNTIL THEY FIND THEIR NEW FAMILY, WHETHER IT TAKES HOURS OR MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO US, WE ALSO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE NUMEROUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY. FROM LOST & FOUND, TO LOW COST CLINICS, TO SAFETY NET OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES WHERE THEY ARE LOVED. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025 WE OFFERED 28 VACCINE OR WELLNESS CLINICS, AND SERVED 9,278 PETS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.