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Charleston Animal Society

EIN 57-6021863 · N Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE ITS FOUNDING, OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS STAYED THE SAME: THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. IN 1874, CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY BECAME THE FIRST ANIMAL ORGANIZATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION AND HAS NEVER TURNED OUR LOCAL ANIMALS AWAY.

Income
$14.3 million
Spending
$11.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
23.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
162
Volunteers
2,053
Highest pay
$280,761, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $5.4 million spent. NO KILL CHARLESTONIN 2013, CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY BUILT THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE EVERY HEALTHY AND TREATABLE DOG AND CAT HAS A HOME. WE CALL IT A NO KILL COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO CONTINUALLY SAVE ALL HEALTHY AND TREATABLE DOGS AND CATS IN CHARLESTON COUNTY THROUGH 3 IMPACT AREAS: (1) ENDING UNNECESSARY EUTHANASIA OF COMPANION ANIMALS, (2) ENDING OVERPOPULATION OF COMPANION ANIMALS, AND (3) ENDING ANIMAL CRUELTY. IN THE GREATER CHARLESTON AREA ALONE, OVER 15,000 ANIMALS BENEFIT FROM 15 STRATEGIES INCLUDING (A) FINDING HOMES FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS THROUGH 5,040 ADOPTIONS, (B) CONTAINING OUTBREAKS OF DEADLY DISEASES THROUGH 35,961 VACCINATIONS, (C) SHELTERED UNWANTED AND STRAY ANIMALS THROUGH 112,934 DAYS OF CARE, (D) PREVENTING THE BIRTHS OF UNPLANNED LITTERS THROUGH 15,406 SPAY/NEUTER STERILIZATIONS, (E) FOSTERING 2,616 OF THE MOST AT-RISK ANIMALS THROUGH 70,624 ROUND-THE-CLOCK DAYS OF IN-HOME ANIMAL CARE & REHABILITATION, (F) PROVIDING PERMANENT REFUGE FOR THREATENED COMMUNITY CATS THROUGH OVER 56,000 DAYS OF SANCTUARY CARE, (G) GROWING 11,671 CHILDREN INTO HUMANITARIANS THROUGH 34,384 COMPASSION EDUCATION LESSONS, AND (H) PREVENTING/RESPONDING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY THROUGH 85 CRUELTY-ASSISTED LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES, AND (I) HELPING FAMILIES CARE FOR 2,442 PETS THROUGH A CADRE OF ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE AND CRITICAL PET FOOD.
  2. $1.6 million spent. NO KILL SOUTH CAROLINAIN 2016, THIS PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED TO BUILD THE FIRST NO KILL STATE IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC OCEAN, AND AMERICA'S HEARTLAND, TO CREATE A PLACE WHERE EVERY HEALTHY AND TREATABLE DOG AND CAT HAS A HOME. THIS PROJECT IS INTENDED TO SAVE HEALTHY AND TREATABLE ANIMALS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA AS MEASURED BY ACHIEVING A 10% OR LESS EUTHANASIA RATE ACROSS SC'S 46 COUNTIES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, UPWARD OF 1 MILLION LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED IN SC'S ANIMAL SHELTERS. IN 2024, THIS STATEWIDE INITIATIVE (1) ORGANIZED THE LARGEST ANNUAL STATEWIDE DOG AND CAT ADOPTION EVENT IN THE COUNTRY RESULTING IN OVER 2,500 ADOPTIONS, VARIOUS (2) EMERGENCY SHELTER TRANSPORTS THAT MOVED 598 ANIMALS FROM 63 EMERGENCY RESCUE OPERATIONS, (3) SHELTER HEALTH CONSULTATIONS, AND (4) ASSISTANCE WITH LARGE CRUELTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, ALL OF WHICH RESULTED IN A STATEWIDE NO KILL SOUTH CAROLINA LIFESAVING RATE OF 90%.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 1965.

    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.