Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Humane Society for Greater Savannah Inc

EIN 58-0619035 · Savannah, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR GREATER SAVANNAH, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A NOT- FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE WELFARE OF COMPANION ANIMALS AND THEIR OWNERS. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS A SAFETY NET FOR PET OWNERS BY ACCEPTING PETS, VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED BY THEIR OWNERS, WHO FOR VARIOUS REASONS ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO TRANSFERS UNCLAIMED, ADOPTABLE ANIMALS FROM SAVANNAH CHATHAM ANIMAL CONTROL. THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS EMBODIED IN ITS MISSION STATEMENT. "THE MISSION OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR GREATER SAVANNAH IS TO BETTER THE LIVES OF PETS AND PEOPLE. THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR GREATER SAVANNAH ENVISIONS A COMMUNITY THAT UNDERSTANDS, VALUES AND PROMOTES THE WAYS IN WHICH PETS ENRICH OUR LIVES." THE PRINCIPAL SERVICES THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FOR PETS SURRENDERED TO ITS CARE INCLUDE: SHELTERING, FEEDING; TREATMENT; PREVENTATIVE MEDICAL CARE, E.G. HEALTH EVALUATIONS AND VACCINATIONS, INCLUDING RABIES; BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT; EXERCISE AND SOCIALIZATIO

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
55
Highest pay
$133,158, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $3.0 million spent. THE ADOPTION CENTER FOUND HOMES FOR 2,503 ANIMALS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE NUMBER OF ADOPTED INCLUDES ANIMALS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER SHELTERS AND BREED RESCUE GROUPS. THE ADOPTION CENTER ACHIEVED A 98% SAVE RATE AND A 99% LIVE RELEASE RATE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
  2. PET FIX SAVANNAH PERFORMED 6,3157 LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. 3,398 SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED FOR LOCAL RESCUES AND MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, PLUS 1,444 HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTIBLE PETS AND 1,473 SURGERIES FOR THE PUBLIC. OUT OF THESE SURGERIES, 1,820 OF THEM WERE COMMUNITY CATS SUPPORTING TNVR PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO SURGERIES, 8,290 PETS VISITED THE CLINIC FOR WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS FOR ANNUAL VACCINES, TRESTS, TREATMENTS OR PREVENTATIVES.
  3. OVER 440 VOLUNTEERS LOGGED 16,970 VOLUNTEER HOURS SUPPORTING THE HUMANE SOCIETY BY WALKING DOGS, WORKING AT EVENTS, TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (POSTED ON WEBSITE) OF PETS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION; ATTENDING ADOPTION "BOOTHS" AT PET-FRIENDLY RETAILERS, ETC. SCHOOL GROUPS REGULARLY TOUR THE SHELTER AND LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF COMPANION ANIMALS OR TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR NUZZLE BUDDIES READING PROGRAM. THE HUMANE SOCIETY ALSO WORKS WITH STUDENTS WHOSE SCHOOLS REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS AND VOLUNTEERING. THE HSGS PET FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTED OVER 18,619 POUNDS OF DRY DOG AND CAT FOOD TO LOCAL PETS AND RESCUE GROUPS.
  4. SHELTER PERSONNEL MADE WEEKLY TELEVISION APPEARANCES PROVIDING PET OWNERSHIP AND ADOPTION ADVICE. VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTED THE SHELTER WITH PETS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND INFORMATION AT LOCAL RETAIL STORES, SCHOOLS, AND A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS.
  5. SHELTER PERSONNEL MADE WEEKLY TELEVISION APPEARANCES PROVIDING PET OWNERSHIP AND ADOPTION ADVICE. VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTED THE SHELTER WITH PETS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND INFORMATION AT LOCAL RETAIL STORES, SCHOOLS, AND A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 November 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.