Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tennessee Humane Animal League

EIN 58-1576912 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO REDUCE ANIMAL SUFFERING BY PROMOTING INTELLIGENT ANIMAL CARE THROUGH EDUCATION AND EXAMPLE; TO FIND RESPONSIBLE HOMES FOR LOST OR ABANDONED ANIMALS OR FOR THOSE PETS WHOSE OWNERS CAN NO LONGER KEEP THEM; TO PROMOTE SPAYING OR NEUTERING OF DOGS AND CATS IN ORDER TO REDUCE AND CONTROL THE MILLIONS OF UNNECESSARY AND UNWANTED ANIMAL BIRTHS; AND TO EMPHASIZE RESPONSIBLE GUARDIANSHIP WHICH INCLUDES PROPER AND DECENT FEEDING, AVAILABLE WATER, SHELTER, NECESSARY VACCINATIONS, AND EXERCISE.

Income
$302,554
Spending
$327,277
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
46.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
14
Volunteers
60

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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 46.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $296,677 spent. FOUND HOMES FOR A TOTAL OF 201 CATS/KITTENS AND DOGS/PUPPIES IN 2025. RECEIVED IN A TOTAL OF 205 CATS/KITTENS AND DOGS/PUPPIES IN 2025. ALL ANIMALS WERE SPAYED/NEUTERED AND MICROCHIPPED. THEY RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE AND ALL WERE VACCINATED AND BROUGHT UP TO DATE ON ALL SHOTS. WE HAD 114 ANIMALS GO THROUGH FOSTER HOMES IN 2025. THESE WERE MOSTLY KITTENS BUT ALSO INCLUDED SOME ADULT CATS, DOGS AND PUPPIES. THE CENTER PROMOTES HUMANE CARE OF ANIMALS BY EDUCATING THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF SPAY/NEUTER, LONG-TERM PET CARE AND ANIMAL RESPONSIBILITY.
  2. $6,010 spent. ON APRIL 29, 2025, WE BEGAN THE COMMUNITY SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES TO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. WE SPAYED AND NEUTERED 69 ANIMALS IN 2025.

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 August 1984.

    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.