Athens Area Humane Society of Clarke County and SPCA Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THEATHENSAREAHUMANESOCIETYRESCUESANDPROTECTSCOMPANIONANIMALSBY PROVIDING FOR THEIR WELLBEING, UNITING THEM WITH LOVING HOMES,AND ADVOCATING FOR A COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 45%
- Employees
- 57
- Volunteers
- 1,512
- Highest pay
- $139,997, lead veterin
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.1 million spent. CLINICPROGRAMS:AAHS'S CLINIC PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE, HIGH-QUALITY VETERINARY CARE TO DOGS AND CATS IN NEED AND PROMOTES THE HEALTH AND WELL- BEING OF ANIMALS THROUGH ACCESSIBLE SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. THE CLINIC PROVIDES LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER PROCEDURES; WELLNESS EXAMINATIONS; VACCINATIONS; MICROCHIPS; CANINE HEARTWORM TREATMENT, AND FLEA/TICK PREVENTION TO SHELTER PARTNER PETS AND PUBLIC CLIENTS. IN 2025 8,665 DOGS AND CATS WERE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, INCLUDING 1,540 FERAL (COMMUNITY) CATS THAT WERE TRAPPED, STERILIZED, VACINATED, EAR-TIPPED AND RETURNED TO THEIR POINTS OF ORIGIN THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COLONY CAREGIVERS THROUGHOUT AAHS'S SERVICE AREA.
- $1.1 million spent. SHELTER PROGRAMS: DOGS, CATS, PUPPIES, AND KITTENS ARE ADOPTED TO VETTED AND APPROVED ADOPTION APPLICANTS. ADOPTION FEES ARE CHARGED TO OFFSET THE COST OF STERILIZATION PROCEDURES, VETERINARY SERVICES, AND HUSBANDRY (FOOD, SHELTER, ENRICHMENT). THE ATHENS AREA HUMANE SOCIETY ENVISIONS A SOCIETY WHERE ALL DOGS AND CATS HAVE A LOVING HOME AND THE BOND BETWEEN PETS AND PEOPLE IS CELEBRATED. IN 2025, 1,319 PETS (474 DOGS AND 845 CATS) WERE ADOPTED INTO LOVING FOREVER HOMES, AND AND 308 PETS (102 DOGS AND 206 CATS) WERE PROVIDED WITH IN-HOME FOSTER CARE PRIOR TO ADOPTION. THE AVERAGE LENGTH-OF-STAY FOR ADOPTABLE PETS WAS 8.2 DAYS FOR IN-SHELTER DOGS AND 14.1 FOR IN SHELTER CATS. THE AVERAGE LENGTH-OF-STAY FOR ADOPTABLE PETS IN FOSTER CARE WAS 30.1 DAYS FOR DOGS AND 64.3 DAYS FOR CATS.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.