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Kentucky Humane Society

EIN 61-0463938 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KENTUCKY HUMANE SOCIETY IS A CHAMPION FOR COMPANION ANIMALS, THROUGH LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION AND PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS, WE ARE CREATING MORE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITIES.

Income
$17.9 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
175
Volunteers
1,297
Highest pay
$163,952, president & ceo

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

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 21.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    0 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 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 (4)
  1. $2.3 million spent. KHS IS KENTUCKY'S LARGEST ANIMAL ADOPTION AGENCY, FINDING LOVING HOMES FOR 5,254 IN 2025. THIS INCLUDES 5,034 CATS, DOGS, AND HORSES WHO WERE ADOPTED AT OUR MAIN CAMPUS, EAST CAMPUS, WILLOW HOPE FARM AND OUR ADOPTION PARTNER, PURRFECT DAY CAFE. ANOTHER 220 ANIMALS FOUND HOMES THROUGH PARTNER TRANSFERS.
  2. $3.2 million spent. FERN CREEK AND EASTPOINT PET RESORTS - BOARDING, GROMING, AND DAY CARE OF OWNED PETS, PROCEEDS FROM OPERATIONS SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KHS AND CARE FOR COMPANION ANIMALS.
  3. $1.9 million spent. OUR S.N.I.P. CLINIC PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY, LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS IN SHELTERS AND REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT MAY PREVENT CARING PET OWNERS FROM SPAYING OR NEUTERING THEIR PET. IN 2025, THE S.N.I.P. CLINIC PERFORMED 9,735 SURGERIES, 42% OF WHICH WERE FREE OR DISCOUNTED, INCLUDING FREE SURGERIES FOR PIT BULLS TO HELP ADDRESS BREEDS OVERPOPULATION.
  4. $552,107 spent. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE DOG TRAINING FOR OWNED PETS, BASIC VETERINARY CARE FOR OVER 5,000 OWNED DOGS AND CATS, HORSE RESCUE, AND A FREE PET HELP LINE FOR LOCAL PET OWNERS. OUR PET RESOURCE SERVICES SERVED MORE THAN 5,364 PET OWNERS IN 2025, HELPING FAMILIES KEEP THEIR PETS HAPPY, HEALTHY AND OUT OF SHELTERS. STRUGGLING PET OWNERS REACHED OUT FOR FREE ADVICE, FINANCIAL AID, PET FOOD, SUPPLIES AND MORE TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES CARING FOR THEIR PETS. THE PROGRAM ISSUED 600 DISCOUNTED VETERINARY CARE VOUCHERS, BOARDING VOUCHERS, PET DEPOSIT VOUCHERS AND PRIVATE TRAINING VOUCHERS THAT WERE REDEEMED BY PET OWNERS. OUR CARE-A-VAN MOBILE VETERINARY CLINIC SERVED LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH 5,028 WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS AND 1,919 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES.

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 November 6, 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 May 1945.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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