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Humane Society of South Ms

EIN 64-6034439 · Gulfport, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS TO SAVE AND ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PETS THROUGH COOPERATIVE AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ADOPTION, SPAY/NEUTER, SHELTERING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
102
Volunteers
242
Highest pay
$197,602, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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, 2024, 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. $1.2 million spent. ANIMAL CONTROL CONTRACT:HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (HSSM) IS AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER PROVIDING SHELTER AND CARE FOR THE HOMELESS ANIMALS OF SOUTH MISSISSIPPI. 5,310 ANIMALS WERE ADMITTED TO THE SHELTER IN 2024. IN 2024, 3,058 ABANDONED ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED THROUGH AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGNS TO RE-HOME THESE HOMELESS PETS. HSSM HOLDS CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN WHICH HSSM WILL TAKE IN AND BOARD STRAY ANIMALS.
  2. $427,753 spent. ADOPTION:THE SURRENDER DEPARTMENT OF HSSM IS COMMITTED TO REUNITING AS MANY LOST ANIMALS WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS AS POSSIBLE. THE ORGANIZATION IS PROACTIVE IN ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEIR PETS MICRO-CHIPPED. THE ORGANIZATION HAS SEEN AN INCREASED NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS ENTERING THE SHELTER WITH MICRO-CHIPS. THE MICRO-CHIPS ALLOW STAFF TO QUICKLY AND EASILY LOCATE THE ANIMAL'S CAREGIVER, WHICH ALLOWS THE PET TO BE REUNITED WITH THAT CAREGIVER. IN 2024, 671 PETS WERE RETURNED WITH THEIR OWNERS.OTHER SERVICES STATISTICS:- 966 ORPHANED ANIMALS WERE PLACED INTO FOSTER CARE WITH WEEKLY MEDICAL CHECK-UPS.
  3. $849,538 spent. CLINIC:HSSM IS AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESSING PET OVERPOPULATION IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI THROUGH A HIGH VOLUME, HIGH QUALITY SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM. IN 2024, 5,582 FREE OR LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED IN THE CLINIC, SERVICING BOTH THE SHELTER ANIMALS, AS WELL AS, THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. OTHER SERVICES OFFERED BY THE CLINIC ARE MICROCHIP, RABIES AND OTHER BREED SPECIFIC VACCINATIONS.409 PETS WERE SERVED THROUGH HSSM'S "POP-UP" PET RESOURCE WELLNESS FAIRS WITH FREE VACCINATIONS, CHECK-UPS, MICROCHIPS, FLEA/TICK PREVENTATIVE AND HEARTWORM TESTS/PREVENTATIVE.5,992 MICRO-CHIPS HAVE BEEN IMPLANTED INTO ANIMALS MAKING THEM 80% MORE LIKELY TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES WHEN/IF THEY SHOULD EVER GO MISSING.5,046 PUBLIC PETS WERE TREATED AT HSSM'S WELLNESS CLINIC AT A STEEPLY REDUCED COST TO ASSIST WITH PET RETENTION.
  4. $110,860 spent. SURRENDER:248 ANIMALS WERE LOADED ABOARD HSSM'S LOVE TRAIN AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO OTHER SHELTERS WHERE THERE WAS A NEED FOR AN EXCESS OF ADOPTABLE PETS.15,947 POUNDS OF PET FOOD WAS COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO PET PARENTS IN NEED THROUGH HSSM'S COMMUNITY PET FOOD PANTRY.30 YOUNG ANIMAL ADVOCATES WENT THROUGH THE JUNIOR HUMANITARIAN CLUB PAWS SUMMER DAY CAMP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 1967.

    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.

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.