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Animal Defense League of Arizona

EIN 74-2493030 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE OF ARIZONA IS TO PROTECT AND DEFEND ARIZONA'S ANIMALS.

Income
$385,990
Spending
$446,643
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
28.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
6
Volunteers
50

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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, 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 (1)
  1. $427,434 spent. COMPANION ANIMALSTHE SPAY NEUTER HOTLINE- PROVIDES SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES FOR PETS AND OUTDOOR CATS IN ARIZONA.ADLA'S TELEPHONE AND WEB BASED SPAY/NEUTER HOTLINE REFERRAL SERVICE CONTINUED STATEWIDE OPERATIONS IN 2024. IT MADE REFERRALS TO PET SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS AND CLINICS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA. SPAY NEUTER HOTLINE'S LARGEST OPERATION PROVIDES TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN (" TNR") SERVICES IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS AT MULTIPLE VETERINARY CLINICS, LENDING HUMANE TRAPS AND COACHING CAREGIVERS ON HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY TRAP CATS. ADLA FIXED 7063 OUTDOOR CATS IN 2024. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ONE MUNICIPALITY AND BEGAN WORKING WITH TWO OTHERS TO PROVIDE TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN SERVICES PAID FOR BY THE EACH CITY FOR A SMALL GROUP OF CAREGIVERS WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO COVER SURGERY COSTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDED REFERRALS FOR OTHER TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE. MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY CLINICS DONATED FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES VALUED AT $53,900.THE HOTLINE ALSO MADE REFERRALS TO PET OWNERS WHO NEEDED LOW COST SPAY/ NEUTER OR FREE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND, IN GRAHAM COUNTY PROVIDED VOUCHERS FOR FREE SPAY/ NEUTER SERVICES AT THE DESERT CROSS CLINIC IN THATCHER. TOGETHER WE HELPED 95 FAMILIES, SPAYING AND NEUTERING A TOTAL OF 73 CATS AND 80 DOGS FOR THEM. THROUGH ADLA'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE ALLIANCE FOR COMPANION ANIMALS, IT JOINED OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL FUNDERS TO CONTINUE FIX ADOPT SAVE, A CAMPAIGN ADDRESSING DOG AND CAT HOMELESSNESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY BY PROVIDING PET SPAY/NEUTERS, VACCINES AND MICROCHIPS. WILDLIFEADLA'S WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROTECTING HABITAT AND KEY SPECIES IN ARIZONA. ADLA MONITORS THE ARIZONA GAME AND FISH COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT. GENERAL EDUCATION/OUTREACH THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, VOICEMAIL SYSTEMS, VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND SOCIAL MEDIA SUCH AS FACEBOOK, NEXTDOOR AND INSTGRAM, ADLA WORKS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING ARIZONA'S ANIMALS.ADLA CONTINUED ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE "VOICES FOR ARIZONA'S ANIMALS!" CAMPAIGN, ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF THE ANIMAL PROTECTION COMMUNITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND TO VOTE.LEGISLATIVEADLA VOLUNTEERS MONITORED PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN ARIZONA SO THAT IT COULD COMMENT ON ANY PENDING MEASURES AFFECTING ANIMALS, SUPPORT THOSE THAT WOULD BENEFIT ANIMALS AND OPPOSE THOSE THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO ANIMALS. IT ALSO COORDINATED COMMUNICATIONS AMONG A NUMBER OF ANIMAL PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL ADVOCATES WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN LEGISLATION. IT COORDINATED GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEERS, AND THE WORK OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS, ACTING AS A RESOURCE FOR ANIMAL ADVOCATES AND LEGISLATORS ON A VARIETY OF ANIMAL ISSUES. IT ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT TO RURAL SHELTERS THROUGHOUT ARIZONA TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS AND TO SEEK THEIR INPUT ON PENDING LEGISLATION THAT MIGHT AFFECT THEIR WORK.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.