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Humane Society of Austin & Travis County

EIN 74-6013665 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY (AHS) OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE, HUMANE, LIFE-SAVING ANIMAL SERVICES, TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE HOMELESS ANIMALS DESERVE A CHANCE TO THRIVE IN A LOVING ENVIRONMENT, WE OFFER INNOVATIVE, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS THAT SAVE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF DOGS AND CATS EACH YEAR. AHS' APPROACH TO ADDRESSING ANIMAL HOMELESSNESS ENCOMPASSES BOTH FINDING ANIMALS HOMES THROUGH ADOPTION AS WELL AS PREVENTING FUTURE HOMELESSNESS THROUGH SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
69
Volunteers
733
Highest pay
$218,635, president, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (animals, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    6 of 6 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $3.7 million spent. THE AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR ANIMALS IN ITS ADOPTION PROGRAM, INCLUDING MEDICAL CARE AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT WHILE THEY AWAIT PLACEMENT. WE MAINTAIN A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO THE ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, ANIMALS RECEIVE THE CARE AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION INTO SAFE, LOVING HOMES. THIS WORK ADVANCES THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF COMPANION ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM, WHILE SAVING LIVES AND REDUCING ANIMAL HOMELESSNESS.
  2. $490,366 spent. THE AHS FERAL CAT PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE STERILIZATIONS AND VACCINATIONS FOR FERAL CATS IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN CENTRAL TEXAS. THE HUMANE TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN (TNR) METHOD PROVIDES EDUCATION ON TRAPPING FERAL CATS AND TRAP RENTAL TO VOLUNTEERS. SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY, RABIES VACCINATIONS, DEWORMING, AND EAR TIPPING FOR ANY FERAL CATS THEY TRAP ARE FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER RECOVERING FROM SURGERY, THE FERAL CAT IS RETURNED TO ITS COLONY BY THE VOLUNTEER. THE AHS TNR CLINIC WAS THE FIRST HIGH VOLUME SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC SPECIFICALLY FOR FERAL CATS IN CENTRAL TEXAS. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FERAL CATS AND REDUCE THE HOMELESS CAT POPULATION. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 2007, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 88,000 CATS, AVERAGING AT LEAST 5,000 CATS PER YEAR IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. BY STERILIZING AND VACCINATING FERAL CATS, WE IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COMMON FELINE DISEASES BETWEEN FERAL AND FREE-ROAMING CATS AND ABATE THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF THE HOMELESS CAT POPULATION. AHS LAUNCHED A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER (AAC) IN 2011 TO SAVE THE LIVES OF STRAY CATS THAT WOULD PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN EUTHANIZED. MODELED AFTER THE FERAL FREEDOM PROGRAM IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, QUALIFYING STRAY CATS SURRENDERED AT AAC ARE TRANSPORTED TO AHS, SPAYED/NEUTERED, VACCINATED, MICROCHIPPED, AND EAR TIPPED FOR IDENTIFICATION AND THEN RETURNED BY AHS STAFF BACK INTO THEIR TERRITORIES TO LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 July 1959.

    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.