Animal Folks
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Animal Folks is to protect animals and prevent cruelty through constructive and sustainable reforms of the Minnesota criminal and civil justice systems. Core to this mission is system reform - to assess what is needed systemically to improve the enforcement of animal law and prevention of animal cruelty in Minnesota. The mission is achieved through five core programs.
- Income
- $216,068
- Spending
- $180,777
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $78,000, executive director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (5)
- $35,799 spent. Legislative Action GOAL: To lead and support state and local legislative efforts, including crafting of humane laws, lobbying, and advocacy, that protects animals and lays a foundation for systemic reform. 2024 Strategies and Actions * Office of Animal Protection bill (OAP) at Minnesota Legislature. Continued lobbying, advocacy, and education of issue. This state bill will establish an Office of Animal Protection under the Department of Public Safety to provide assistance to authorities in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of animal cruelty. Hearing for the bill was granted in Senate Judiciary Committee. Bill continues to next session. * Companion Animal Board (CAB) bill - Reintroduced at MN Legislature. This state bill creates state governmental reforms to address pets and needs of pet sector. Efforts will continue in 2025. * Winona County: Puppy Mill Initiative - Animal Folks continued to work to ban future permits of dog breeding facilities (puppy mills) in Winona County. Significant data compiled. * Humane pet store ordinances within multiple Minnesota cities. Animal Folks worked with a coalition of individuals and organizations to pass humane pet store ordinances in targeted Minnesota cities that would prohibit stores from buying and selling puppy mills dogs and cats.
- $34,776 spent. Animal Cruelty Research GOAL: To research animal cruelty cases and issues pertaining to crimes against animals and provide credible Minnesota-specific data to the public, agencies, and organizations upon request. 2024 Strategies and Actions * Animal Cruelty Databank - Ongoing: Work continued on the animal cruelty databank, including requests to the judicial office for animal cruelty cases (convictions and disposition), coding of cases, and initial analysis of data. Cases are used to support education on cruelty and the link to human violence. * Data Requests - Import/Export/Regulatory law: Animal Folks submitted data requests to various states and to the federal government (FOIA-USDA) to obtain data on Minnesota dog breeding facilities and other licensees. This data is used in testimony and educational efforts to illustrate where puppies are sourced. * Data Requests - Criminal law: Numerous data requests were also made to local police departments/sheriff offices for documents related cases of animal cruelty. * General topics: Animal Folks researches a variety of topics to build data when pursuing initiatives, such as care and needs of elephants at traveling entertainment venues in MN, care of ostriches, camels and other exotic animals used at "animal races" in MN; and care of wallabies, cloths, porcupines, and more at for-profit venues, such as SeaQuest, within shopping malls.
- $26,465 spent. Criminal and Civil Justice GOAL: To investigate and report suspected or known animal cruelty (or related crimes against animals) and provide input to criminal and civil cases throughout the legal process. 2024 Strategies and Actions * Victim Advocacy - Ongoing: Animal Folks provided assistance to multiple Minnesotans who requested help in filing animal cruelty complaints or consumer protection complaints after purchasing a sickly animal.
- $16,383 spent. Animal Law Resources GOAL: To foster professionalism and competency by providing training, resources, and support to Minnesota authorities responsible for the enforcement of animal law. 2024 Strategies and Actions * Judicial materials - Ongoing: Animal Folks wrote an animal cruelty chapter for the Minnesota Judges Criminal Benchbook in 2021; this chapter is updated yearly. Update completed in 2024. The Benchbook is used by judges and prosecutors while conducting legal research on Minnesota criminal laws and related issues. * Animal Cruelty Training for Veterinary Students - Ongoing: For the fifth year, Animal Folks worked with veterinarians at the University of Minnesota to teach senior veterinary students about animal cruelty and how to identify, document, and report suspected or known animal cruelty. * Animal Cruelty Training for Law Enforcement - Animal Folks worked with peace officers, law enforcement leadership, and academic institutions to begin assessing the needs for training on animal cruelty investigations, building curriculum, and determining costs for implementation.
- $12,603 spent. Outreach & Communication GOAL: To educate the public on animal law and cruelty issues and enhance communication and cooperation between various stakeholders involved in the enforcement of animal law. 2024 Strategies and Actions * State event - Animal Folks hosted a booth again at the Minnesota State Fair to promote BE KIND TO ANIMALS and our efforts to gain supporters for animal protection. Multiple volunteers helped staff the booth, hear visitor stories, and answer questions. Giveaways and materials for education and distribution were created. At the booth, over 2,400 Minnesotans signed on to support to Animal Folks' efforts, representing all areas of the state. * Local events - Animal Folks participated in local events and conferences for outreach and education about animal cruelty, including the MN Chiefs of Police Association, MN Sheriffs' Association Conference, Office of Justice Conference on Crime and Victimization, Ruff Start Rescue's Tails & Trails event, Tri-County Humane Society Conference, and more. * Ongoing - Animal Folks continued to create and send a monthly newsletter about animal issues and cruelty prevention efforts, social media posts, and website updates.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.