Institute for Animal Happiness
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GROWING RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE FOR VEGANISM THROUGH OUR DEDICATED WORK OF RESCUE AND CREATIVE CARE, IMPACTFUL VEGAN FOOD PROGRAMS, VIBRANT EDUCATION, AND CONSISTENT ADVOCACY; ALL STRENGTHENED BY OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH A RISING GLOBAL NETWORK COMMITTED TO COLLECTIVE LIBERATION.
- Income
- $175,867
- Spending
- $153,714
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $3,100, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 79% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 (1)
- $119,286 spent. - WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE REGULAR EDUCATION AND SUPPORT VIA OUR ONLINE PLATFORMS (WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND AS GUESTS AT VARIOUS ONLINE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS PRODUCED BY ORGANIZATIONS WE COLLABORATE WITH) AND ALSO VIA OUR IN-PERSON EVENTS, MOST NOTABLY AT HAPPY CART FREE VEGAN FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS (WEEKLY) AND TABLING AT LOCAL COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES (SUCH AS THE KINGSTON NY FARMER'S MARKET).- WE SERVE FREE FOOD VIA THE HAPPY VEGAN CART (ALONG WITH THE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS) AND THAT PROGRAM IS NOW IN ITS AMAZING FIFTH YEAR! WE HAVE AVERAGED SERVING 1000 MEALS PER SEASON (THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE YEAR-ROUND IN 2025, AND WE EXPECT TO TRIPLE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SERVED AT OUR NEW LOCATION.) (WWW.HAPPYVEGANCART.ORG)- WE CONTINUED OUR TRADITION OF HOSTING THE HAPPY HARVEST DINNER. THIS IS THE ONLY COMPLETELY PLANT-BASED/VEGAN FREE HOLIDAY MEAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE HUDSON VALLEY. IN 2024 WE SERVED OVER 150 PEOPLE, PRODUCING THE OPPORTUNITY AT PEOPLE'S PLACE COMMUNITY CAF.- WE DOUBLED OUR POPULATION OF RESCUED BIRDS, TAKING IN A HIGHLY DISABLED PEKIN DUCK (JANE) AND 10 OTHER HENS FROM A DEPLORABLE LOCAL NEGLECT CASE, NURSING THEM BACK TO HEALTH AND SAFELY INTEGRATING THEM INTO OUR RESIDENT FLOCKS. (CONTINUED)- WE CONTINUE TO RUN WWW.PANDEMICFREEWORLD.ORG (WITH PARTNERS NYFAS) TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS UPDATED ON COVID, HPAI (AVIAN INFLUENZA) AND HEALTH ISSUES THAT THEY NEED TO BE AWARE OF. ALSO, OUR ONLINE FORUM ON HPAI CONTINUES TO AMASS VIEWS (HAS ALREADY BEEN VIEWED BY HUNDREDS) AND REMAINS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR COMMUNITY.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.