Denver Dumb Friends League
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WORKING WITH OUR COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, WE WILL END PET HOMELESSNESS AND ANIMAL SUFFERING.
- Income
- $92.9 million
- Spending
- $34.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 41.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 426
- Volunteers
- 1,467
- Highest pay
- $359,978, 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 268% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 19% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $18.6 million spent. ANIMAL SHELTER AND VETERINARY SERVICES:HUMANE COLORADO PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE CARE THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE AND HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES FOR PETS AND HORSES IN COLORADO WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED OR ARE VULNERABLE TO EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, SUFFERING, NEGLECT, AND ABUSE. THESE SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE VETERINARY CARE, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT, REHABILITATION, FOSTER CARE (INCLUDING FOR PETS OWNED BY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP), LOST AND FOUND SERVICES, AND ADOPTION ARE PROVIDED AT THE FOLLOWING HUMANE COLORADO LOCATIONS: THE LESLIE A. MALONE CENTER IN DENVER, THE BUDDY CENTER IN CASTLE ROCK, THE SAN LUIS VALLEY ANIMAL CENTER IN ALAMOSA, AND THE HARMONY EQUINE CENTER IN FRANKTOWN (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O).HUMANE COLORADO IS A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION. SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS SHELTERING, ALSO KNOWN NATIONALLY AS PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IN COMMUNITY TOGETHER (PACT), IS A TRANSPARENT AND THOUGHTFUL MODEL FOR HOW SHELTERS CAN BEST SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMPANION ANIMALS BY PROVIDING RESPECTFUL TREATMENT AND PLACEMENT FOR EVERY HEALTHY AND SAFE ANIMAL. HUMANE COLORADO WORKS WITH ITS COMMUNITY, CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE POLICYMAKERS AND OTHER SHELTERS TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR PETS, WHILE NURTURING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AND ENSURING THAT NO ANIMAL IS TURNED AWAY DUE TO AGE, HEALTH STATUS, OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. AS A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS SHELTER, HUMANE COLORADO ASSESSES THE BEHAVIOR AND MEDICAL NEEDS OF EACH ANIMAL, TREATS THESE NEEDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, ALLEVIATES SUFFERING, MAKES APPROPRIATE AND HUMANE EUTHANASIA DECISIONS, AND PLACES ALL HEALTHY AND SAFE ANIMALS IN LOVING HOMES.BEFORE AN ANIMAL'S ADOPTION AND DURING THEIR STAY, HUMANE COLORADO'S SKILLED SHELTER VETERINARY SERVICES TEAM EXAMINES, EVALUATES, VACCINATES, MICROCHIPS, AND SPAYS/NEUTERS CATS AND DOGS. A VARIETY OF SPECIALIZED SURGERIES AND OTHER LIFE-SAVING TREATMENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO SHELTER CATS, DOGS, AND SMALL MAMMALS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, HUMANE COLORADO WELCOMED MORE THAN 17,000 LOST AND HOMELESS ANIMALS TO ITS THREE COLORADO SHELTERS IN DENVER, CASTLE ROCK, AND ALAMOSA. ADDITIONALLY, THESE SHELTERS:- MADE 13,920 THOUGHTFUL PLACEMENTS THROUGH ADOPTION OR REUNITING PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES- PERFORMED 9,264 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES; 609 DENTALS; AND 663 OTHER SURGERIES, INCLUDING ORTHOPEDIC, SOFT TISSUE, AND WOUND-REPAIR PROCEDURES
- $5.2 million spent. COMMUNITY VETERINARY SERVICES:HUMANE COLORADO BELIEVES THAT VETERINARY CARE IS ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING PETS HEALTHY AND WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM MOST. THE ORGANIZATION'S VETERINARY HOSPITAL AT CSU SPUR, LOCATED IN DENVER'S GLOBEVILLE-ELYRIA-SWANSEA NEIGHBORHOOD, PROVIDES URGENT CARE SERVICES FOR ILL AND INJURED PETS WHOSE FAMILIES WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER BARRIERS. THE FEES AT CSU SPUR ARE HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED, WITH FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. IF A FAMILY CAN AFFORD TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THEIR PET, THEY ARE DIRECTED TO OTHER EXCELLENT VETERINARIANS IN THE COMMUNITY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FREE-ROAMING CATS AND HOMELESS PETS, THE HUMANE COLORADO SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC, LOCATED ON THE CSU SPUR CAMPUS, OFFERS SUBSIDIZED SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES AND CORE VACCINATIONS FOR COLORADO CATS (INCLUDING OWNED CATS AND COMMUNITY CATS BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL VIA HUMANE TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN SERVICES) AND OWNED DOGS. MOREOVER, HUMANE COLORADO HOSTS REGULAR POP-UP VACCINE CLINICS FOR OWNED CATS AND DOGS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AREA.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, HUMANE COLORADO PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE, DONOR-SUBSIDIZED VETERINARY CARE TO NEARLY 29,000 OWNED PETS AND THEIR FAMILIES, OF WHICH, NEARLY 9,000 WERE URGENTLY ILL OR INJURED. ADDITIONALLY:- PERFORMED 12,986 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES; 567 DENTALS; AND 772 OTHER SURGERIES, INCLUDING ORTHOPEDIC, SOFT TISSUE, AND WOUND-REPAIR PROCEDURES- ADMINISTERED 30,417 VACCINATIONS TO PROTECT ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITY FROM INFECTION AND DISEASE
- $2.3 million spent. OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES:COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN FULFILLING HUMANE COLORADO'S MISSION TO END PET HOMELESSNESS AND ANIMAL SUFFERING. BY SHARING MESSAGES OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS, AND RESPECT FOR ANIMALS AND PEOPLE, THE ORGANIZATION IS PLANTING SEEDS FOR A WORLD WHERE ALL LIVING BEINGS ARE CARED FOR AND VALUED. HUMANE COLORADO OFFERS A RANGE OF HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN AND FOR UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT FOR ADOPTERS OF DOGS WITH BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, AND AN ONLINE LIBRARY OF FREE ANIMAL CARE RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO HOME TO A DEDICATED CALL CENTER TEAM, WHICH PROVIDES VITAL INFORMATION AND BILINGUAL SUPPORT TO PEOPLE AND PETS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, HUMANE COLORADO:- RECEIVED THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF 18,165 DONORS.- BENEFITTED FROM 1,476 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED 179,647 HOURS OF SERVICE THE EQUIVALENT OF 86 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
- $1.4 million spent. EQUINE REHABILITATION SERVICES AT HARMONY EQUINE CENTER:THE HUMANE COLORADO HARMONY EQUINE CENTER ("HARMONY") IN FRANKTOWN IS A REHABILITATION AND ADOPTION FACILITY FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED HORSES, PONIES, DONKEYS, AND MULES WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR OWNERS BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES. AS CAPACITY ALLOWS, HARMONY ALSO ACCEPTS OWNED COLORADO EQUINES IN NEED OF REHOMING FROM PEOPLE WHO CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEM.WHEN ABUSED AND NEGLECTED HORSES AND OTHER EQUINES ARRIVE AT HARMONY, THEY ARE EXAMINED AND GIVEN IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE TO SUPPORT THEIR COMFORT, HEALTH, AND SAFETY. ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY SURRENDERED TO HARMONY, THEY ARE EVALUATED, TRAINED AND SOCIALIZED, REHABILITATED, AND ADOPTED, AS APPROPRIATE.DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE HARMONY TEAM:- PROTECTED 91 EQUINES FROM HARM, INCLUDING THROUGH IMPOUNDS CO-FACILITATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, TRANSFERS FROM PARTNERS, AND OWNER SURRENDERS- SUCCESSFULLY PLACED OR COMFORTABLY HOUSED ALL HEALTHY AND SAFE EQUINES
- $346,182 spent. ANIMAL PROTECTION:HUMANE COLORADO SERVES AS A UNIQUE AND RELIABLE RESOURCE TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM MISTREATMENT, PROMOTE ANIMAL WELFARE STATEWIDE, AND PREVENT FUTURE HARM. COMMISSIONED BY THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE UNDER THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL PROTECTION, THE TEAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY, INCLUDING SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND OTHER PARTNERS IN INVESTIGATIONS AND THE SHELTERING OF AFFECTED ANIMALS.ADVOCACY:THROUGH ADVOCACY, HUMANE COLORADO PARTNERS WITH LEGISLATORS, POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND OTHER CHANGEMAKERS TO HELP SHAPE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS ACROSS COLORADO.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 July 1942.
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 October 21, 2026.
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