Humane Society of Southern Arizona
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To compassionately serve pets and the people who love them.
- Income
- $11.5 million
- Spending
- $10.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 155
- Volunteers
- 403
- Highest pay
- $147,395, clinic medical director
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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 18% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 (3)
- $3.6 million spent. ANIMAL SHELTER AND LIFESAVING SERVICES -- HSSA prides itself on providing the highest level of service to the pets in its care. The happier, healthier, and more confident pets are, the more likely it is that they will find loving homes. This year, we sheltered 3,258 pets, reunited 145 lost pets with their families, and helped over 2,400 pets find loving homes. Our foster care volunteers provided safe, quiet homes for 1,190 pets to recover or grow prior to their adoptions and 431 volunteers gave 27,889 hours to support the pets in our care. The shelter serves as a soft place for pets in need to land. We provide the exceptional care during their stay, focusing on both physical and mental wellbeing and helping them find new, loving homes. Our veterinary services provide care not only for the pets within our facility, but for public pets as well, extending access to care for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Our engagement and outreach programs reinforce the human-animal bond through school programming, community-based activities, and our pet food pantry.
- $2.1 million spent. VETERINARY SERVICES - HSSA's team of veterinary professionals provide emergency services, preventive surgical services, and dental services to our shelter pets, public pets, and to our pet partners. More than 9,000 spay and neuter surgeries were completed across our public clinic, community cat program and shelter pets; over 12,000 vaccines were administered and 763 pets were microchipped.
- $694,386 spent. ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH -- HSSA's engagement and outreach programs, which support community members of all ages, and proactively support the human-animal bond, were able to support 2,684 families through our pet pantry, ensuring that no one has to make the difficult choice between their own needs and those of their pets. This number represents a an over 600% increase in families served.
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 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 June 2025.
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 January 1967.
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.