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East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

EIN 94-1322202 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EAST BAY SPCA FOUNDED IN 1874, IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE OLDEST SHELTERS IN THE COUNTRY AND ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE IN OUR REGION. OUR MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF CATS AND DOGS BY ENRICHING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND THROUGH RESPECTED AND ACCESSIBLE EXPERTISE.

Income
$14.8 million
Spending
$13.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
24.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
107
Volunteers
801
Highest pay
$398,424, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $5.1 million spent. THE EAST BAY SPCA OPERATES TWO SHELTERS AND ADOPTION CENTERS FOR HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS. THESE PETS ARE TRANSFERRED FROM OVERCROWDED MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, SURRENDERED BY OWNERS WHO CAN NO LONGER CARE FOR THEM, OR BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER AS STRAYS BY GOOD SAMARITANS. ALL INCOMING ANIMALS RECEIVE MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL EVALUATIONS; WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SUPPORT (SPAY/NEUTER, VACCINATIONS, SHORT AND LONG TERM TREATMENTS, SOFT TISSUE AND ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES) AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT TO PREPARE THEM FOR ADOPTION. OUR SKILLED ADOPTION COUNSELORS WORK WITH THE PUBLIC TO BEST MATCH FAMILIES WITH PETS. ANIMALS THAT ARRIVE AT OUR SHELTERS TOO YOUNG, TOO WEAK OR TOO SICK GO INTO OUR FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUAL CARE PRIOR TO ADOPTION.IN 2025, 3,246 ANIMALS WERE SHELTERED BY THE EAST BAY SPCA. OF THE ANIMALS SHELTERED, 1,985 RECEIVED SURGICAL CARE INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER PRIOR TO ADOPTION. MORE THAN 1,300 ANIMALS BENEFITTED FROM FOSTER CARE; OUR FOSTER VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED MORE THAN 28,900 HOURS OF FOSTER SERVICE.
  2. $4.6 million spent. THE THEODORE B. TRAVERS FAMILY VETERINARY CLINIC OFFERS FULL-SERVICE, HIGH-QUALITY VETERINARY CARE TO PET OWNERS, SHELTER ANIMALS AND OTHER LOCAL RESCUES AND SHELTERS AS WELL AS LOW-COST AND FREE VACCINATIONS AND SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES. IN 2014, WE RECEIVED CERTIFICATION FROM THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VETERINARY HOSPITALS PLACING US AMONG THE TOP 12% OF VETERINARY CLINICS NATIONWIDE. ADDITIONALLY, WE OPERATE OUR OAKLAND SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC WHICH PROVIDES LOW COST PROCEDURES TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.IN 2025 WE HELD 17,478 APPOINTMENTS AT OUR FULL SERVICE AND OAKLAND SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS COMBINED. MORE THAN 12,116 VACCINES WERE ADMINISTERED VIA THE THEODORE B. TRAVERS FAMILY CLINIC AND THE OAKLAND SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC. MORE THEN 5,254 ANIMALS WERE SPAYED/NEUTERED AT OUR FULL-SERVICE CLINIC AND OAKLAND SPAY AND NEUTER CLINICS.
  3. $480,211 spent. THE EAST BAY SPCA HUMANE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EMPLOYS EDUCATORS TO LEAD YOUTH PROGRAMS IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE BEHIND-THE-SCENES SHELTER TOURS, SCOUT WORKSHOPS, YOUTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, IN-SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND CAMPS. CURRICULA ARE TAILORED TO SPECIFIC AGE AND GRADE LEVELS, STATE CONTENT STANDARDS, AND INDIVIDUAL GROUPS' NEEDS. THE LARGEST AND MOST POPULAR PROGRAM, ANIMAL CAMP, OFFERS K-8TH GRADE STUDENTS ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON ANIMAL EMPATHY AND ADVOCACY, INCLUDING INTERACTIVE LESSONS, PET-THEMED GAMES, ASSISTING WITH SHELTER NEEDS, CRAFTS, AND SHELTER ANIMAL SOCIALIZATION. IN 2025, 6,184 PEOPLE WERE TOUCHED BY EAST BAY SPCA COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS REACHING 3,255 PEOPLE. THERE WERE 621 PARTICIPANTS IN SUMMER, WINTER & SPRING ANIMAL CAMPS.THE HUMANE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FACILITATED YOUTH VOLUNTEERING AND OTHER ONSITE PROGRAMMING FOR 2,029 STUDENTS.
  4. $1.3 million spent. WE BELIEVE THAT PROTECTING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND REQUIRES PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORTS PETS AND THEIR OWNERS SO WE OFFER A VARIETY OF ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.HUMANE ADVOCACY: THE FIRST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE US, OUR HUMANE ADVOCACY PROGRAM EMPLOYS SOCIAL WORKERS TO MATCH QUALIFYING FAMILIES AND THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS WITH LOCAL SERVICES INCLUDING MONTHLY PET FOOD PANTRIES, SUBSIDIZED VETERINARY CARE, AND DISCOUNTED SPAY/NEUTER AND VACCINATIONS. WE PROVIDE WRAP AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND HELP REFER CLIENTS TO HUMAN SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ASSIST IN STABILIZING THEIR SITUATIONS. IN 2019, A HOLD FOR HOME PROGRAM WAS ADDED TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY SHELTER TO PETS OF FAMILIES IN CRISIS. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER IN HEALTHY, HAPPY HOMES AND AVOID PEOPLE NEEDING TO SURRENDER THEIR BELOVED ANIMALS. PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE PROVIDED MORE THAN 380 DISCOUNTED SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES, AND $450,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ALMOST 850 PETS IN NEED AND 55,203 LBS. OF FREE PET FOOD.BEHAVIOR & TRAINING: BEHAVIOR ISSUES ARE A PRIMARY REASON THAT FAMILIES SURRENDER A PET TO SHELTERS AND ARE A BARRIER TO ADOPTING PETS TO NEW HOMES. HELPING BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGED PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE IS A TOP PRIORITY AT EAST BAY SPCA. OUR SKILLED BEHAVIOR & TRAINING STAFF WORK WITH SHELTER ANIMALS TO HELP THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SHELTER HOME AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THEIR NEW FAMILY AFTER ADOPTION. WE PROVIDE A WEALTH OF BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY: A FREE BEHAVIOR HOTLINE TO SPEAK WITH TRAINED STAFF; AN ONLINE LIBRARY OF HANDOUTS AND SEMINARS; AND A FULL RANGE OF IN-PERSON GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING CLASSES. IN 2025, 686 OWNED PETS RECEIVED TRAINING THROUGH OUR FREE BEHAVIOR HELPLINE, PUBLIC DOG TRAINING CLASSES, AND PRIVATE TRAINING SESSIONS. 531 SHELTER DOGS AND CATS BENEFITED FROM OUR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM GET ADOPTED. VOLUNTEERS: IN 2025, OVER 800 VOLUNTEERS GAVE OVER 35,800 HOURS OF SUPPORT - FEEDING SHELTER ANIMALS, CLEANING KENNELS, PHOTOGRAPHY, WALKING DOGS, SOCIALIZING CATS AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO NAME JUST A FEW ROLES. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THIS VITAL SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 February 1957.

    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 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.