San Diego Humane Society and SPCA
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREATE A MORE HUMANE WORLD BY INSPIRING COMPASSION, PROVIDING HOPE AND ADVANCING THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.
- Income
- $67.6 million
- Spending
- $73.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
- Employees
- 888
- Volunteers
- 5,097
- Highest pay
- $501,213, 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (animals, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 2525 of 25 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 (4)
- $48.8 million spent. ADOPTIONS AND ANIMAL CARE INCLUDES ADMISSIONS, ADOPTIONS, VETERINARY MEDICINE, KITTEN NURSERY, BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING, BEHAVIOR CENTER, FOSTER CARE, SPAY/NEUTER.25,907 COMPANION ANIMALS GOING HOME: TOTAL7,542 DOGS ADOPTED,9,491 CATS ADOPTED,1,537 SMALL ANIMALS AND FARM ANIMALS ADOPTED,5,550 LOST ANIMALS RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS,1,787 ANIMALS TRANSFERRED TO OTHER SHELTERS.28,759 COMPANION ANIMALS ADMITTED: TOTAL7,289 RELINQUISHED BY OWNERS,384 ANIMALS TRANSFERRED IN FROM OTHER SHELTERS,1,772 ANIMALS RESCUED FOR THEIR PROTECTION,190 BORN IN SHELTER OR FOSTER CARE,19,124 STRAY ANIMALS ADMITTED.KITTEN PROGRAM:8,324 TOTAL KITTENS CARED FOR,54,338 KITTENS IN NURSERY OR FOSTER CARE (YOUNGER THAN 8 WEEKS),2,886 KITTENS IN SHELTER OR FOSTER CARE (OLDER THAN 8 WEEKS).COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM:5,079 COMMUNITY CATS BROUGHT IN FOR TREATMENT,4,574 COMMUNITY CATS RETURNED TO THEIR OUTDOOR HOMES,VETERINARY CARE/SHELTER MEDICINE:15,390 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES FOR SHELTER ANIMALS,3,264 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES FOR OWNED PETS,4,168 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES FOR COMMUNITY CATS,22,822 TOTAL SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES.106 DENTAL PROCEDURES,1,068 DIAGNOSTICS (BLOOD WORK, BIOPSIES, OTHER DIAGNOSTICS),123 ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES,357 OTHER SURGERIES (I.E. MASS REMOVAL, EXPLORATORY, EYE/EAR ABSCESS DRAINAGE).1,654 TOTAL SERVICES AND PROCEDURESBEHAVIOR AND TRAINING:536 SHELTER ANIMALS ENROLLED IN BEHAVIOR CENTER,648 SHELTER ANIMALS ENGAGED IN BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION,1,184 TOTAL ANIMALS RECEIVING BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.359 PRE-AND POST-ADOPTION CONSULTATIONS,283 PUBLIC TRAINING CLASSES,1,113 PEOPLE INSTRUCTED THROUGH TRAINING CLASSES.OTHER OUTCOMES:2,578 ANIMALS EUTHANIZED.OF EUTHANIZED ANIMALS, NONE WERE HEALTHY OR TREATABLE OR REHABILITATABLE. ALL ANIMALS EUTHANIZED WERE UNHEALTHY OR UNTREATABLE DUE TO SERIOUS MEDICAL OR BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. THE DETERMINATION OF HEALTHY OR UNTREATABLE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SDAWC ASILOMAR ACCORDS, AND IN SUCH CASES, EUTHANASIA IS DEEMED NECESSARY TO END UNNECESSARY SUFFERING, OR FOR OBVIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY REASONS.OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANASIA: 3,506. DIED OR LOST IN SHELTER CARE: 309 PLACEMENT RATE FOR HEALTHY ANIMALS-100% PLACEMENT RATE FOR TREATABLE/REHABILITATABLE ANIMALS - 100% LIVE RELEASE RATE -91% REPORT ON GETTING TO ZERO: "GETTING TO ZERO" IS THE SAN DIEGO ANIMAL WELFARE COALITION'S COMMITMENT TO REACHING AND MAINTAINING ZERO EUTHANASIA OF HEAL THY OR TREATABLE ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. PREVIOUSLY, TREATABLE ANIMALS WERE AT RISK OF EUTHANASIA IN SHELTERS DUE TO SHEER NUMBERS AND LIMITED RESOURCES. BY TRANSFERRING TREATABLE ANIMALS FROM FULL, OVERCROWDED SHELTERS TO OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE AVAILABLE SPACE OR RESOURCES, WE CAN STRATEGICALLY MOVE ANIMALS THROUGH THE SHELTER SYSTEM AND GET THEM INTO HOMES. THIS IS TRULY A MILESTONE FOR SAN DIEGO AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT HEAL THY AND TREATABLE ANIMALS ARE NEVER AGAIN AT RISK OF EUTHANASIA IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
- $7.4 million spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: INCLUDES ADULT PROGRAMS, YOUTH EDUCATION AND PROGRAMS, FOSTER CARE, PET-ASSISTED THERAPY, AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT.37,028 REACHED THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS,175,802 RESOURCE CENTER PHONE CALLS RECEIVED.FOSTER CARE:FOSTER CARE IS CRUCIAL TO OUR ABILITY TO HELP THE HIGH VOLUME OF ANIMALS IN OUR CARE. OUR NETWORK OF DEDICATED FOSTER CARE VOLUNTEERS SERVES AS A VITAL EXTENSION OF OUR SHELTER, OFFERING TEMPORARY HOMES TO ANIMALS WHILE THEY AWAIT ADOPTION, OPENING SPACE FOR US TO REACH OUT AND SAVE EVEN MORE ANIMALS LIVES. 1,662 FOSTER HOMES,8,396 ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE.VOLUNTEERS WHETHER WORKING DIRECTLY WITH ANIMALS IN OUR CARE, WITHIN OTHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS OR ADVOCATING IN THE COMMUNITY AS AMBASSADORS OF OUR WORK, THE COMPASSION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HAS TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR EFFORTS. THE COMMITMENT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND OUR SAFETY NET OF CARE TO MORE ANIMALS AND PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 5,097 VOLUNTEERS GENEROUSLY DONATED 547,732 HOURS OF CARE OF ANIMALS AND SUPPORT OUR WORK. THE VALUE OF THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES IS $21,985,962.
- $6.7 million spent. HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM - INCLUDES INVESTIGATIONS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, FIELD SERVICES FOR THIRTEEN MUNICIPALITIES AND FIVE NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATIONS OVER 620 SQUARE MILES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND ASSISTANCE WITH ANIMAL RESCUE AND REUNITING LOST PETS WITH THEIR OWNERS AS A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND FIRES.HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIELD SERVICES ACCOMPLISHMENTS:18,707 ANIMALS SEEN BY HUMANE OFFICERS, 20 CASES SUBMITTED FOR PROSECUTION, 2,890 CRUELTY COMPLAINTS, 15 EDUCATIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, 2,585 ANIMAL BITE QUARANTINES, 28,219 ANIMAL SERVICE CALLS RECEIVED, 6,297 WILD ANIMALS RESCUED BY HUMANE OFFICERS.FIELD SERVICE AND CRUELTY COMPLAINTS HANDLED INCLUDE REPORTS OF ANIMALS RUNNING STRAY, ANIMALS LEFT IN HOT CARS, CALLS FOR POLICE ASSISTANCE AND CALLS TO PERFORM ANIMALS CHECKS.THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM RESPONDS IN TIMES OF CRISIS- SUCH AS EVACUATING PETS AND LIVESTOCK DURING WILDFIRES AND RESCUING ANIMALS FROM ACCIDENTS. THE ERT IS SPECIALLY FEMA-TRAINED TO RESPOND DURING DISASTERS AND IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO DEPLOY LOCALLY AND BEYOND TO ASSIST WITH ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE.43 VOLUNTEERS,1,722 VOLUNTEER HOURS,55 ANIMALS ASSISTED IN EMERGENCIES.
- SERVICES FOR PET FAMILIES IN NEED - ACTING AS A SAFETY NET FOR PET PARENTS WHO ARE SENIOR, DISABLED, CHRONICALLY ILL AND LOW INCOME, HOMELESS OR LIVE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, THIS PROGRAM HELPS QUALIFIED CLIENTS KEEP THEIR PETS THROUGH OUR SERVICES.COMMUNITY PET PANTRY: PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL BAGS OF PET FOOD AND SUPPLIES AT OUR SHELTERS AND AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY SO THAT VULNERABLE PETS RECEIVE THE NOURISHMENT THEY DESERVE.VETERINARY CARE VOUCHERS: PROVIDES VOUCHERS TO OFFSET THE COST OF VETERINARY SERVICES AND VETERINARY PRESCRIPTION FOOD.COMMUNITY OUTREACH: PROVIDES THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY WITH SUPPORT SERVICES AND CONDUCTS NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR PETS.PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IMPACT:1,526,787 PET MEALS DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES,633,136 PET MEALS DISTRIBUTED TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, 457 VET VOUCHERS DISTRIBUTED, 10,251 MICROCHIPS FOR OWNED PETS, 55,144 VACCINATIONS FOR OWNED PETS.EXPENSES FOR THESE PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ABOVE.PROJECT WILDLIFE:ALL LIVING CREATURES MATTER TO SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY. WHETHER THEY'RE FURRY, SCALED, FEATHERED, DOMESTIC OR WILD, WE'RE COMMITTED TO BEING THEIR SAFETY NET WHEN THEY NEED HELP. THIS YEAR, PROJECT WILDLIFE TOOK IN 11,820 INJURED, ILL OR ORPHANED WILDLIFE. AS THE ONLY LOCAL EMERGENCY TRAUMA CENTER FOR THESE WILD ANIMALS, PROJECT WILDLIFE IS CRUCIAL TO THE SAN DIEGO REGION. PROJECT WILDLIFE'S EXPENSES ARE INCLUDED IN ADOPTIONS AND ANIMAL CARE ABOVE.
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 May 1938.
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.
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