The Anti-Cruelty Society
Also known as Anti-Cruelty
The Anti-Cruelty Society reported $15.4 million in revenue and $16.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.57 went to program services, $8.50 to management and general costs and $13.93 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 65.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $224,486 (Medical Director). 16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 43% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending October 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 245 covered animal-related charities: $83.96 programs, $9.42 management, $6.62 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending October 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$64.49 $10M
- Program service revenue$10.16 $1.6M
- Investment income$25.35 $4.0M
Other revenue was negative: −$229K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.6% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.5% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.9% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.23 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 65.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 10.3% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $224,486 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.36% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 16 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 42.0 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseShelter Services: Founded in 1899, Anti-Cruelty is Chicago's oldest and largest, private, Open Door animal welfare organization. As an open admission facility we accept animals of all sizes, dispositions, and species, providing food, shelter, and care for animals in need; we rehome animals through transfer partners as well as through our same-day adoption program; we investigate reports of animal neglect, abuse, and injury through our humane investigations; we assist pet owners with behavior concerns and general pet care needs to prevent their relinquishment
Veterinary and Clinic Services: Anti-Cruelty's veterinary services are a cornerstone of our organization. With a legacy dating back to the early 20th century, our skilled veterinarians and clinic staff provide comprehensive care for shelter and foster animals; operate a community care clinic to assist pet owners struggling to afford private veterinary care; offer low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for pets across the metropolitan region
Community Programs: Anti-Cruelty is dedicated to supporting and uplifting the human-animal bond through pet owner support programs; we inspire future generations of animal welfare advocates through humane education, offering programs tailored for families, schools, corporations, non-profits, and businesses alike; we mobilize the community to become directly involved in our work, engaging volunteers who contribute to various initiatives within our shelters, clinic, and foster care programs
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Director Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $215,986 | $0 | $8,500 | $224,486 |
| President Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $208,962 | $0 | $15,284 | $224,246 |
| Former President Former, 0.00 hrs/week | $207,066 | $0 | $5,541 | $212,607 |
| Veterinarian Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $175,305 | $0 | $25,677 | $200,982 |
| CFO until 7/25 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,655 | $0 | $16,974 | $195,629 |
| Veterinarian Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $168,009 | $0 | $26,587 | $194,596 |
| Veterinarian Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $180,136 | $0 | $8,527 | $188,663 |
| Vice President Mission Advancement Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,509 | $0 | $17,660 | $181,169 |
16 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Anti-Cruelty Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $456K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5164
- Volunteers Part I, line 6431
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TrueSense Marketing Inc Direct Mail Services | $1,143,874 |
| RWE Design Build Building/Maintenance Services | $357,162 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
67 private foundations reported grants to The Anti-Cruelty Society totaling $634K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Anti-Cruelty Society's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Anti-Cruelty Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Anti-Cruelty Society spent in FY2025, $77.57 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsSacramento, CA · revenue $15M · programs 82.6% · 2024
- North Carolina Zoological SocietyAsheboro, NC · revenue $15M · programs 90.5% · 2025
- Chimp HavenKeithville, LA · revenue $15M · programs 74.8% · FY2025
- BideaweeWantagh, NY · revenue $16M · programs 72.5% · FY2025
- Sea Shepherd Conservation SocietyAlexandria, VA · revenue $15M · programs 85.9% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of The Anti-Cruelty Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending October 31, 2025, The Anti-Cruelty Society reported that 77.6% of its $16.5 million in expenses went to program services, 8.5% to management and general and 13.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Anti-Cruelty Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Anti-Cruelty Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending October 31, 2025 was $224,486, for the role of Medical Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Anti-Cruelty Society get its money?
Of $15.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending October 31, 2025, 65.4% came from contributions and grants and 10.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Anti-Cruelty Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2179814 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2025, object 202642469349301524 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2024, object 202521359349305952 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2023, object 202401779349301245 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2022, object 202312409349301356 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2021, object 202222249349302317 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2020, object 202131269349302653 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2179814: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.