Wisconsin Humane Society
Wisconsin Humane Society reported $18.3 million in revenue and $19.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.91 went to program services, $6.86 to management and general costs and $15.23 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 68.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $228,186 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 50% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $20MFor 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 September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.9% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 15.2% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.24 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 68.5% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 23.7% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $228,186 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.15% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 24.5 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 19 | 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 expenseSheltering and animal care - the client services department successfully placed 14,123 dogs, cats and small animals into loving homes. Through its comprehensive adoption program, the counselors work with families to match them with homeless companion animals. They provide follow up and support to new adopters. They also assist callers with information related to training and health issues for their companion animals. The behavior department provided behavior assessments for dogs and cats to determine eligibility for placement in the adoption program. They provided in person and online…
Veterinary - the veterinary department performed 20,713 sterilization surgeries including 8,676 surgeries at the spay/neuter clinic. All dogs, cats and rabbits were sterilized prior to placing them into adoption. Dogs and cats were microchipped prior to adoption. We performed 96,052 veterinary exams to ensure all animals were healthy before going into adoption
Community relations and outreach - our youth programs play an essential role in engaging young people ages 2-18 in our mission. From scout nights to afterschool programs and camps, we served 7,233 young people. Each program is designed to strengthen the human animal bond and engage our next generation of pet owners. The pets for life outreach program serves families in milwaukee's 53206 zip code and surrounding neighborhoods, where families face many barriers to accessing important services for their pets. The community we serve doesn't have a veterinary clinic. Through door-to-door outreach…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $215,398 | $0 | $12,788 | $228,186 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (THRU 04/25) Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $169,740 | $0 | $7,915 | $177,655 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $141,378 | $0 | $17,394 | $158,772 |
| MEDICAL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $135,005 | $0 | $2,196 | $137,201 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $121,333 | $0 | $1,967 | $123,300 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $120,764 | $0 | $1,949 | $122,713 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $120,751 | $0 | $1,958 | $122,709 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Wisconsin Humane Society (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $423K (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–1b19 · 19 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 5357
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,600
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RKD GROUP Donor mailings | $652,817 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
66 private foundations reported grants to Wisconsin Humane Society totaling $897K 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 Wisconsin Humane 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 Wisconsin Humane Society, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Wisconsin Humane Society spent in FY2025, $77.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Atlantic Salmon Federation (US)Calais, ME · revenue $18M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
- Progressive Animal Welfare SocietyLynnwood, WA · revenue $18M · programs 72.7% · 2024
- Odc NetworkHolland, MI · revenue $18M · programs 83.2% · 2025
- Oregon Coast AquariumNewport, OR · revenue $18M · programs 76.4% · FY2025
- Fort Wayne Zoological SocietyFort Wayne, IN · revenue $18M · programs 69.5% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of Wisconsin Humane Society's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Wisconsin Humane Society reported that 77.9% of its $19.9 million in expenses went to program services, 6.9% to management and general and 15.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Wisconsin Humane Society pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Wisconsin Humane Society reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $228,186, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Wisconsin Humane Society get its money?
Of $18.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 68.5% came from contributions and grants and 23.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Wisconsin Humane Society a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-0810533 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 September 30, 2025, object 202631829349301603 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202531309349300308 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202421169349301912 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202321669349300112 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202201649349301405 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202132099349301148 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-0810533: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.