Denver Dumb Friends League
Also known as Humane Colorado
Denver Dumb Friends League reported $92.9 million in revenue and $34.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.05 went to program services, $7.98 to management and general costs and $10.97 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $359,978 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 329% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $34MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $93MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.1% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.0% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.4% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 7.2% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $359,978 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.05% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 28 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 60.9 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 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 expenseAnimal shelter and veterinary services:humane colorado provides compassionate care through comprehensive and high-quality services for pets and horses in colorado who have experienced or are vulnerable to experiencing homelessness, suffering, neglect, and abuse. These services which include veterinary care, behavioral support and enrichment, rehabilitation, foster care (including for pets owned by people experiencing hardship), lost and found services, and adoption are provided at the following humane colorado locations: the leslie a. Malone center in denver, the buddy center in castle rock…
Community veterinary services:humane colorado believes that veterinary care is essential to keeping pets healthy and with the people who love them most. The organization's veterinary hospital at csu spur, located in denver's globeville-elyria-swansea neighborhood, provides urgent care services for ill and injured pets whose families would not otherwise have access to veterinary care because of financial and other barriers. The fees at csu spur are highly subsidized, with flexible payment options available if needed. If a family can afford to provide care for their pet, they are directed to…
Outreach and educational services:community engagement and education play an essential role in fulfilling humane colorado's mission to end pet homelessness and animal suffering. By sharing messages of compassion, kindness, and respect for animals and people, the organization is planting seeds for a world where all living beings are cared for and valued. Humane colorado offers a range of humane education programs in and for under-resourced communities, support for adopters of dogs with behavior challenges, and an online library of free animal care resources. The organization is also home to a…
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, 40.00 hrs/week | $333,242 | $0 | $26,736 | $359,978 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,987 | $0 | $15,287 | $235,274 |
| VP PEOPLE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,152 | $0 | $8,510 | $219,662 |
| MEDICAL DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,337 | $0 | $16,582 | $201,919 |
| VP FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,067 | $0 | $13,198 | $191,265 |
| LEAD VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,246 | $0 | $16,582 | $169,828 |
| VETERINARIAN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,066 | $0 | $4,697 | $148,763 |
28 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Denver Dumb Friends League (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $562K (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–1b15 · 15 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5426
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,467
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RUFFALO NOEL LEVITZ LLC Direct marketing | $484,905 |
| SUPREME ROOFING DONE RIGHT LLC Construction | $440,820 |
| GREYSTONE TECHNOLOGY Professional services | $319,443 |
| LASTING PAWS PET MEMORIAL Professional services | $279,888 |
| INNOVATIVE INSIGHTS LLC Professional services | $203,926 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
93 private foundations reported grants to Denver Dumb Friends League totaling $1.7M 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 Denver Dumb Friends League's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Denver Dumb Friends League, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Denver Dumb Friends League spent in FY2025, $81.05 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Panthera CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $92M · programs 84.2% · 2025
- The Animal Medical CenterNew York, NY · revenue $97M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- Chicago Zoological SocietyBrookfield, IL · revenue $91M · programs 80.9% · FY2026
- Rocky Mountain Elk FoundationMissoula, MT · revenue $100M · programs 74.5% · 2024
- Columbus Zoological Park AssociationPowell, OH · revenue $89M · programs 82.6% · 2024
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of Denver Dumb Friends League's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Denver Dumb Friends League reported that 81.1% of its $34.4 million in expenses went to program services, 8.0% to management and general and 11.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Denver Dumb Friends League pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Denver Dumb Friends League reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $359,978, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Denver Dumb Friends League get its money?
Of $92.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 87.4% came from contributions and grants and 7.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Denver Dumb Friends League a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-0405254 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 June 30, 2025, object 202503569349300140 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202433209349307358 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202312929349301261 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202242849349301539 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123169349302267 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202043099349300349 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-0405254: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.