Animal Legal Defense Fund
Animal Legal Defense Fund reported $19.7 million in revenue and $17.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.20 went to program services, $11.81 to management and general costs and $17.99 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 86.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $338,791 (CHIEF PROGRAMS OFF (THRU 7/10/24)). 37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 42% between 2019 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 $18MFor 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 $20MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.8% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 18.0% | 6.5% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 86.3% | 67.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 19.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $338,791 | $314,886 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.93% | 1.63% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 37 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.8 | 26.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 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 expenseLitigation programthe litigation program files high impact lawsuits against individuals and industries that exploit animals, including factory farms, puppy mills, research laboratories, and roadside zoos. The program litigates cases in state and federal courts with the goal of stopping abusive practices and setting groundbreaking precedent that will establish justice for animals in the legal system. In addition to suing animal abusers, the litigation program often sues state and federal governments and agencies to invalidate laws and regulations that harm animals; and intervenes in litigation…
Criminal justice programthe criminal justice program focuses on protecting the lives and advancing the legal interests of animal victims by working to achieve the best possible outcomes in animal cruelty cases. The program is staffed by attorneys and other experts in animal cruelty casework who provide free legal assistance to key animal cruelty stakeholders, including prosecutors, law enforcement, judges, veterinarians, mental health professionals, social workers, and courtroom animal advocates. This assistance includes support at all stages of a potential cruelty case, including legal…
Legislative affairs programthe legislative affairs program works at the local, state, and federal levels to advance legislation and regulations to protect the lives and promote the interests of animals and to oppose legislation and regulations that would be harmful to their welfare and interests. The program also provides educational opportunities for law students, advocates, and legal professionals by providing engagement at conferences, supporter events, and through online forums. Finally, the program works with the Animal Legal Defense Fund's other departments to develop campaigns to…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF PROGRAMS OFF (THRU 7/10/24) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $324,728 | $0 | $14,063 | $338,791 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $287,102 | $0 | $29,811 | $316,913 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $194,426 | $0 | $37,738 | $232,164 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,093 | $0 | $15,988 | $225,081 |
| LITIGATION DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,066 | $0 | $34,834 | $194,900 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,144 | $0 | $17,911 | $184,055 |
| FINANCE DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,402 | $0 | $39,170 | $182,572 |
| LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS PROGRAM DIR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $157,299 | $0 | $23,120 | $180,419 |
37 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Animal Legal Defense Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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–1b12 · 12 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5109
- Volunteers Part I, line 6534
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| FULCRUM PUBLIC AFFAIRS Lobbying services | $107,800 |
| AQUA TERRA AERIS LAW GROUP LLP Legal consulting | $105,252 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to Animal Legal Defense Fund totaling $5,600 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 Animal Legal Defense Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Animal Legal Defense Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Animal Legal Defense Fund spent in FY2025, $70.20 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Connecticut Humane SocietyNewington, CT · revenue $19M · programs 72.2% · 2024
- Tennessee Wildlife Resources FoundationNashville, TN · revenue $20M · programs 77.3% · 2024
- Texas State Aquarium AssociationCorpus Christi, TX · revenue $19M · programs 73.5% · 2024
- Oklahoma Humane SocietyOklahoma City, OK · revenue $20M · programs 76.8% · 2024
- Rodeo AustinAustin, TX · revenue $19M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
All animal-related charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Animal Legal Defense Fund's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Animal Legal Defense Fund reported that 70.2% of its $17.5 million in expenses went to program services, 11.8% to management and general and 18.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Animal Legal Defense Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Animal Legal Defense Fund reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $338,791, for the role of CHIEF PROGRAMS OFF (THRU 7/10/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Animal Legal Defense Fund get its money?
Of $19.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 86.3% came from contributions and grants and 2.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Animal Legal Defense Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-2681680 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 June 30, 2025, object 202631249349301878 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510699349300931 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202400759349300910 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310549349300721 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201169349300420 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202003019349301705 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-2681680: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.