Foundation Source

Animals : Animal Rights, Welfare, and Services

Animal Legal Defense Fund

All our clients are innocent

91.30

525 East Cotati Avenue Cotati, CA 94931
tel: (707) 795-2533   Web Site
EIN: 94-2681680

Board Leadership
Katherine Stirling
Chair

CEO
Stephen Wells
Executive Director

  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 91.30
  Financial 88.08
  Accountability & Transparency 97.00
This rating was published 07/01/2021 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The Animal Legal Defense Fund fights to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life.

Today, the organization's groundbreaking efforts to push the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 140,000 members. the Animal Legal Defense Fund files groundbreaking lawsuits to stop animal abuse; provides free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases; works to strengthen anti-cruelty statutes; encourages federal enforcement of existing animal protection laws; nurtures the future of animal law; and provides public education.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund fights to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life.

Today, the organization's groundbreaking efforts to push the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 140,000 members. the Animal Legal Defense Fund files groundbreaking lawsuits to stop animal abuse; provides free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases; works to strengthen anti-cruelty statutes; encourages federal enforcement of existing animal protection laws; nurtures the future of animal law; and provides public education.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

88.08

Accountability & Transparency

97.00

This rating was published 07/01/2021 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 80.6%
  Administrative Expenses 8.6%
  Fundraising Expenses 10.6%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.10
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.16
  Program Expenses Growth 6.8%
  Liabilities to Assets 5.1%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Animal Legal Defense Fund on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Animal Legal Defense Fund on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Animal Legal Defense Fund (CA) 91.30
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (NC) 98.23
American Humane (DC) 90.09
National Anti-Vivisection Society (IL) 88.33
North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation (NC) 94.34
REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $13,298,339
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $75,800
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $13,374,139
   Program Service Revenue $159,654
Total Primary Revenue $13,533,793
   Other Revenue $379,715
TOTAL REVENUE $13,913,508
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $9,014,571
   Administrative Expenses $1,071,385
   Fundraising Expenses $1,281,577
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $11,367,533
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $2,545,975
   
Net Assets $15,107,159

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Animal Law $5,691,410 63.1%
Criminal Justice $985,655 10.9%
Litigation $668,173 7.4%

Ratings History
Animal Legal Defense Fund has received 7 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-12 07/01/2021 91.30
2018-12 02/01/2020 91.80
2017-12 12/21/2018 93.04

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 94-2681680
Name in IRS Master File ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
NTEE Code D01
NTEE Classification Alliance/Advocacy Organizations
NTEE Type Animal-Related
Classification Organization to Prevent Cruelty to Animals
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (913) Prevention of cruelty to animals
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date September, 1980
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2018
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$209,788 1.84% Stephen Wells Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Animal Legal Defense Fund (CA) 91.30
Alley Cat Allies (MD) 90.61
Farm Sanctuary (NY) 85.16
North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation (NC) 94.34
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) (IL) 88.11