How to Choose an Animal Charity to Support

Supporting a reputable animal charity can be a rewarding way to help take care of animals. Where you channel your support also depends on how you want to make a difference: Groups are fighting for everything from animal welfare to wildlife conservation to financial assistance for pet parents. 

Keep in mind there are ways to support charities without giving money, such as donating supplies, volunteering, or fostering cats and dogs. However, before you choose your charity, you’ll want to research its track record thoroughly to make sure your contributions go directly to helping animals in need. Just how do you do that? We’re here to help.

Steps to choose an animal charity

It’s important to do your due diligence when selecting an animal charity. The last thing you want is for your money to go to a scammer or non-reputable organization. Investigate if the charity has a good reputation, how it spends its donations, and check its effectiveness. Here’s a step-by-step guide to choosing a reputable animal charity to support.

1. Identify your cause

The first thing you’ll have to do is decide on a cause you’d like to support. Ask yourself which causes you’re interested in, and then go web-surfing for ideas. Some options include supporting your local animal shelter or rescue, helping care for animals rescued from factory farming, and assisting with wildlife conservation, preservation, and protection. 

2. Choose a local, national, or global charity

There are pros and cons to each kind of organization. With local charities, you can usually walk in and visit the facility to see the impact of your gift. (Some of your donations may go to overhead to support a smaller-budgeted organization.) You can also choose to sponsor an individual animal to make a direct impact.

National charity organizations have a larger scope and may have more of an impact, such as changing legislation to make wide-scale differences in how animals are treated. However, your donation will be less personal and may go toward overhead instead of animal welfare.

Global organizations have the benefit of being long-lasting, and your dollar can go a long way. But you’ll want to do thorough research to make sure you aren’t getting scammed by donating to something on the other side of the world you can’t verify easily.

3. Verify the charity

Once you’ve chosen your charity, it's time to do your research.

• Make sure it is a registered nonprofit, or 501(c)3. You can confirm this by doing an IRS tax-exemption search or through a site such as Charity Navigator. 

• Look at the charity’s website for its mission, goals, and history of success.

• Google to read what reviewers are saying about them.

• Head to GuideStar and Charity Navigator for ratings and analyses of nonprofits. (For instance, Charity Navigator considers an organization’s financial health, transparency, accountability, and impact.) 

• Check out the charity’s tax returns on a site such as the Foundation Center, which can give insight into their spending habits and what they’re writing off.

4. Review impact and effectiveness measures

Some charities will have impact statements listed on their websites, but not all of them. You can further vet organizations by reviewing their board of directors and leadership backgrounds, and by reading reviews and feedback from volunteers. Also, ask friends (and fact-check) what they’ve heard about the organization, and avoid organizations that lack transparency about their operations. You should look for clear, measurable goals with easily trackable progress. 

Best animal charities

Choosing the best animal charity depends on how you want to make a difference. There are animal charities of all sizes doing great work around the world, each with their own focus and mission.

Animal shelters and rescues will provide temporary housing for homeless animals, while spay and neuter clinics and groups aim to help control pet overpopulation and improve animal health. Disaster relief organizations mobilize when animals are affected by natural disasters or need evacuations, and advocacy organizations fight for better animal welfare laws and awareness.

Here are a few animal charities to consider:

• Friends of Animals, which offers spay and neuter programs across the U.S.

• Red Rover, a national animal welfare group with a disaster response team

• Various pet charities, such as the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, and Alley Cat Allies

Commonly asked questions

Can I support an animal charity without donating money?

Yes, you can support an animal charity without donating money. Charities always need pet food and supplies, volunteers, help with animal transport, and fostering animals. 

How often should I check in on the charity I support?

It’s ultimately up to you how often you want to check in on your chosen charity, but we recommend at least once a year for the charity’s annual report or quarterly reports. You can also usually email questions to nonprofits throughout the year. 

How much should I donate?

You should donate as much as you are comfortable donating. Individually, we have less power, but together we can do a lot. Most charities prefer smaller, recurring donations rather than one-time larger ones, because they’re easier to allocate in budgeting. 

Are there any tax benefits to donating to animal charities?

Many charities qualify for tax-deductible donations. To be sure, look up the charity in the IRS’ Tax-Exempt Organization Search or check its website. 

Is it a red flag if a charity does not share financial information publicly?

Absolutely. Financial information should be readily available and easy to find on the charity’s website. If you can’t find financial information on the site or other charity checkers such as CharityWatch, that’s a sign the charity is probably a scam. 

References 

Animal Shelters and Animal Welfare: Raising the Bar

Charity Watch 

Donating Safely and Avoiding Scams

GuideStar

UNT Expert Gives Advice on Identifying Nonprofits for Charitable Giving