A Closer Look at How Tacoma Humane Stewards Donor Funds

Every adoption, every program, and every life-saving surgery starts with support from the community. As an independent nonprofit, the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County relies heavily on donations to provide vital care and services to more than 10,000 animals each year. 

This post offers a closer look at how community support is stewarded to power the care and programs we provide for animals and the people who love them across Pierce County.  

Generosity in Practice 

Behind the scenes of every wagging tail and hopeful meow is a donor who believes in our mission and our stewardship. At Tacoma Humane, we work hard to leverage every donation and prioritize programs. 

In 2024, 57% of our support was directly funded by donors, through bequests, donations, and grants. From essential surgeries and spay/neuter services to vaccine clinics and adoptions, our community’s generosity fuels critical, hands-on work in our community. 

Here are just a few of the donor-supported programs that save lives every day: 

• Veterinary Assistance – Supports emergency care for pets in crisis, including surgeries, spay/neuter, and urgent medical attention. In 2024, we performed 12,325 essential surgeries and treatments. 

• Pet Food Pantry – Helps families experiencing financial hardship keep their pets fed and at home. In 2024, we distributed 120,009 pounds of pet food. 

• Foster Programs – Partners with community members to care for animals outside the shelter. In 2024, we facilitated 2,523 animal foster placements. 
• Pet Support Programs – Provides training, access to veterinary services, and support to help animals succeed in adoption and/or to keep them from entering the shelter. In 2024, we provided 1,237 pets vaccine and wellness services through our monthly clinics and issued 700 spay/neuter vouchers redeemable at community veterinary practices. 
• Humane Education & Outreach – Connects the community through school visits, shelter tours, and public events to inspire compassionate pet care and lifelong respect for—and involvement in—animal welfare. Last year, we participated in 92 outreach events! 

You can view our annual impact reports online to see more. 

Investing in Our People 

It takes a deeply committed team to carry out this work, and we strive to ensure our staff are supported with fair, competitive wages. Most of our animal-care team members are full-time union employees, represented by Teamsters 117. Wages for these essential, hands-on roles are determined through annually-negotiated contracts with the union. 

For all leadership and staff, we partner with independent compensation consultants every three years. These professionals conduct salary surveys to ensure our employees receive fair pay based on our organization’s size, type, and location. Our goal is to provide competitive wages and benefits while remaining responsible stewards of our finances. 

When questions come up about leadership compensation, the answer is simple: every dollar is accounted for and publicly disclosed. As a local, independent 501(c)3 non-profit, it is our responsibility to share this information. You can view our annual IRS 990 forms and audited financials going back to 2012 on our website. 

Stewarding Funds Responsibly 

Tacoma Humane is committed to fiscal responsibility. We undergo annual audits conducted by an independent third-party, maintain strong financial health, and are routinely recognized for our accountability by third-party charity evaluators, including Charity Navigator and Candid. Our financial oversight is also guided by a volunteer Board of Directors responsible for governance and fiscal stewardship of the organization. 

In 2024, 84% of our total expenses went directly to programs that care for animals and support the people who love them—well above the highly efficient average for charities, according to CharityWatch. This reflects a rigorous budgeting process and a consistent priority: animal care comes first. 

That means programs, medical treatment, safe shelter, support services, and education are prioritized over administrative expansion. Simply put, if it doesn’t help animals, it doesn’t make the budget. 

When you support Tacoma Humane, you’re part of every reunion and every second chance.  Between 2024 and 2025, we saw 42% growth in giving from individual donors. Thanks to our incredible monthly donors, we start each month with $62,753 to help us care for Pierce County’s pets. Every gift helps ensure animals receive the care, compassion, and second chances they deserve. If you’d like to be part of this work, you can support our community here.

Together, we are building a community where every animal is cared for, every dollar is stewarded responsibly, and every action brings us closer to a more compassionate future for pets and the people in Pierce County who love them.