Financial Transparency and Accountability at PETA

PETA leads with integrity. Just as we reveal cruelty to animals wherever it occurs, we’re fully transparent about how we spend every dollar, govern our work, and win landmark victories for our fellow animals. By holding ourselves to the highest standards, we show that our commitment to honesty and accountability makes PETA the most effective organization working for animal liberation.

How PETA Raises and Uses Funds

PETA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation funded almost exclusively by the contributions of our members. Every dollar given fuels our work—from eye-opening investigations of laboratories and factory farms, to lifesaving spay and neuter clinics in underserved communities and far-reaching campaigns that expose—and stop–exploitation and abuse.

Where Your Donation Goes (Program Expense Ratio)

We put our donations to work where they matter most. In 2025, 83.70% of our operating expenses were directly allocated to our programs combating animal exploitation. We do this through public education, investigations, research, animal rescues, legislation, special events, celebrity campaigns, and bold demonstrations.

We expended only 13.96% on fundraising efforts that drive our operations and 2.34% on management and general operations.

IRS Form 990s & Audited Financial Statements

We make it easy to explore detailed financial information about PETA online through our 990 form and financial statements.

Executive Compensation & Staff Salaries

66% of PETA’s dedicated staff earn under $69,999, and the remaining 34% make more than $70,000. Our founder and principal, Ingrid Newkirk, earned $43,888 during the last fiscal year.

PETA’s Impact & Effectiveness: Measuring Victories for Animals

PETA’s Annual Impact in Numbers

In 2025, the support of committed donors helped us achieve the following:

• PETA sent out over 25 million letters through our online advocacy campaigns, urging companies and individuals to make changes that would help animals.

• PETA’s Mobile Clinics Division spayed or neutered more than 11,200 cats and dogs.

• PETA handled more than 12,500 calls and e-mails regarding cruelty to animals.

• PETA helped organize 1,510 demonstrations.

• PETA handled 103,200 interactions with the media, including interviews.

• PETA sent nearly 92,800 free vegan starter kits to help people make the switch to kind living.

How PETA Helps Cats and Dogs in Our Community

PETA’s shelter in Norfolk, Virginia practices a true open-admission policy—which means we never turn away an animal in need. We refer thousands of adoptable animals to high-traffic open-admission shelters, where they will have the best chance of being seen and finding a loving home. We also offer compassionate end-of-life care for animals who are aggressive, sick, severely injured, elderly, or can’t be adopted for other reasons. We offer this service, at no charge, to people in our community who call us for help and/or can’t afford to pay for euthanasia at a traditional veterinary clinic.

We also improve and save companion animals’ lives by:

• Providing sturdy insulated doghouses stuffed with straw to dogs left chained outdoors with little to protect them from the rain, wind, snow, or heat.

• Ensuring collars are the appropriate size so they don’t cause a painful, sometimes deadly infection.

• Offering flea and parasite treatment, and free or low-cost spay/neuter surgery. Our mobile clinics have sterilized more than 250,000 animals for free or almost nothing since 2001, helping to curb the deadly animal companion homelessness and overpopulation crisis.

Governance & Accountability

PETA is governed by an Executive Board whose members help guide our mission, strategy, and outreach. We also uphold strong institutional safeguards to ensure accountability and donor trust.

As reflected in our IRS filings, PETA maintains a formal conflict-of-interest policy, a whistleblower policy, and document retention and destruction policies—all of which align with best practices for nonprofit accountability and donor trust.

Through transparent financial disclosure, responsible governance, and a clear mission focus, we strive to ensure that every donation furthers our work to defend animals and do everything we can to end cruelty to animals.

PETA’s Executive Board

• PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk has spoken internationally on animal liberation issues, from the steps of the Canadian Parliament to the streets of New Delhi, India, where she spent her childhood.

• Mike Rodman was PETA’s HR director for seven years until the office moved to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1996. He then became the HR director of Greenpeace USA for a decade before becoming an HR executive at the World Health Organization. Now retired, he spends his time volunteering and traveling.

• Mary Healey, a former PETA staff member, spent 20 years managing animal shelters in Louisiana, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. She now works as an executive at a gardening business in Maryland.

Third-Party Ratings & Endorsements of PETA

PETA is recognized as one of the most transparent and accountable charities in the animal-protection movement. Charity Navigator awards PETA its highest 4-Star rating, and GuideStar/Candid gives PETA the prestigious Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Our work has also been honored with numerous industry awards—including the Telly, Addy, Cannes Lions, DoGooder, Shorty, NYX Marcom, Webby, and Lovie awards—reflecting both our creative excellence and our commitment to driving meaningful change for animals.

At PETA, honesty is our promise. We lead with accountability and transparency—keeping our mission clear and our records open—so every supporter can see the real impact of their generosity. Take a look at the history-making work we’ve done for animals—and the changes your compassion make possible.