Animal Legal Defense Fund
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Animal Legal Defense Fund meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system."
Year, State Incorporated:
1979, CA
Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) advances its mission through legal and public education programs, which include the animal law program, criminal justice program, legislative affairs program, litigation program, and pro bono program. These initiatives work to protect animals by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
For the year ended June 30, 2025, Animal Legal Defense Fund's program expenses were:
| Legal program | $12,189,231 |
| Public education | $2,832,044 |
| Total Program Expenses | $15,021,275 |
Chief Executive
Chris Green, Executive Director
Compensation*
$321,557
Chair of the Board
Leslie Barcus
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Executive Director, VegFund
Board Size
12
Paid Staff Size
81
*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Membership appeals
ALDF incurred joint costs of $2,089,183 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $1,545,311 was allocated to program expenses and $543,872.00 was allocated to fundraising expenses.
Fundraising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $19,707,083, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Animal Legal Defense Fund's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.
Source of Funds
| Grants and contributions | $11,963,980 |
| Bequests and estates | $5,023,761 |
| In-kind contributions | $2,719,342 |
| Investment income, net | $1,736,238 |
| Attorney awards and settlements | $329,111 |
| Other income | $250,878 |
| Total Income | $22,023,310 |
Programs: 74% Fundraising: 16% Administrative: 10%
| Total Income | $22,023,310 |
| Total expenses: | $20,180,998 |
| Program expenses | $15,021,275 |
| Fundraising expenses | $3,152,890 |
| Administrative expenses | $2,006,833 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $1,842,312 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $21,230,340 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $23,072,652 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,719,425 |
| Total Assets | $24,792,077 |
Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025, ALDF received in-kind legal services valued at $2,719,342.
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
RELATED CONTENT
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance