ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC

EIN 94-2681680 · Animal-Related (D012)

What they do

THE ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDS MISSION is to PROTECT THE LIVES and ADVANCE THE INTERESTS of ANIMALS THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM. THE ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ACCOMPLISHES THIS MISSION BY FILING HIGH IMPACT LAWSUITS to PROTECT ANIMALS FROM HARM, PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE and TRAINING for ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE STAKEHOLDERS to ENSURE JUSTICE for VICTIM ANIMALS, 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.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $70.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders26 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

62.39%of revenue went to mission work70.2% of expenses · Program services

15.99%of revenue went to fundraising18.0% of expenses

$88.88spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

10.50%of revenue went to management and office costs11.8% of expenses

$1.41in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

86.3%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $338,791 for KENDRA MELROSE (CHIEF PROGRAMS OFF (THRU 7/10/24)). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$19,716,926

Mission workProgram services$12,301,93462.39% of revenue70.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,070,37810.50% of revenue11.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$3,152,89015.99% of revenue18.0% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$2,191,72411.12% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$17,525,20288.88% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 70.2% mission · 11.8% management · 18.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.88% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 71.8% mission · 9.6% management · 18.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.50% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 73.8% mission · 9.3% management · 16.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.19% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 75.0% mission · 8.2% management · 16.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.75% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 77.7% mission · 7.2% management · 15.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.58% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 79.3% mission · 9.4% management · 11.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.70% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 82.4% mission · 6.5% management · 11.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.10% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 79.9% mission · 10.5% management · 9.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.93% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$19,716,926

Expenses$17,525,202

Annual surplus $2,191,724 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$12,301,934 · 70.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,070,378 · 11.8% of expenses

Fundraising$3,152,890 · 18.0% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$19,716,926

Expenses$17,525,202

Assets$24,792,077

Income$19,716,926

Contributions$17,022,742

Mission work (program services)$12,301,934

Fundraising$3,152,890

Grants given$7,022,232

Average grant$103,268

Management and general$2,070,378

Stocks and bonds$17,212,474

Accounting fees$88,865

Investing fees$63,546

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

KENDRA MELROSECHIEF PROGRAMS OFF (THRU 7/10/24) · 40 hrs/week $338,791Base $324,728 · Other $14,063

CHRIS GREENEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $316,913Base $287,102 · Other $29,811

JOHN SEBERGENERAL COUNSEL · 40 hrs/week $232,164Base $194,426 · Other $37,738

DAVID KORSAKCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $225,081Base $209,093 · Other $15,988

ANTHONY ELISEUSONLITIGATION DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $194,900Base $160,066 · Other $34,834

ELIZABETH NACCARATOCHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $184,055Base $166,144 · Other $17,911

STEVE POLINSKIFINANCE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $182,572Base $143,402 · Other $39,170

KIMBERLY KELLYLEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS PROGRAM DIR · 40 hrs/week $180,419Base $157,299 · Other $23,120

ANDREA JOY KROBOTHCHIEF OPERATING OFF (THRU 2/7/25) · 40 hrs/week $163,749Base $147,511 · Other $16,238

THOMAS LINNEYPRO BONO DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $159,815Base $128,108 · Other $31,707

LORA DUNNDIRECTOR, CJP · 40 hrs/week $154,358Base $119,610 · Other $34,748

CAITLIN HAWKSCHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $120,264Base $105,039 · Other $15,225

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (26)

KENDRA MELROSECHIEF PROGRAMS OFF (THRU 7/10/24)

CHRIS GREENEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JOHN SEBERGENERAL COUNSEL

DAVID KORSAKCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

ANTHONY ELISEUSONLITIGATION DIRECTOR

ELIZABETH NACCARATOCHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

STEVE POLINSKIFINANCE DIRECTOR

KIMBERLY KELLYLEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS PROGRAM DIR

ANDREA JOY KROBOTHCHIEF OPERATING OFF (THRU 2/7/25)

THOMAS LINNEYPRO BONO DIRECTOR

LORA DUNNDIRECTOR, CJP

CAITLIN HAWKSCHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER

GINNY TIUSECRETARY

HEIDI M HURDDIRECTOR (THRU 12/31/24)

DAVID BRAFFDIRECTOR

JONATHON FIEGELSONTREASURER

JULIE ODONNELLVICE CHAIR

KATHERINE STIRLINGDIRECTOR

DAINA BRAYDIRECTOR

CAMERON ICARDDIRECTOR (THRU 12/1/24)

LAUREL ZAESKEDIRECTOR

LESLIE BARCUSCHAIR

LOUISE LANEDIRECTOR (STARTING 6/13/25)

MEENA ALAGAPPANDIRECTOR

TENE JOHNSONDIRECTOR

BRIAN COOLEYDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1980
Location: 2108 N ST STE 11741, SACRAMENTO, CA 95816-5712
County: Sacramento
In care of: % STEPHEN E WELLS
Primary officer: CHRIS GREEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@aldf.org Phone(707) 795-2533

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: HOOD & STRONG LLP
NTEE classification: Animal-Related (D012)
Grant-giving organization: Yes