Top Animal Charities You Should Support Discover organizations making a significant impact on animal welfare. By Christina Donnelly Christina Donnelly Christina Donnelly is a small animal expert focusing on dogs and writer with over 12 years of experience in animal welfare. She has volunteered for shelters and organizations, including the ASPCA and Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 03/10/26 Credit: Paul Souders / Getty Images Key Takeaways Donating to animal-focused charities supports homeless, endangered, and at-risk animals while offering potential tax benefits.Many charities, like Best Friends Animal Society and Farm Sanctuary, focus on specific animal welfare issues and education.Non-monetary contributions, such as gently used goods or volunteering, are impactful ways to support local shelters and rescues. Want to make a global impact on animal welfare? Consider donating to animal-focused charities. You can help homeless, endangered, and at-risk animals while benefiting from a tax deduction—a true win-win! Choosing the right charity can be challenging. Questions like "How much of the proceeds go to the animals?" or "Which charity has the greatest impact?" can be daunting. That's why we've compiled a list of nine charities that support domestic animals, farm animals, endangered and at-risk species, aquatic life and more! 01 of 09 Your Local Shelter or Rescue Smiling dog. Credit: Openphoto A quick online search can help you find animal shelters and rescues nearby. These facilities primarily serve cats and dogs, but many also accept other domesticated animals like rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs. If a financial contribution isn't feasible, consider donating gently used goods or your time. Call ahead to find out what your local shelters or rescues need most, but blankets, toys, food, and cleaning products are almost always needed. 02 of 09 Best Friends Animal Society Cats at play. Credit: Pexels Founded over 30 years ago, Best Friends Animal Society is the largest no-kill shelter in the U.S., catering to companion animals like cats, dogs, and horses. Best Friends Animal Society provides shelter for homeless pets in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, and Utah, and collaborates with local shelters to educate the public about spaying/neutering, breed discrimination, and puppy mills. Their mission? To decrease animal euthanasia rates and "save them all." 03 of 09 The Humane Society Seal pup -- Alaska, Bering Sea. Credit: NOAA.gov The Humane Society is a globally recognized animal welfare organization. They offer numerous programs for domesticated animals and have initiatives against wildlife hunting, animal testing, and factory farming. The Humane Society's achievements include shutting down puppy mills, strengthening animal welfare laws, and providing care through their veterinary centers, rehabilitation centers, wildlife support units, and Animal Rescue Team. 04 of 09 Farm Sanctuary Sheep on a farm. Credit: Pixnio With locations in Watkins Glen, New York, Los Angeles, and Orland, California, Farm Sanctuary shelters and cares for animals rescued from factory farming. It is the first U.S. shelter dedicated to farm animals. Farm Sanctuary houses over 1,000 rescued farm animals and advocates for laws supporting farm animal welfare. They educate the public on issues related to factory farming and offer volunteer opportunities at each site. Continue to 5 of 9 below 05 of 09 Friends of Animals 3 monkeys. Credit: Pixabay Established in New York City in 1957, Friends of Animals initially aimed to protect cats and dogs through spay and neuter services. They've since spayed and neutered over 2.5 million pets. Since its founding, Friends of Animals has actively advocated against animal homelessness, testing, hunting, and fur trading, while also protecting wildlife and their habitats globally. 06 of 09 David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Adopt an Orphan. Credit: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust operates one of the largest sanctuaries for orphaned elephants, giraffes, and rhinos. They focus on conservation, preservation, and wildlife protection with anti-poaching and educational initiatives. Interested in "adopting" an orphaned animal? The Trust offers a digital foster program to support elephants, giraffes, or rhinos. For pledges of $50 or more, receive monthly updates and a custom watercolor of your foster animal from CEO Angela Sheldrick. 07 of 09 Oceana Credit: Pixabay Did you know that only 4% of the world's oceans remain unaffected by human activity? Overfishing, pollution, and the loss of marine life have devastated ecosystems and jeopardized the global food supply. Oceana focuses on protecting the ocean and boosting the world's food supply through science-based advocacy, education, and policy promotion aimed at ocean conservation and pollution reduction. 08 of 09 World Wildlife Fund Credit: Todorov.pedar.p/Wikimedia Commons CC by SA-4.0) With over five million supporters and a presence in more than 100 countries, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the most recognized advocacy groups globally. They focus on wildlife preservation and reducing human environmental impact. Since 1995, they have invested over $1 billion in conservation projects. Today, the WWF aims to restore 36 species, including elephants, tunas, and whales, while reducing the ecological footprint in areas like carbon emissions and unsustainable fishing. Continue to 9 of 9 below 09 of 09 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) ...like cats and dogs. Credit: CC0 Public Domain/PXHere.xom Founded in 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (otherwise known as the ASPCA) was North America's very first humane society–and they've maintained their platform of cruelty prevention ever since. In fact, the ASPCA has helped over 47,000 animals, performed over 89,000 spay and neuter procedures, and donated $12 million to other animal welfare programs. Explore more: Dogs Getting Started