Having a common name like SPCA can be a blessing. Those four letters are synonymous with helping animals in communities not just in the United States but in many countries around the world. However, while the name “Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” is shared by hundreds of organizations, it does not indicate a common source of funding, common philosophy or common operating procedures. The Richmond SPCA is an independent, local non-profit organization that was founded in 1891 by prominent members of the Richmond community. We are not a chapter of any national – or international – agency.
We frequently encounter confusion with other organizations that have similar names or perform similar services, so it was no surprise that we’ve heard some questions after a report aired yesterday on Anderson Cooper 360 regarding the operations of a charity known as SPCA International.
The report underscores the importance of thoroughly researching any organization to which you lend your support to ensure efficient use of your hard-earned money. Fortunately, you don’t need to be part of the CNN Special Investigations Unit to do thorough research about a nonprofit before you give.
Profiles of the Richmond SPCA are available from the following agencies, and we also report annual statistics on our own website along with the availability of our Form 990.
- Better Business Bureau: meets all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability
- GuideStar
- Charity Navigator
- GiveRichmond, powered by GuideStar and administered by The Community Foundation
Our development team is available to answer your questions and explain how your support goes to save the lives of homeless animals across Central Virginia. We welcome you to visit our Robins-Starr Humane Center and see your donations at work in our lifesaving programs and services. Contact us at 804-643-6785 or info@richmondspca.org.
Thank you for your kind and generous support of orphaned animals in great need.
Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of communications at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
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