Is PETA a good charity? Yes! A good charity—like PETA—is one that fulfills its mission with diligence and integrity.

We believe that animals have an intrinsic worth of their own, quite apart from their utility to humans, and should not be treated as commodities, so our motto is “Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.”

PETA condemns the use of animals in laboratories for ethical and scientific reasons, and we have a long string of successes in ending cruel experiments, shutting down laboratories, and promoting modern, non-animal methods. We expose what happens to the billions of sensitive animals who are abused and killed by the food industry every year and give people free resources to help them switch to humane, healthy, and environmentally sound vegan eating. We persuade retailers, designers, and consumers to evolve beyond the use of materials derived from animals’ skin, fur, feathers, or hair, and we campaign vigorously to end the suffering of animals used in the entertainment industry—winning landmark victories every year. PETA’s dedicated team of fieldworkers, veterinary staff, and other animal-care experts has in Virginia, North Carolina, and elsewhere. And peta2 (our youth division) is a powerful force, galvanizing young people to reject the speciesist status quo and change the future for animals. There is no doubt that our dedicated and compassionate supporters are helping us make the world a better place.

But don’t just take our word for it! PETA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation with positive ratings for transparency from Animal Charities of America. Charity Navigator has given us a perfect four-star rating, GreatNonprofits features countless moving stories from our donors and volunteers alike, we have a platinum rating for transparency through Candid’s GuideStar, and we are certified by America’s Best Charities. When it comes to supporting animals, PETA is both efficient and effective. When you make a donation to PETA, you know your funds will make an unparalleled difference for animals.

Donations are an investment in our work to help animals, which is why we strive to use our funds in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible. In 2022 (as noted in our annual review), nearly 85% of our operating expenses went directly to our programs fighting animal exploitation.