The Association for Animal Welfare
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is a public charity based in Surprise, Arizona. It is a professional association for people working in animal welfare and control organizations, providing members with practical knowledge, resources, seminars, and certification programs to support their professional development and advance the animal welfare profession.
The Association for Animal Welfare at a glance
In short: The Association for Animal Welfare gave $25K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Georgia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $24,800
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $24,800
- Median grant
- $24,800
- Total assets
- $3,034,035
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Georgia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Association for Animal Welfare
- Contact
Mailing address: 15508 W Bell Rd Suite 101-613, Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (888) 600-3648
Website: https://theaawa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Association for Animal Welfare funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Love for Animals ($25K).
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to a recipient in Georgia. This reflects the reported grant recipient, not a stated geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2019) to $365K (2020). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $25K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Love for Animals East Point, GA | Conference Expenses | $24,800 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,034,035 | $2,334,665 | $2,468,156 | $24,800 | 1 | $95 |
| 2024 | $3,154,806 | $2,059,266 | $2,227,138 | — | — | $212 |
| 2023 | $3,145,690 | $2,006,923 | $2,011,761 | — | — | $340 |
| 2022 | $3,402,997 | $2,099,212 | $2,242,884 | — | — | $68,514 |
| 2021 | $3,096,710 | $1,835,039 | $1,373,864 | — | — | $250,826 |
| 2020 | $2,614,612 | $1,907,684 | $1,555,461 | $365,000 | 47 | $107,715 |
| 2019 | $2,086,786 | $1,516,935 | $1,578,676 | $2,500 | Total only | $119,179 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Association’s mission is to champion, advance, and unify the animal welfare profession. Its stated work includes seminars and certification programs, along with resources and solutions intended to help members grow professionally and achieve their organizations’ goals.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Association reported one grant totaling $24,800. The grant went to The Love for Animals in East Point, Georgia, for conference expenses. The sole grant was also the smallest, largest, and median grant that year. The Association reported no grants in filing years 2024 or 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Apryl Steele, DVM, CAWA, as Chair; James Tedford, CAWA, as Ex Officio; and Rachel Finney, CAWA, Ed Jamison, Raissa Allaire, Shafonda Allen, CAWA, Roberta Westbrook, DVM, Anna Payton, Michael Robbins, and Lily Yap as board members.
The Association for Animal Welfare is led by Apryl Steele DVM CAWA, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 4 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Apryl Steele DVM CAWA
Chair
Board Member → Chair Elect, 2023
Chair Elect → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Sheppard
Senior Director of Profess
Senior Director of Professional Development → Senior Director of Profess, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $104K (2025)
James Tedford CAWA
Executive Officio
President & CEO → Executive Officio, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$194K (2022) → $242K (2025)
Katherine Shenar
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$154K (2023) → $170K (2025)
Patricia Cunningham
Vice President of Programs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $126K (2025)
Steven Hansen DVM MBA
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Jamison
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Finney CAWA
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Payton
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raissa Allaire
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roberta Westbrook DVM
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lily Yap
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Robbins
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shafonda Allen CAWA
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Schettino
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Krukenberg
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Javier
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Matthew Pepper (2019–2024) — Chair
- Former: Andrew Platou (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Martha Boden PMP CAWA (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Kathleen Olsen CAWA (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Brad Shear CAWA (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Shelly Moore CAWA (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Shafonda Allen (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tracy Elliott (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Carmine DiCenso (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Anne Reed JD (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Corey Price CAWA (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Brad Shear (2019–2021) — Chairman
- Former: Corey Price (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: James Tedford (2019–2021) — President & CEO
- Former: Shelly A. Moore (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Apryl Steele DVM (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Martha Boden (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rachel Finney (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kathryn Mahoney CPA (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Lisa Lafontaine (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ana Zorrilla (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Gary Weitzman (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Judy Calhoun (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Sharon Harmon (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Sharon Harvey (2019) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $242K, to James Tedford CAWA (Ex Officio). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Association for Animal Welfare
How much does The Association for Animal Welfare give each year?
The Association for Animal Welfare gave $25K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is The Association for Animal Welfare?
The Association for Animal Welfare reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does The Association for Animal Welfare fund?
The Association’s mission is to champion, advance, and unify the animal welfare profession. Its stated work includes seminars and certification programs, along with resources and solutions intended to help members grow professionally and achieve their organizations’ goals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Association for Animal Welfare?
The Association for Animal Welfare has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check theaawa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does The Association for Animal Welfare make grants?
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to a recipient in Georgia. This reflects the reported grant recipient, not a stated geographic focus.
What is The Association for Animal Welfare's EIN?
The Association for Animal Welfare's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1618666. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Association for Animal Welfare's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Association for Animal Welfare down — hundreds of funders to go?