Non-profit status and transparency
Transparency is more than just lip service for us: we are a founding member of the German donations council (Deutscher Spendenrat) and, as such, are committed to the transparent use of funds and adherence to ethical standards in fund-raising. As one of the first member organisations, we were awarded the council’s newly introduced donation certificate on 30 May 2017. We fully share the council’s goal of strengthening trust and transparency in the field of charitable donations. This was why we applied voluntarily for the first audit cycle. On 12 May 2020 we were awarded the donation certificate again.
We also support the German Initiative for a Transparent Civil Society and are thus committed to making ten precisely identified relevant pieces of information about our organisation easily accessible to the general public in a particular format. So far, there are no uniform disclosure requirements for non-profit organisations in Germany.
The ten pieces of information mentioned above can be found at the bottom of this page.
Donation certificate
The donation certificate awarded by the German donations council is the only test procedure in Germany the quality control of which is carried out by auditors. It is valid for three years and proves that we handle the funds entrusted to us responsibly and transparently in line with the specified objectives and rules. Here you will find our self-commitment declaration (German version) and here our declaration on the principles of the donation council (German version).
Initiative for a Transparent Civil Society
1. Name, registered office, address and founding year of our organisation
The German Animal Welfare Federation (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.), the federal office of which is located in Bonn, was founded in 1881.
2. Articles of association and objective
Articles of association of the German Animal Welfare Federation (18.09.21, German version)
Information about our tasks and objectives.
3. Information about tax relief
The German Animal Welfare Federation is entered in the association register of the District Court of Bonn under register number VR 3836. Because of the exclusive and direct promotion of animal welfare (§ 52 Section 2 No. 14 AO) it is exempt from corporation tax in accordance with § 5 Section 1 No. 9 of the Corporation Tax Act and from business tax under § 3 No. 6 of the Trade Tax Act By the Bonn-Innenstadt tax office according to the last annex to the corporation tax assessment 2020 from 19 August 2021 under the tax number 205/5783/1179. The corporation and trade tax exemption does not extend to taxable commercial business areas. Membership fees and donations are tax-deductible.
4. Name and function of the important decision-makers
The Federation’s constituent bodies are the General Assembly, the Executive Committee and the Regional Council. The executive president of the German Animal Welfare Federation is Thomas Schröder.
5. Activity report
Annual report 2021 (in German)
6. Personnel structure
In the 2021 calendar year, an average of 158 full-time and part-time employees and 10 marginally employed persons worked in the premises of the German Animal Welfare Federation in defence of animal welfare interests. In addition, an average of 6 apprentices worked for the association in the 2021 calendar year.
7. Origin of funds + 8. Use of funds
Overview of revenue and expenditure for the 2021 financial year (in German). Our financial results can be found in our annual report (in German). Here you can also find an excerpt from the 2021 audit report by the certified public accountant (in German).
9. Affiliations with third parties under company law
We cooperate with various other organisations (German Version) in alliances or on individual projects, to be able to better enforce animal welfare objectives.
The foundation “Stiftung des Deutschen Tierschutzbundes” was founded in 2000.
10. Payments accounting for more than 10% of the total annual budget
No payments or individual donations from legal or natural persons accounted for more than ten per cent of total revenue in 2020.
We confirm that the bodies making binding decisions for our organisation meet on a regular basis and that meetings are minuted. Enquiries to our organisation are answered within a reasonable period of time. The annual accounts are approved by name by a decision-maker of our organisation. During inspection of our annual report, compliance with this obligation is verified by our internal audit bodies (e.g. special supervisory body), the certified accountant or auditor. Here you can also find an excerpt from the 2021 audit report by the certified public accountant (in German).