These figures come from published cost-effectiveness estimates, mostly from Animal Charity Evaluators' 2025 reviews. Here, “helped” usually means a welfare improvement, like being stunned before slaughter or living cage-free. It doesn't mean the animal was saved. What “helped” means is different for each species, so compare the rows with care.
At a glance
Our best single estimate of animals helped by $100. Longer bar, more animals. The scale is logarithmic, so each gridline is ten times the one before. Amber marks a figure with no published range. Ranges are in the details below.
These are estimates, not promises. Each one comes from a model with many assumptions. Animal Charity Evaluators says its own figures “should be interpreted with caution.”
Species aren't directly comparable. Helping a shrimp and rehoming a dog are different kinds of help, and people weigh them differently.
Average is not marginal. Most figures describe what a charity achieved per dollar in the past. Your extra dollar may do more or less.
Most donation links go through Animal Charity Evaluators to each charity. Fish Welfare Initiative's goes to its own site, since ACE doesn't list it. If you can't decide, ACE's Recommended Charity Fund splits a gift across all its recommended charities.