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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: December 2024 Expires: December 2026

Best Friends Animal Society

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
4
(435) 688-2327
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, UT, 84741
https://www.bestfriends.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Best Friends Animal Society does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 4 (Compensated Board Members)
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

BFAS does not meet this Standard because:

  • 5 member out of the 12 member board of directors (42%) are directly compensated.
  • The chair of the board is compensated directly.

Best Friends Animal Society meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets."

Year, State Incorporated:
1984, UT

Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) is an animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. BFAS is part of the no-kill movement and reports that it welcomed 15,235 in 2023. The organization also reports that 11,913 found homes and 22,118 animals were spayed or neutered in 2023. The organization runs one of the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuaries and leads initiatives in animal care and community programs across the country. BFAS works collaboratively with a network of more than 4,400 animal welfare groups, shelter partners, and community members nationwide.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, Best Friends Animal Society's program expenses were:

National and regional programs: $261,954,308

Sanctuary activities including animal care: $33,602,269

Total Program Expenses: $295,556,577

Chief Executive
Julianne Castle, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$404,385

Chair of the Board
Francis Battista

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Internal Consultant and Co-Founder, Best Friends Animal Society

Board Size
12

Paid Staff Size
911

*2021 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Print advertisements, Corporate solicitation

BFAS incurred joint costs of $2,663,099 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $1,514,659 was allocated to fundraising and $1,148,440 was allocated to program expenses. 

Fundraising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $355,786,503, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Best Friends Animal Society's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Contributions $165,326,790
In-kind contributions $190,459,713
Program events $465,355
Other revenue $5,082,042
Interest and dividend income, net $-2,050,935
Realized and unrealized investment, net $-5,760,112
Total Income $353,522,853

Programs: 87% Fundraising: 8% Administrative: 4%

Total Income $353,522,853
Total expenses: $338,494,843
  Program expenses $295,556,577
  Fundraising expenses $26,314,441
  Administrative expenses $12,426,850
  Other expenses $4,197,071
Income in Excess of Expenses $15,028,010
Beginning Net Assets $121,632,021
Other Changes In Net Assets $276,559
Ending Net Assets $152,005,566
Total Liabilities $64,300,825
Total Assets $216,306,391

Note 1: According to BFAS's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023, the organization received in-kind donations of $190,459,713 in the form of advertising ($186,706,146), animal food ($1,701,408), buildings ($1,010,000), animal supplies and medical care ($487,196), rent ($300,000), professional services ($239,996), travel and events ($11,700), gift cards ($3,050), and janitorial and office supplies ($217).

Note 2: In the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" represents loss on disposal of assets, net.

Note 3: In the above financial section, "other expenses" represents Roadhouse hotel and mercantile expenses ($2,568,982) and other expenses and losses ($1,628,089).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance