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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: July 2023 Expires: July 2025

Animal Legal Defense Fund

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Accreditation seal
525 East Cotati Avenue
Cotati, CA, 94931

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

Animal Legal Defense Fund meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system."

Year, State Incorporated:
1979, CA

Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) operates litigation, criminal justice, legislative affairs, pro bono, and animal law programs. Through its litigation program, the organization files lawsuits to stop the abuse of companion animals, and animals abused in industries including factory farming and the entertainment business. ALDF also works with law enforcement and prosecutors to seek maximum penalties for animal abusers in its criminal justice program. The legislative affairs program strengthens laws that protect animals and strikes down laws that hurt animals, and the Pro Bono program expands the practice and understanding of animal law in the legal community. In addition, through its animal law program, the organization reports it fosters the field of animal law among legal professionals and in law schools across the nation.

For the year ended June 30, 2022, Animal Legal Defense Fund's program expenses were:

Legal program: $10,895,243

Public education: $3,050,707

Total Program Expenses: $13,945,950

Chief Executive
Kera Melrose, Interim CEO and Executive Director

Compensation*
$245,141

Chair of the Board
Katherine Stirling

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Journalist and editor

Board Size
7

Paid Staff Size
71

*Stephen Wells was the Executive Director during 2021 and the organziaiton's reports that Mr. Wells received $245,141 in compensation, which includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expenses accounts and other allowances. BBB WGA does not have salary information for Ms. Melrose at this time.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Telemarketing

ALDF incurred joint costs of $842,071 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $685,306.00 was allocated to fundraising expenses, and $156,765 was allocated to program expenses,

Fundraising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $16,604,245, 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 Animal Legal Defense Fund's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022.

Source of Funds
Grants and contributions $11,258,745
Bequests and estates $3,208,357
In-kind contributions $2,137,143
Program service revenue $9,055
Other income $111,019
Investment income, net $-1,785,595
Total Income $14,938,724

Programs: 78% Fundraising: 15% Administrative: 7%

Total Income $14,938,724
Total expenses: $17,807,680
  Program expenses $13,945,950
  Fundraising expenses $2,629,901
  Administrative expenses $1,231,829
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-2,868,956
Beginning Net Assets $19,719,696
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $16,850,740
Total Liabilities $1,494,427
Total Assets $18,345,167

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2022, ALDF received in-kind legal services valued at $2,137,143.

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.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance