PAWS Chicago
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
PAWS Chicago does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
The charity does not meet this Standard because:
The organization indicated in their application that they do not have a board-approved effectiveness policy.
Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
The charity does not meet this Standard because:
The organization indicated in their application that a written report of an effectiveness assessment is not submitted to their board for approval.
Standard 15 (Misleading Appeals)
Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.
The charity does not meet this Standard because:
The organization did not provide solicitation examples for BBB review.
Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
The charity does not meet this Standard because:
The organization's annual report for 2022 was missing the financial figures required by this Standard.
PAWS Chicago meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
Everything PAWS Chicago does is guided by a common mission to transform sheltering operations to offer life, not death, to homeless animals. Our mission is:
• To build No Kill communities—starting with Chicago—that respect and value the life of every cat and dog (Give every healthy and treatable pet the chance to not only survive but thrive).
• To end the overpopulation of homeless animals through solutions, practices, and education
• To transform animal welfare by setting higher standards in the way animals are treated and developing a sustainable, solutions-based model.
Year, State Incorporated:
1997, IL
PAWS Chicago, a national leader in No Kill sheltering and medicine, operates the countrys largest homeless animal hospital, from which it provides medical care for more than 25,000 dogs and cats annually, including 15,000 low- or no-cost spay and neuter procedures. PAWS Chicago finds homes for about 5,000 dogs and cats each year. PAWS Chicago has led the 92.5 percent reduction in the number homeless pets killed in Chicago since its founding in 1997, a year during which more than 42,000 pets were euthanized in the city. PAWS Chicago has earned the highest 4-star ranking by Charity Navigator, the nations largest independent evaluator, for 19 consecutive years. For more information, visit www.pawschicago.org and follow PAWS Chicago on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, PAWS Chicago's program expenses were:
| Animal health and behavior | $6,982,261 |
| Prevention - spay/neuter and community medicine | $4,056,255 |
| Adoption | $2,230,779 |
| Community engagement | $1,110,164 |
| Community outreach | $603,133 |
| Volunteer program | $491,533 |
| Total Program Expenses | $15,474,125 |
Chief Executive
Susanna Wickham, CEO
Chair of the Board
Paula Fasseas
Board Size
25
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Other
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 PAWS Chicago's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Source of Funds
| Contributions | $14,585,268 |
| Special events - net | $4,185,169 |
| Spay/neuter clinic | $1,508,200 |
| Contributions - in kind | $1,150,076 |
| Gain on debt extinguishment | $1,116,955 |
| Adoption centers | $989,159 |
| Training center | $200,510 |
| Investment (loss) | $-15,952,152 |
| Total Income | $7,783,185 |
Programs: 84% Fundraising: 12% Administrative: 4%
| Total Income | $7,783,185 |
| Total expenses: | $18,451,405 |
| Program expenses | $15,474,125 |
| Fundraising expenses | $2,238,165 |
| Administrative expenses | $739,115 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-10,668,220 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $108,419,387 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $97,751,167 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,009,142 |
| Total Assets | $99,760,309 |
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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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Review in Progress
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Report completed by:
BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois