paws4people
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
paws4people does not meet the following 6 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.
paws4people does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:
- Have a voting member of the board who is assigned the responsibility of serving as the treasurer.
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.
paws4people does not meet this Standard because:
- Two members out of the seven member board of directors (29%) are compensated both directly and indirectly as paid staff and a relative of paid staff.
- The chair of the board is compensated directly.
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.
paws4people does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
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.
paws4people does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
paws4people does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2024 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
- Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
- Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.
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.
paws4people does not meet this Standard because the 2022 annual report did not include:
- The organization’s 2022 financial information.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 3, 15
paws4people meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to educate and empower people to utilize assistance dogs to transform their lives."
Year, State Incorporated:
1999, VA
Also Known As:
paws4vets paws4prisons
paws4people reports that it trains and places Assistance Dogs primarily with children and adolescents with physical and neurological, psychiatric, or emotional disabilities, and with veterans and service members with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other service-related injuries. The organization provides certification, insurance, and support for each client-service dog team and handler-facility dog team for the duration of the teams' career. paws4people also works to increase the public's knowledge about the roles Assistance Dogs serve within society.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, paws4people's program expenses were:
Program services: $5,149,651
Total Program Expenses: $5,149,651
Chief Executive
Kyria Henry Whisenhunt, Founder and Executive Director
Compensation*
$59,632
Chair of the Board
Terry L. Henry
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Deputy Executive Director, paws4people
Board Size
7
Paid Staff Size
25
*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Note: Terry Henry, Co-Founder and Deputy Executive Director, was the highest paid employee, receiving $66,636 in compensation in 2022.
Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Special events, Foundation grants
Fundraising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,265,728, 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 paws4people's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Source of Funds
| In-kind contributions, net | $3,245,220 |
| Investment loss | $-39,105 |
| Federal grant | $684,191 |
| State grant | $99,650 |
| Fundraising | $707,513 |
| Product sales | $31,920 |
| Interest income | $1,487 |
| Miscellaneous income | $1,111 |
| Gain on disposal of fixed asset | $12,558 |
| Public support | $529,154 |
| Total Income | $5,273,699 |
Programs: 95% Fundraising: 3% Administrative: 2%
| Total Income | $5,273,699 |
| Total expenses: | $5,407,629 |
| Program expenses | $5,149,651 |
| Fundraising expenses | $136,536 |
| Administrative expenses | $121,442 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-133,930 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $13,365,754 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $13,231,824 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,186,359 |
| Total Assets | $15,418,183 |
Note: According to the organization's 2022 audited financial statements, paws4people received in-kind contributions totaling $3,245,220 in the form of canine training services ($3,020,126) and goods ($225,094).
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
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance