Best Friends Animal Society

AKA Best Friends

Kanab, UT

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Also Known As:: Best Friends
Physical Address:: Kanab, UT 84741 5000
EIN:: 23-7147797
Web URL:: www.bestfriends.org
Blog URL:: blogs.bestfriends.org
Leadership:: Mr. Gregory Castle

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Forms 990	2011, 2010, and 2009 Forms 990 filed with the IRS
Mission Objectives	Mission Statement is available
Impact Summary	Impact Summary from the nonprofit is available

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Fiscal Year Starting: Jan 1, 2010
Fiscal Year Ending: Dec 31, 2010

Revenue
Total Revenue	$47,413,890

Expenses
Total Expenses	$40,698,210

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Basic Organization Information

Best Friends Animal Society

Also Known As:: Best Friends
Physical Address:: Kanab, UT 84741 5000
EIN:: 23-7147797
Web URL:: www.bestfriends.org
Blog URL:: blogs.bestfriends.org
NTEE Category:: D Animal related; D20 Animal Protection and Welfare (includes Humane Societies and SPCAs); D Animal related; D61 Animal Training, Behavior; D Animal related; D01 Alliance/Advocacy Organizations
Year Founded:: 1984
Ruling Year:: 1971
How This Organization Is Funded:: Individual donations; Planned giving; Corporate/Foundations donations

Mission Statement

Best Friends Animal Society believes kindness towards animals creates a better world for all of us. To this end, Best Friends works with shelters, rescue groups and our members nationwide on a variety of grassroots programs designed to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. 

Expert Assessment

Philanthropedia

Best Friends Animal Society has a large pet sanctuary in Utah. They have worked extremely hard in helping grass root organizations through out the United States. They offer an annual conference, bringing speakers on many topics in animal welfare to give their expert opinion. According to experts, there has not been a natural disaster in this country involving animals that Best Friends has not aided both with volunteers, and financing. Read More »

For more information about this organization's impact, read the Expert Reviews and Comments.

Impact Summary from the Nonprofit

  <p>In 2010, Best Friends:</p> <ul type="disc"><li>Has accepted over 680 special needs animals into the sanctuary and found homes for  565 of them</li><li>Performed 1580 spay/neuter procedures, 308 dentals, 347 complicated surgeries, and responded to 225 after hour emergencies.</li><li>More than 8,500 people volunteered at the sanctuary</li><li>Our No More Homeless Pets hotline specialists answered 17,000 cases involving 45,000 animals.</li><li>Rescued 4,000 (from 2007 - 2010) dogs from Los Angeles shelters and Puppy Mills across the midwest and transported them to areas in the country where there is a demand for dogs through our “Pup My Ride” program.</li><li>Saved thousands of feral cats from euthanasia through a collaborative we call the Focus on Felines supporting many large urban areas with their TNR efforts.</li><li>Best Friends continued to publish Best Friends mamgazine, the nation's leading genereal interest animal magazine.  In 2010, circulation reached 330,000. </li></ul>

Personal Reviews

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Financial Data

Revenue and Expenses

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Balance Sheet

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Key Financial SCAN Features

Financial Health Dashboard: Highlights key financial trends and ratios for a selected nonprofit organization over a period of up to five years.
Peer Comparison Dashboard: Compares the organization's financials with up to five peer nonprofits that you select.
Graphical Analysis: Provides multi-year graphs and an interpretive guide in a format ready to present to your clients.
Printable PDF Report: Provides a complete analysis of the organization for your records. The full report tells you what to look for and why it matters.
Advanced Search: Allows you to search by EIN (Employer Identification Number), organization name, city, state, revenue, expenses, and assets.

View Sample Report

More Information

Forms 990 Received from the IRS IRS Form 990 is an annual document used by approximately one-third of all public charities to report information about their finances and operations to the federal government. GuideStar uses data from Form 990 to populate its database with financial information about nonprofit organizations. Posting Form 990 images on the GuideStar Web site is an ongoing process.

Forms 990 for 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 are included in the GuideStar Premium Report. Upgrade Now Report Added To Cart

Forms 990 Provided by the Nonprofit

Financial Statements

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Annual Reports

Formation Documents A Letter of Determination is a letter from the IRS to a nonprofit organization stating that the organization has successfully applied for tax-exempt status. In this document the IRS indicates under which section of the Internal Revenue Code an organization is qualified.

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Leadership

Mr. Gregory Castle

Term:

Since Apr 2009

Profile:

<div> Gregory Castle is one of the Founders of Best Friends and the former president of the No More Homeless Pets in Utah campaign.  Gregory initiated "Utah's Week for the Animals".  Now in its 10th year, it includes educational and public awareness programs, special discount spay/neuter services, pet adoption fairs, and public service awards.  Supported by the governor, Utah's Week for the Animals has become a model for cooperative efforts in the humane community throughout the country.  </div> <div> </div> <div>Gregory has been traveling across the country to speak at conferences, and to other sanctuaries, shelters and organizations to help others in their work towards 'no more homeless pets'.</div> <div> </div> <div>Gregory grew up in England and is a graduate of Cambridge University with a master's degree in  philosophy and psychology.  His background includes extensive administrative and accounting work for non-profit human services anad church organizations.</div>

Board Chair

Board of Directors

Officers for Fiscal Year

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Program: Whole Health Veterinary Care and Activities

Budget:: $16,471,781
Category:: Animal-Related
Population Served:: General Public/Unspecified

Program Description:

The founders of Best Friends Animal Society had a vision that with proper medical care, rehabilitation services, emotional healing and behavioral training, animals deemed “unadoptable” by others could find permanent, loving families. <p>Today, that vision is a reality. As a result of our whole-health approach to veterinary medicine, animals who would have previously perished in shelters, or on the streets, are now finding their way into loving homes. </p> <p>Who are these “unadoptable” animals? The conventional perception is that they are animals who are hopelessly sick or injured, have extreme emotional and behavioral conditions such as aggression or fear biting, pose a threat to public safety, or have been traumatized and abused with little hope for recovery. Labeled more broadly by some, they may also be animals who are too old, have special medical needs, or are categorically identified as unadoptable - for example, feral cats and some of the large-breed dogs thought to be dangerously aggressive. Four to five million animals deemed unadoptable are destroyed every year in U.S. shelters. </p> <p>Best Friends rejects the traditional perceptions or categorical designations of “unadoptable” animals. Our whole-health medical approach recognizes that each animal is: 1) unique; 2) needs individualized attention; and 3) is potentially adoptable. Our doctors treat the whole animal - not just the physical body, but also his or her emotional and psychological well-being. There are six nationally certified dog trainers at the sanctuary who work with, and rehabilitate, dogs that come from some of the most traumatic situations; like natural disasters, dog fighting operations and other forms of abuse. Every animal is potentially adoptable - and Best Friends veterinary and sanctuary staff work hard to make that happen.</p> <p>OUTCOMES:</p> <p>1) Every animal that comes to the sanctuary receives comprehensive medical care and attention.</p> <p>2) Every year, more than 75 percent of these “unadoptable” animals who come to the sanctuary find permanent, loving homes. </p> <p>3) Animals that need more care and rehabilitation have a home with Best Friends, forever if necessary, until they find their families.</p>

Program Long-Term Success:

Program Short-Term Success:

Program Success Monitored by:

Program Success Examples:

Expert Reviews and Comments

This organization is a 2011 Philanthropedia top nonprofit, recommended by experts as having high impact.

These expert reviews were generated through Philanthropedia's research methodology to identify high-impact nonprofits. Learn more

Evidence of Impact

Expert Comments

Raising Awareness

They have garnered public support for their operations in Kanab, Utah, to house and adopt or provide lifetime care for animal that are not adoptable. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

They have increased awareness of puppy mills, animal overpopulation and euthanasia. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Best Friends has had an enormous impact on education of the public and animal rescue (e.g., Vick's dogs). — Other

Great Reach

Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs. Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year from 15 million in 1990. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

First, Best Friends impacts the lives of 1800 to 2000 animals every single day. They have a wonderful facility in which everything is designed with the animals in mind: They give dogs plenty of room to run and play. They give the cats a wonderful indoor/outdoor facility. Every step they take is informed by tremendous focus on what will make the animals have a good life. Second, they also work hard at adoption. Third, Best Friends is working HARD to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats in the country, via their "No More Homeless Pets" program, which involves low cost spay neuter, etc. — Researcher and Faculty

Best Friends Animal Society has a large pet sanctuary in Utah. They have worked extremely hard in helping grass root organizations through out the United States. They offer an annual conference, bringing speakers on many topics in animal welfare to give their expert opinion. There has not been an natural disaster in this country involving animals that Best Friends has not aided both with volunteers, and financing. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Visibility

Best Friends has visibility in combating dog fighting, like in the Michael Vick case. — Researcher and Faculty

Excellent Services

They have a model sanctuary when most sanctuaries are far from ideal. They also have strong grassroots advocacy efforts. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

The organization has good adoption practices. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Focus

By focusing on four reasonably specific initiatives, Best Friends has and can continue to make an impact in areas that may be diluted in other areas. An example is the "Saving America's Dog" campaign - dealing with the challenges facing pit bull type dogs is challenging given the continuing myths and apparent media bias. By highlighting this important issue, Best Friends brings it to a much wider audience. The other initiatives also relate to the core of the "No More Homeless Pets" message. Staying focused means Best Friends can have a true impact. — Researcher and Faculty

Great Programs

They have had tremendous impact on re-educating animal professionals to the realistic possibilities of "no-kill" communities. Throughout the past 10-15 years they have implemented marketing & support programs that provide assistance to communities to move away from high euthanasia and focus on possible solutions. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

They are a great organization that do a great amount of good for companion animals. Their annual conferences are excellent. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Great Ambition

Best Friends has given the public at large, donors, and animal welfare professionals hope that the US can truly reach homeostasis--zero pet population growth and no more euthanasia of unwanted pets. They were the first large-scale, successful sanctuary for companion animals. They house many more animals than they adopt. Their message is clear; society and those of us in animal welfare have a responsibility to keep healthy adoptable animals alive throughout their natural lives. — Other

They made us believe in a vision of No More Homeless Pets back when most of us thought killing animals in shelters was a necessary evil - and they've been showing the way to NMHP ever since. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Collaboration

The work they do in helping new non profits get on the right foot and pointed in the right direction. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Innovation

Best Friends has moved forward with the times. In recent years they have started branching out to shelters, legislators and the public to create awareness. They are the gold standard for a sanctuary based on their policies, programs and specific outreach. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Strong Education Programs

Personal experience with them as a member and volunteer has shown me the strength of their volunteer and educational programs. — Researcher and Faculty

Good Organization

I have visited Best Friends' sanctuary in Utah and observed the dogs rescued from Michael Vick. Nobody there gets excessive salaries and the facilities are excellent and in a lovely setting. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Helped Save Animal Lives

Best Friends opened one of the first "no-kill" animal sanctuaries. Realizing that animal sanctuaries cannot be replicated on such a scale that shelter killing of pets could be prevented, Best Friends initiated their No More Homeless Pets campaign. This campaign helped communities implement programs to save lives in their communities. Best Friends has grown rapidly since the sanctuary opened in 1984. The leadership has gone through several significant changes in the past ten years as the founders have retired from operations positions. — Other

Organizational Strengths

According to experts, Best Friends does not convolute their mission, purpose or vision. They are specific, fiscally conservative and respectful of other non-profits. They are also very skilled in marketing through social media and print media.

Expert Comments

Excellent Marketing

Their marketing campaign has been very successful over the last few years and their income has increased significantly. They have expanded their operations to help animal nationally not just at their sanctuary. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

They are very skilled in marketing through social media and print media. I believe they have built a membership base of over 300,000 in the last several years. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Best Friends' magazine "Good News" about animals - is something that is unique in the field. By staying as positive as possible it inspires people to help (or do better) rather than attempts to guilt them into donating. The marketing materials tend to have the same positive message - a very welcome change from many animal advocacy organizations. — Researcher and Faculty

Best Friends' marketing and public relations are particularly strong. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

They have good marketing, solid public relations, and great volunteers. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Best Friends has exhibited incredible marketing and PR skills and has applied them to the benefit of BFAS as well as a broad network of small rescue organizations. They are inhabiting and succeeding in a niche that AHA abandoned in the early 1990's. BFAS makes a tremendous contribution by providing direct service, cutting edge leadership, and support, networking and training for small rescue groups. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Clear Vision

A better world through kindness is a perfect tagline for what all of us in animal welfare hope to see in our lifetime. Best Friends exemplifies this by loving and caring for their 2000 animals and showing everyone what is possible. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Best Friends does not convolute their mission, purpose or vision. They are specific, fiscally conservative and respectful of other non-profits. In a nutshell, they play well with others and are quick to learn support if asked. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Focused Goals

The consistency of their message and their focused goals make Best Friends a great organization. — Researcher and Faculty

Dedicated Leadership

The leaders and staff of this organization are absolutely dedicated to making a better world for the animals. Most people could not even name one of the leaders of the organization, because the leadership is so focused on helping the animals that they simply do not have time to or interest in getting fame. Visitors to the facility can see this devotion in action. Also, their location is absolutely beautiful, making it a wonderful place for people to do volunteer vacations and get involved in the day-to-day care of the animals. — Researcher and Faculty

Grassroots Successes

Their grassroots advocacy is great at motivating donors and members to become involve in "animal politics" local and nationally. Their work on behalf of defeating BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) was great as well. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Effective Programs

They select communities (via grant applications) and assist with funding projects that help to implement programs which reduce euthanasia of shelter animals. They have an incredible network of financial resources. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Excellent Organizational Structure

They are not a "me too" organization. Much about their programs, their facilities, their location, their organizational structure, and their fundraising strategies fly in the face of conventional cookie cutter animal shelter programs. Because they are different, they have created an environment in which adopters, supporters, staff of other animal welfare organizations, and even casual visitors want to be a part of their culture and their cause. They have created a unique value proposition for their audience. — Other

Assisting Other Organizations

The have focused their resources on a few core issues which they can have a major impact on nationally. They really work well at assisting other organizations to get a positive start. The changes they have made in the last couple of years to their programs is right on target. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Strong Leadership

Best Friends benefits from strong leadership. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Strong Staff

Best Friends' staff is remarkable. I have heard speakers from the group several times in varying contexts (at a law school as a guest speaker, at a state bar conference, etc.) and they have been friendly, approachable, well-educated on the subjects on which they speak, and good advocates for their organization. I assume they have good finances as well. — Other

Best Friends has strong staff and marketing. — Researcher and Faculty

Effective Fundraising Efforts

They have a narrow niche and is effectively expanding their fundraising efforts. — Other

Areas for Improvement

According to experts, the amount of money spent for the number of animals impacted is very high. To make a greater impact, Best Friends Animal Society must pursue more partnerships in the sector.

Expert Comments

Cost Effectiveness

The amount of money spent for the number of animals impacted is very high, they could do more for more animals if they wanted to. Also, they are somewhat misleading the public as they do not accept all animals into their facility. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Greater Reach

They should be able to provide care for more animals. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Best Friends needs greater reach into more states. — Researcher and Faculty

Best Friends runs a wonderful magical sanctuary but their knowledge and influence and support for local groups on national level is suspect especially in legislative matters. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Improve Editing on Communications

Best Friends seeks to protect companion animals and injured wildlife, and their work is focused almost exclusively on those two groups. I think it's fine to focus on a certain population, as they have done. But I do not think it's ok to give space in their magazine to a guest author who advised readers, essentially, that there's no need to feel guilty about eating meat because humans are complex creatures. I cringe every time I think about that editorial and how many farmed animals may have suffered and died as a result of Best Friends giving the guest some space in their magazine. I don't mind if BFAS stays out of the debate on farmed animals, but if they're going to get into the topic, they should at least get into it on the side of the animals. The highest levels of leadership seem often to be occupied by men. Although they provide great leadership, it would be wonderful to see more women involved. — Researcher and Faculty

Leadership Stability

They should get better at researching issues before call to action to members and donors. They also need more leadership stability. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

More Business Mindset

In their current workshop conferences, they need to do more to encourage the business aspects of running an organization, and continue to bring in speakers that do not talk about things as they are or were, but more as they should be. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

More Marketing Efforts

The television program "Dogtown" did a lot to raise this organization's profile. It is a major commitment of time and resources but if something similar could be done again I believe Best Friends would benefit from the exposure. Best Friends has recently (in the past few years especially) be willing to hire real experts in their field. Best Friends should continue to do so - it can only help its reputation. — Researcher and Faculty

More Outreach

I wish they did more outreach to local shelters. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Working with other Organizations

They have an incredible network of financial resources and to some degree have a negative impact on donations going to local organizations. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

They isolate themselves from the mainstream animal welfare industry. For example, they do not participate in national expos and training given by other organizations. This gives them the reputation with some organizations as being elitist. They have a habit of referring to any organization that euthanizes healthy adoptable animals as "kill" shelters which is inflammatory and creates defensiveness from those organizations. Best Friends does euthanize animals, but they refer to themselves as a "no-kill" shelter. This moniker gives the public the impression that no animals are ever euthanized which is misleading. — Other

I find it very unfortunate that Best Friends often takes an antagonistic approach against other animal advocacy charities in the public arena. — Researcher and Faculty

Best Friends remains in general isolated from the animal welfare community at large. Their employees are not members of SAWA and I do not see them participating at the leadership level in many other collaborative animal welfare efforts. This is not true in specific as they did, for instance, participate in the Asilmar Accords. They have a unique business model and have implemented it successfully, although many of us who have spoken with the founders know this success did not come easy. I would vehemently encourage them to stop referring to animal shelters that euthanize for space as "kill" facilities. This verbiage and attitude breeds contempt, defensiveness, and divisiveness. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Narrow Geographical Focus

They can become more focused on a smaller number of geographic areas to maximize impact. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

Mostly Focused on Fundraising

Best Friends has a vast annual income but in terms of actual animals saved and impactful advocacy, it is primarily in the realm of fundraising rather than animal life saving. This agency supports the no-kill philosophy in theory, but does little -- considering their income level -- to actually save lives. — Nonprofit Senior Staff

From the Nonprofit

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