The National Humane Education Society
The National Humane Education Society (NHES) is a private, nonprofit animal welfare organization with a central mission to foster a sentiment of kindness to animals in children and adults.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
As a society, we kill an estimated 9,000 companion animals each day in our nation due primarily to irresponsible pet ownership that can be traced, in large part, to a lack of humane education; only 12 states require that some form of humane education be taught in their public schools. At NHES, we focus on humane education for both adults and children to help achieve a reduction in suffering.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
The Humane Education & Advocacy Program
The Humane Education & Advocacy Program serves to educate children and adults about proper animal stewardship through (1) creating and providing humane education presentations and programs; (2) providing informational services to supporters and the general public; (3) networking with other humane organizations; (4) creating and distributing humane education materials, both nationally and internationally; (5) creating, maintaining, and disseminating relevant information on the NHES website, social networking sites, and e-mail newsletters; and (6) advocating for animals by encouraging a multitude of private companies, law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and lawmakers—nationally and internationally—to adopt policies and laws that encompass the humane treatment of animals.
In 1954, Alice Morgan Wright, NHES board member and benefactress, wrote of NHES, “In 1948 we incorporated, a small group of us, to carry on what we think is one of the urgent needs of our time, Humane Education.” Today, the urgent need for humane education is still with us, and the NHES Humane Education & Advocacy Program is doing its part to meet this need—to provide humane education and create a more humane world.
The Briggs Animal Adoption Center
The Briggs Animal Adoption Center (BAAC) located on the NHES Campus is a truly special place. As NHES' flagship animal care facility--BAAC is a place of healing and learning--a haven where many a neglected or abused animal has come to know their first gentle touch from a human hand. It is a place where the visiting public can come an see a reverence for animal life and learn all they care to learn about proper animal stewardship.
Spay Today
Spay Today provides reduced-cost spay/neuter services through a network of participating veterinarians for people who understand the need to have their companion animal(s) spayed/neutered but who lack the financial resources to pay the normative fees that are charged for these services.
Alliance Partnership Program
Rather than trying to do everything alone, NHES believes in the power of working with other reputable nonprofits to achieve an optimum reduction in animal suffering. To do so, NHES works cooperatively with and provides funding to select humane organizations whose work embodies the successful implementation of one of NHES' 12 Guiding Principles. Over the years, NHES has partnered with organizations in such states as Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Delaware.
Where we work
Awards
Top Rated 2021
Great Nonprofits
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Professional Humane Educators 2022
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
NHES seeks to foster a sentiment of kindness to animals by working to achieve an optimum reduction in animal suffering each year—based on available resources—and we accomplish this through our program services/goals:
1. Increasing NHES' Humane Education & Advocacy activities.
In 1954, Alice Morgan Wright, NHES board member, wrote of NHES' founding, “In 1948, we incorporated, a small group of us, to carry on what we think is one of the urgent needs of our time, Humane Education." Today, at NHES, this urgent need is still with us.
As a society, we kill an estimated 9,000 companion animals each day in our nation due primarily to irresponsible pet ownership that can be traced, in large part, to a lack of humane education; only 12 states require that some form of humane education be taught in their public schools. At NHES, we focus on humane education for both adults and children to help achieve a reduction in suffering.
2. Increasing the number of reduced-cost spay/neuter procedures provided by Spay Today.
Each year, thousands of companion animals remain unaltered and contribute to the already epidemic overpopulation and ensuing euthanasia of unwanted animals in our nation because their human companions cannot afford the normative fees charged by veterinarians to have their animals spayed or neutered. At NHES, we focus on increasing the number of spay/neuter procedures provided each year through our Spay Today program to help achieve a reduction in suffering.
3. Providing comprehensive rescue, rehabilitative and adoption services for animals that focus on quality first at NHES' flagship animal care facility, The Briggs Animal Adoption Center (BAAC).
Since its founding, NHES has consistently emphasized quality over quantity as part of the humane solution to achieving an optimum reduction in animal suffering. Simply put, BAAC believes a greater reduction in animal suffering is achieved through the comprehensive care and placement of one spayed or neutered animal with a family that will honor their lifelong commitments to him/her than is achieved by placing 10 animals with persons who are permitted to adopt an animal based solely on their ability to pay an adoption fee and who will readily sign a contract agreeing to have an animal spayed or neutered when, in reality, up to 50% fail to comply with such agreements, which only serves to perpetuate the overpopulation and continued suffering of companion animals.
4. Increasing the impact of NHES' alliance partnerships with other reputable animal welfare organizations.
NHES believes it is important to build working relationships with other reputable nonprofits to achieve an optimum reduction in suffering, and NHES has been participating in such partnership for over 20 years.
5. Increase distributions of emergency food stores and supplies to animals in need.
NHES operates a food bank and distributes food to individuals and organizations whose animals are in need of emergency relief.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
NHES' strategies for achieving Goal 1, include:
a. Increasing snail mail and e-mail contacts with more elementary school administrators and teachers in advance of the school year to give adequate time for them to consider/include NHES' free humane education presentations in their planned activities.
b. Expand awareness of NHES' Humane Education & Advocacy Program via social media venues as a means of increasing requests for humane education materials and presentations nationwide.
NHES' strategies for achieving Goal 2, include:
a. Continuing a focused effort on advertising the availability of Spay Today's reduced-cost services throughout select areas of the quad-state region (WV, MD, VA, PA).
b. Utilize social media venues to drive more people to Spay Today's website.
c. Raise more restricted funds to provide spay/neuter assistance to the more impoverished members of our society.
NHES' strategies for achieving Goal 3, include:
a. Adhering to mandatory spay/neuter of all animals before adoption—including early-age spay/neuter of puppies and kittens and standardized veterinary medical care that includes:
- Dental Cleanings
- Lyme, Erlichia, Anaplasmosis & Heartworm tests for dogs
- Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS tests for cats
- Rabies Vaccinations
- DHLPP & Bordetella Vaccinations for dogs
- FeLV & FVRCP Vaccinations for cats
- Fecal Checks & Dewormings (2 treatment minimum)
- Specialized medical care as required
b. Empowering staff to make adoption decisions that focus on matching an animal's predominant traits and characteristics with the lifestyles of applicants.
c. Conducting mandatory follow-up interviews with adoptive persons/families at intervals of 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 months and 1 year to address any behavior problems.
d. Maintaining a return-rate (animals returned to BAAC after adoption) of 5% or less.
NHES' strategies for achieving Goal 4, include:
a. At present, NHES assists 3 reputable animal welfare organizations on the East Coast whose work embodies one of NHES' 12 Guiding Principles for the creation of a more humane world. NHES will try to build on these partnerships by increasing the amount of assistance provided or, as opportunity and funding permit, increase the number of alliance partners.
NHES's strategies for achieving Goal 5, include:
a. Making a concerted effort through in-person contacts and social media communications to make animal welfare organizations within reasonable driving distances of NHES Campus know that emergency food stores are available to individuals and organizations in need.
b. Contact human food banks and Meals on Wheels programs within select areas of the tristate region (WV, MD, VA) to see if additional food assistance for animals is needed.
c.Utilize volunteers to transport and deliver needed food supplies
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 1948, NHES has faced many challenges and has withstood the test of time--thanks to dedicated supporters who share NHES' belief system that all animals have intrinsic value and who have given generously to support our programs. Beyond this, NHES' capabilities include for:
Goal 1, since 2010, NHES has achieved national approval from the Combined Federal Campaign for having provided meaningful and measurable programs services in a minimum of 16 states during each of the previous 3 year terms.
In addition, each year, NHES's 24-acre campus receives nearly 10,000 visitors and we strive to educate them about the actions that each of us can take to help reduce animal suffering and thereby create a more humane world. Beyond this, the current NHES humane education team is experienced and has successfully addressed thousands of students in more than 10 states in the U.S., and have developed a successful process for generating requests for presentations from elementary school administrators and teachers.
Goal 2, NHES took over the operation of Spay Today in 2001. In FY2019, Spay Today met a major milestone by surpassing 70,000 spay/neuter procedures performed since its creation.
As present, Spay Today partners with 24 participating veterinary hospitals and nonprofit spay/neuter facilities whose combined service areas include portions of VA, WV, MD, and PA.
For Goal 3, since BAAC became operational in October 2000, NHES has never deviated from its standard-setting adherence to “providing comprehensive rescue, rehabilitative and adoption services for animals that focus on quality first …."
Since 1950 through June 30, 2019, BAAC and its predecessor Peace Plantation have rescued, rehabilitated and placed 37,616 cats and dogs in their forever homes. While the number of annual adoptions are subject to fluctuation from year to year, the return rate has never gone above 7%, and adherence to comprehensive standards of care never changes.
For Goal 4, our Alliance Partnership program began over 20 years ago with our first partner, Operation Catnip of Gainesville, FL, which operates out of the University of Florida's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Today, Operation Catnip is our longest-tenured partner, and we have expanded our partnerships to include additional organizations such as The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles, and Friends of Felines—Hatteras Island, both located in North Carolina.
For Goal 5, NHES already operates a successful food bank program that distributes emergency animal food and supplies to individuals and organizations in need in portions of Virginia and West Virginia. For example, in FY 2019, NHES distributed over 5 tons of emergency food to individuals and animal rescue groups throughout the tristate and beyond that helped feed 1,350 cats and dogs.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For a national program with a very small budget, NHES is proud of its activities. For example, our accomplishments during FY 2019 are visible “By the Numbers":
In FY 2019, we:
Welcomed 8,591 visitors from Canada, Romania, 24 states and Washington, D.C. to the NHES campus.
Spread our humane message of treating animals with kindness and respect to 20,875 children and adults across the country.
Fed, spayed/neutered, microchipped, rescued, rehabilitated, released, placed in quality adoptive homes, or otherwise helped 8,039 cats and dogs, 57 sea turtles, and—unknown numbers of ground-nesting birds and monarch butterflies
Plus:
The Education Team distributed over 6,000 humane education guides, educational brochures, and informational posters to humane societies, service agencies, veterinary offices, schools, and rescue groups in 34 states.
The Education Team visited sixty-two schools in nine different states over the course of the school year, talking to children about the importance of being kind, responsible, and safe with all of the animals around them.
Spay Today provided 3,848 reduced-cost spay/neuter procedures.
The Briggs Animal Adoption Center placed 312 cats and dogs in quality adoptive homes with compassionate people who will fulfill their lifetime commitments to these deserving animals.
The BAAC Food Bank distributed over 5 tons of emergency food to individuals and animal rescue groups throughout the tristate and beyond that helped feed 1,350 cats and dogs.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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The National Humane Education Society
Board of directorsas of 02/07/2024
James Taylor
President
Term: 2018 - 2022
James D. Taylor
Christina B. Fernandez
Cynthia L. Taylor
Margaret Janes
Anne Small
Ernest Lico
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes