SAN ANTONIO FERAL CAT COALITION
Caring For Community Cats
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
San Antonio has a very large outside cat population. The reasons include a warm climate that allows for year-round breeding, a high abandonment rate where people move away and leave their pets behind, and a cultural component that resists spay/neuter. Our organization helps the public do Trap-Neuter-Return, the most effective way to control outside cat populations. We train people on how to safely trap in a free, 65 minute training online class, then loan traps to those trained, and subsidize the cost of spay/neuter to make it affordable for the public at only $20 - which includes the sterilization, rabies shot, FVRCP vaccine and ear tip. The ear tip identifies the cat as fixed so it will not be trapped again. We also rescue young kittens and friendly strays as our resources allow. This further reduces the number of free-roaming cats on the streets.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Outreach
The core of our community outreach is the free classes we teach to the public on how to safely trap outside cats. Classes are 1.5 hours long and are held 3-4 times a month in different areas of the city. We give presentations to groups such as neighborhood HOAs, condo groups, apartment complexes, and businesses. We participate in animal welfare and adoption events as well as any public event we are invited too such as Earth Day.
Trap Loan Program
Traps are loaned with a refundable deposit to anyone who has attended our TNR Class. Up to 3 traps per person are provided on a 2-week loan. A 2-week extension can be granted. Two sizes of traps are available, along with carriers and dividers to aid in recovery. Traps are also available for purchase as many people see their efforts as ongoing.
Helpline
The SAFCC Helpline is the only helpline dedicated to outside cats in San Antonio. The Helpline volunteers respond to an average of 300 calls a month. It is a message system where every effort is made to return the calls within 24 hours. Helpline data is tracked regarding zip codes, numbers of cats and the situation. This information has been useful to track TNR progress and for grants.
Spay/Neuter Subsidy Program
In order to make TNR affordable for the public, SAFCC subsidizes the surgeries of all cats that are brought to one of 3 participating clinics by people who have attended our TNR Class. We pay $20 per spay, $15 per neuter, and additional $25 for complicated cases such as pregnancies over 45 days. This allows the clinics to charge the trappers only $20 a cat. This includes a rabies shot and ear tip which indicates the cat has been sterilized and vaccinated.
Feral Food Program
This program supplements colony caretakers who feed large numbers of outside cats with funds to offset some of the financial burden. There is an application process and to be accepted all cats must be sterilized and the feeder must show that the cost of feeding their cats is causing financial hardship.
Cat Crisis Fund
The Cat Crisis Fund support Good Samaritans and colony feeders when cats are found either ill or injured. We have a list of feral-friendly vets who give us a rescue discount. When a call comes in for a request for help, 2 of 3 Cat Crisis Committee members must approve use of Cat Crisis Funds. Sometimes it is to euthanize to stop suffering, surgery to amputate a severely broken leg, or to treat mange.
Rescue / Adoption Program
Our Adoption Program accepts cats and kittens discovered through our TNR projects, Helpline calls and calls asking for aid via the Cat Crisis Fund. It is a small program limited by scarce resources. We have two Petco adoption stores: Dezavala and Austin Highway.
Trapper Team
The SAFCC Trapper Team is composed of veteran trappers who trap outside cats for TNR when there is no one else who can trap. This program primarily serves the elderly and disabled. The trappers are paid $20 per cat which includes trapping, transporting to the clinic for spay/neuter, recovery and returning to where trapped. Any complications must be addressed where the trapper seeks appropriate medical care for the cat.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Combined Federal Campaign 2015
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Rescue / Adoption Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of cats and kittens adopted out and/or placed for adoption through our home-based foster program.
Number of phone calls/inquiries
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Helpline
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This metric is the number of helpline calls responded too in addition to the number of inquiries received via email.
Number of people trained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Community Outreach
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of people who have been trained to do TNR in our free classes offered to the public.
Number of animals spayed and neutered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Spay/Neuter Subsidy Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This is the number of spay/neuter surgeries subsidized through our TNR program and our adoption program.
Number of traps loaned.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Trap Loan Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This metric is the number of traps loaned out to our TNR class attendees to do TNR.
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?
To reduce the suffering of outside cats by reducing their numbers through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and rescue.
To develop and maintain programs that assist the public with TNR.
To manage a foster-based adoption program to take in cats and kittens from the streets.
To educate about the issues of overpopulation and advocate against cruelty.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Make Trap-Neuter-Return available for the public.
A. Assist with TNR
1) Maintain a Trapping Team for those who are not able to trap.
2) Do mass trapping projects for large colonies
3) Develop Transport Teams to help with transportation problems
B. Cost
1) Apply for grants that cover the clinic subsides which keeps the trapper's co-pay to $20
2) Use donations to help pay for those who cannot afford to fix their cats
C. Access to Spay/Neuter
1) Contract with private vets to do TNR to improve access.
2) Run a spay/neuter clinic for the Trapper Team so spay/neuter slots are more available to the public.
2. Increase rescue efforts to accept young kittens and friendly strays off the streets.
A. Increase our foster base.
B. Participate in adoption events.
C. Develop partnerships with Petco and PetSmart stores as resources allow.
3. Continue to fund and support the Cat Crisis Fund
A) Let donors know they can designate to this fund.
B) Send specific requests out for high-dollar injuries.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have a core group of dedicated volunteers that run our main programs: Community Outreach, Trap Loans, Helpline, Trapper Team and Adoptions. We have over 200 members and a constant contact email list of almost 5,000 who have signed up to get updates and news. We have trained over 10,000 residents to do TNR. We developed an online TNR training program that is free and only 65 minutes to watch. The Trap Loan Team consists of 10 people who manage 225 traps. The Helpline is composed of volunteers who respond to an average of 705 calls/month. The Trapper Team traps for those who are unable to trap. We have partnered with three spay/neuter clinics and pay them a subsidy for each cat brought in under our program. Animal Care Services (ACS) supports what we do and has provided a letter stating they "support and embrace Trap-Neuter-Return". The Mayor and city council supports what we do and is appreciative of our service to the community.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
To date we have trained over 10,000 people to do TNR. We have a bilingual TNR Class flyer and have bilingual volunteers. Our Trap Loan Program has expanded to include cages for relocation, recovery, and socialization. Our Helpline Program has divided days into two shifts, an AM and PM shift so as to not overwhelm volunteers with the increased call volume. Our goal is to have two shifts for all Helpline days. Our Rescue/ Adoption Program has expanded to meet the constant need to pull kittens from backyard litters for foster. There is a growing need for our Feral Food Program so additional funds will be needed to support this program if it is to expanded. The Cat Crisis Fund especially touches the hearts of our donors but can be very costly. We contracted with a private vet when COVID closed clinics ini 2020 and run our own spay/neuter clinic.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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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
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SAN ANTONIO FERAL CAT COALITION
Board of directorsas of 09/11/2023
Mrs. Sherry Derdak
No Affiliation
Term: 2022 - 2022
Sherry Derdak
No Affiliation
Megan Carr
Traveler's Insurance
Monica Caballero
Attorney at Law
Marte Kellogg
No Affilitation
Sara Reyes
No Affilitation
Kathy Jurgajtis
No Affiliation
Rebecca Harriman
No Affiliation
Melissa Christman
No Affiliation
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 ? Not applicable -
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? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/12/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.