K9 Youth Alliance

kids helping dogs helping kids

Pasadena, CA   |  www.k9youthalliance.org

Mission

K9 Youth Alliance seeks to enrich the lives of young people while they help prepare abandoned dogs for permanent homes.

Ruling year info

2013

Co-Founder, Organizational Director, K9 Youth Alliance Board Member

Kelly Osburn

Main address

556 South Fair Oaks Avenue Suite 101-566

Pasadena, CA 91105 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

46-1604776

NTEE code info

Single Organization Support (O11)

Animal Training, Behavior (D61)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Teens at risk: Teens from low-income families and academically or behaviorally challenged backgrounds are more likely to experience long-term barriers to success such as poverty, joblessness, incarceration and addiction as adults.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Positive Youth Development & K9 Enrichment Series

The Program pairs youth from underserved communities with abandoned shelter dogs for three week programs of learning, empowerment and development. During the program, youth train their dog partner using rewards based methods as a model for acceptance and non-violence, while at the same time developing skills like clear communication and leadership. Students learn about humane education and advocate for their dog's adoption, and celebrate their achievements during a public graduation ceremony.

Population(s) Served
At-risk youth
Adolescents

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The Positive Youth Development Series seeks to improve the lives of disadvantaged teens by helping them develop personal assets like self-esteem, leadership skills and responsibility.

K9 Youth Alliance aims to enrich the lives of underserved youth while they prepare abandoned dogs for permanent homes. Its mission stems from the tenet that one best helps oneself by helping others. Specifically, K9YA empowers teens from low income and other high-risk backgrounds to develop greater self-awareness and responsibility both by volunteering to help shelter dogs and participating in activities that promote personal development and leadership skills.

K9YA’s programs are based on the tenet that youth best help themselves by volunteering to help others, in this case, abandoned dogs. Canine enrichment and training help reduce stress in shelter dogs, buffering against maladaptive behaviors that can lead to euthanasia. By providing shelter dogs with up to 30 hours of enriching activities, K9YA students improve, and in some cases even save, their dog-partners’ lives. Youth are empowered with a greater sense of responsibility and self-worth as they begin to understand just how much they have to give.

Our partners include:
Boys & Girls Club Pasadena (refers teens and provides facilities).
Hillsides Education Center (refers teens).
LA Animal Services (provides shelter dogs).
Pasadena Humane Society (provides shelter dogs and facilities).

Our staff includes:
Program Director (coordinates program)
Educational Facilitator (leads classroom activities)
Training Instructor (teaches dog training)
Canine Assistant (dog transportation & handling)
Volunteers (mentor students and assists with program)
Research (evaluates impact)

Each program serves six teens who are either from low-income communities or who’ve been identified by their educators as at risk for academic failure and behavioral problems. An additional 10 teens attend an interactive presentation by an animal professional. Programs also serve 6-12 shelter dogs.

Roughly 80% of our students live at or below the poverty level, about 92% are members of minority races and roughly 25% attend an alternative school due to special education or behavioral needs.

In 2018, our programs:
• Equipped 20 young people with skills like force-free dog training, leadership, teamwork & public speaking
• Provided 68 young people with fun, informative presentations by animal professionals
• Helped over 20 sweet dogs learn new skills and make it safely out of the shelter through rescue & adoption

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    We serve youth, ages 9-18, primarily in the South and East LA regions. K9 Youth Alliance also serves shelter dogs in LA County shelters.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    SMS text surveys, Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person),

  • 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 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,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board, Our funders,

  • 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 get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve,

Financials

K9 Youth Alliance
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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K9 Youth Alliance

Board of directors
as of 02/05/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Rita Carton

John Nunn

NNC Apartment Ventures, LLC

Jai Oni Sly

Educator, Graduate Student, Pepperdine

Ayelette Robinson

Actor, Producer, VO Artist. Founder, ActorsGuru

Avalon Economou

Economou Law Group Inc

Keith Buck

Jennifer Hirano

Laura Sardisco

Total Quality Logistics

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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 ? No
  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/5/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/10/2022

GuideStar 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

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.