PLATINUM2023

Little Bear Sanctuary, Inc.

A Safe Haven for Farmed Animals

aka Little Bear Sanctuary   |   Punta Gorda, FL   |  https://littlebearsanctuary.org

Mission

Little Bear Sanctuary’s mission is to provide much-needed healthy, compassionate permanent housing to abandoned, abused, and/or neglected farm animals. We are a true sanctuary; our animals are never kept in pens or cages and are allowed to roam free in their natural environment.

Ruling year info

2018

Founder & Executive Director

Christopher Vane

Board President

Bonnie Brown

Main address

2280 State Road 31

Punta Gorda, FL 33982 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

82-2180440

NTEE code info

Animal Protection and Welfare (includes Humane Societies and SPCAs) (D20)

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

At Little Bear Sanctuary, we are expanding to further developing our sanctuary and outreach opportunities to provide our resident animals with the best possible care while also creating a self-sustaining business model. Our current developmental goals include: 1) expanded electrical services, 2) an established and functioning water well, 3) septic system, 4) communal space for community outreach events, 5) community garden and 6) tiny homes.

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?

Animal Rescue

We rescue animals from abuse and neglect across the U.S. and give them a permanent home at the sanctuary where they can live out the remainder of their lives in a cruelty free environment. We educate the public on pigs as companion animals and the myth of the minipig.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of sheltered animals

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of animals spayed and neutered

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adults

Type of Metric

Context - describing the issue we work on

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

We spay and neuter every pig and castrate all male cows, sheep, and goats.

Number of animals vaccinated

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Context - describing the issue we work on

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

We currently vaccinate our sheep and goats. We expect these numbers to increase as we rescue.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

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.

Little Bear Sanctuary is focused on establishing a community garden to enhance the health and wellbeing of those surrounding us. Our designated one acre of fully usable land – 43,560 square feet – will produce 60,000lbs of food (almost 1.4lbs of organic food per square foot!). Easier access to healthy food means opportunities for our community to eat better. Additionally, not only is it a huge advantage to grow food on our property to benefit our 150+ resident animals, but this development will afford tremendous cruelty-free enrichment opportunities to spark a person’s interest in compassionate living. Part of this development will include a community area for events (i.e., classes, speakers, and farmer's markets). From producing fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables to providing healthy social occasions and educational opportunities, our community garden will harvest knowledge, friendship, wellness, and resources.

We will have tiny homes available so out-of-town guests will have a place to stay at the sanctuary. This development allows Little Bear Sanctuary to become a "destination" while also providing the sanctuary with additional income. We also will look to incorporate an office and gift shop with the goal of establishing permanent visiting hours open to the public.

Little Bear Sanctuary relies heavily on public donations and support (i.e., email campaigns, online and social media fundraisers, sponsors, and individual donors). Additionally, we take advantage of grant opportunities and welcome new fundraising avenues.

We have an active Board of Directors, wonderful supporters, and volunteers who stand behind our organization. We also have a wonderful social media presence.

We have given a safe haven to 200 farm animals. We have acquired the additional twenty acres needed to expand. Our board of directors has expanded to an amazing group of eleven animal advocates. Our monthly operating budget is being met. We have been verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS).

We currently have 1 "tiny home" Airbnb and a second is being added in two weeks. The passive income from these brings in 1/4 of our monthly budget.

Financials

Little Bear Sanctuary, Inc.
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Operations

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

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build 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.

Little Bear Sanctuary, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 08/02/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Bonnie Brown

Little Bear Sanctuary

Term: 2023 -


Board co-chair

Daniel Comiskey

Little Bear Sanctuary

Term: 2022 -

Dorothy Henderson

Liza Alrick

Maker+Stitich

Kimberly Tetrault

IBM

Daniel Comiskey

Oatly

Felicia Greenfield

Actor

Jamie Lynne

Sugar Taco

Jaime Leifheit

Bonnie Brown

New Earth Partners

Sean Russell

Soflovegans

Allison Chlebek

Oatly

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 8/2/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or other sexual orientations in the LGBTQIA+ community
Disability status
Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 08/02/2023

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 review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • 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.