Humane Society Silicon Valley

“The 990 was provided to the board members for their review prior to filing.”

“Annually, the board members, officers and key employees are asked to complete and sign a "Conflict of Interest Policy & Reasonable Efforts" questionnaire. There is a conflict of interest policy, whistleblower policy and Code of Ethics and Conduct policy included in the Employee Handbook. Human Resources points them out as key policies in the Employee Handbook during orientation with all new employees. In the event of a conflict, procedures for addressing the conflict of interest are specified in the Organization's policy. They include discussion among the executive team and if needed, presentation to the Board of Directors, discussion by the Board, investigation of alternatives, other due diligence, and specific rules for making a decision on a course of action.”

“When compensation is modified, usually annually, the Board of Directors conducts a study of chief executive/president and chief financial employee compensation of other similar organizations meeting the following criteria: 1. each of the organizations listed is in the animal welfare industry and of similar size and responsibility for the president and chief financial employee of the organization; 2. each of the organizations is of long standing within their communities; 3. each is in California in large metropolitan communities where the cost of living is similar to HSSV's community; and 4. all of the organizations in California that meet criterias 1,2 and 3 are included. To help assure quality and independence, the study is prepared by staff and reviewed and approved by the Treasurer and Board Chair, prior to presentation to the entire Board of Directors.”

“HSSV lists governing documents and policies on the website and provides a form for anyone to request a copy. Audit reports, annual reports, and 990's are posted directly on its website.”

“Humane society silicon valley (the organization") is a california nonprofit public benefit corporation that has operated continuously since 1929. The focus of the organization is companion animal rescue and homelessness prevention. The organization serves as a safety net for companion animals in silicon valley, sets a national example for innovation, and seeks to transform human lives through deeper connections to animals. The impact achieved reflects the quality of the organization and its people. Impact the organization is driving significant, positive change for both companion animals and the people who care for and about them. The solutions are achieving groundbreaking results. Specifically, the organization: -saves 100% of all healthy animals in the organization's care and has done so since 2006. In the year ended june 30, 2017, the organization saved 93% of all animals that came through its doors, including many needing rehabilitation or extended treatment. This compares to the national average of 70% (for 2012, as reported on http://www.maddiesfund.org/). Even more importantly, these results are being achieved while the overall community save rate continues to improve. -provides rehabilitation and medical or behavioral treatment for nearly 4,800 (in fiscal year 2017) animals each year. These animals are just like pets many people already have in their homes today but they don't yet have the loving guardians they need to overcome common challenges. Given time, space, and tailored medical and behavioral attention, these animals can lead high quality lives for years to come and provide profound enrichment to their future two legged families. Currently, approximately 68% of the animals brought in require this kind of care and treatment. -finds and helps keep loving homes for over 6,100 animals each year. This includes providing counseling and no cost pet food to keep over 170 pet animals in their homes (excluding managed colony cats), returning nearly 160 lost animals to their homes, transferring 620 animals, including wild life, to rescue groups and managed cat colonies, and facilitating adoptions for 5,200 animals. Currently, nearly 66% of these adopted animals will receive foster care or kitten nursery care prior to being matched with their new families. -the organization also provides "showcase" foster days for several animal rescue partners. By providing the use of the organization's facilities to the same rescue groups at the same time each week, these groups are able to maintain a presence where potential adopters can routinely find them. This enables hundreds more animals to ultimately find homes each year. -performs and influences nearly 9,000 spay/neuter surgeries each year. Over 3,330 of these annual surgeries are a result of the organization's efforts to secure funds for the broader community. Private funders and grant awards have allowed humane society silicon valley to deploy and administer a program to address large numbers of homeless animals coming from five specific zip codes in santa clara county. These funds enable the organization to work in partnership with a local municipal shelter to offer free spay/neuter surgeries, microchips, and vaccines to all cats, dogs, and rabbits in the targeted zip codes. -provides education for 8,300 children, from pre kindergarten through 12th grade. These education programs enable social and emotional learning through interactions with animals. This includes economically disadvantaged children and at risk youthmany with little prior exposure to animals. The organization also works with local schools to provide carefully designed programs tailored to their students' unique needs, especially those who need support in building empathy, responsible decision making and relationship skills. These outcomes demonstrate that humane society silicon valley is delivering on and advancing its mission to groundbreaking levels. Innovation humane society silicon valley is setting a nati”

“Strategic Direction Humane Society Silicon Valley's strategic direction is continued commitment to community collaboration to increase the number of lives saved. Companion animals in the local community come first. The aims are to: Achieve a save rate of 95% or greater. This includes continuing to save 100% of all healthy animals that come under the Organization's care. It also includes attaining the goal to save 100% of animals that can be healed through rehabilitation, and medical or behavioral treatment. Lead the community coalition in continuing to save 100% of healthy animals in Silicon Valley. The acceptance of the Maddie's Fund Lifesaving Award signifies the coalition's ongoing commitment to achieve this result annually and forever. The Organization also wants to inspire the coalition to reach for the same goal of saving 100% of animals that can be healed through rehabilitation and medical or behavioral treatment. CHARITY RATINGS Charity Navigator and GuideStar are key organizations that provide, on their websites, information on nonprofit organizations. The following information pertains to ratings and comparability to other nonprofits. The Organization's fundraising expenses, as a percentage of total functional expenses, and its fundraising efficiency (cost to raise $1) are higher than some other animal welfare organizations due to the additional costs necessary to fund the Comprehensive Campaign. The Organization's goal is to become a national model for saving the lives of companion animals that are capable of healing. The Comprehensive Campaign is needed to sustain and increase the Organization's mission impact through progressive and scalable programs. To achieve that goal, an investment in the Comprehensive Campaign is required. In addition, during the campaign, administrative positions spend more time fundraising and, therefore, a greater percentage of those salaries are allocated towards fundraising rather than administrative (management and general) expense. If those salaries were allocated towards administrative expense, the Organization's fundraising efficiency rating in Charity Navigator would increase positively. At the same time, the Organization's administrative expense would still maintain its excellent rating due to a very low percentage of total functional expenses spent on management and general - even when those allocated salaries are reabsorbed into the administrative category. Additionally, as part of the Organization's long term sustainability plan, the Organization carries low interest tax- exempt bond debt which was used to finance the construction, equipping and furnishing of the Animal Community Center. Tax-exempt bond financing is common for not-for-profit entities. However, under Charity Navigator's financial rating system, carrying debt is penalized, even for organizations like Humane Society Silicon Valley with a strong financial position. The Organization's current ratio was 5.6 to 1 and 4.7 to 1 at June 30, 2017 and 2016 respectively. The Organization has sufficient liquid assets to pay off the bond payable debt. However, these assets have been invested for long term growth to create an even stronger financial foundation for the future. The above factors negatively affect the financial portion of Humane Society Silicon Valley's rating on Charity Navigator, a key nonprofit charity rating organization. However, the Organization's strengths are its program efficiency ratio and its accountability and transparency ratings. The Organization's program expenses are 78% of total expenses, which is considered excellent by Charity Navigator's ratings methodology. In addition, the Organization scored maximum points on the accountability and transparency factors of the rating.”