Better Business Bureau Report for
Animal House Shelter, Inc.

Better Business Bureau Report issued May 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires May 2013


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Animal House Shelter, Inc.
Address: 1628 Colonial Parkway
  Inverness, IL 60067
Phone: 8472412800
Web Address: animalhouseshelter.com
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated:
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: Find permanent homes for abused and neglected animals

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet the following 8 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Standard 1: Oversight of Operations and Staff - Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Have an approved conflict of interest policy.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors did not hold a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings in the past fiscal year.

Standard 4: Compensated Board Members - Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • The paid chief executive officer also serves as the chair of the board of directors.
  • The chair of the board is compensated either directly or indirectly.

Standard 6: Board Policy on Effectiveness - Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 7: Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness - Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because:

  • It has never completed an effectiveness assessment.

Standard 16: Annual Report - Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in the past year.

Standard 17: Web Site Disclosures - Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because the organization's website, animalhouseshelter.com, does not include all of the recommended information for those charity websites that solicit for donations. Specifically, it does not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors.
  • Total income.
  • Total program expenses.
  • Total fund raising expenses.
  • Total administrative expenses.
  • End of year net assets.

Standard 18: Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy - Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

Animal House Shelter, Inc. does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on this website, animalhouseshelter.com does not indicate:

  • What personal information is being collected and how it will be used.
In addition, the BBB of Chicago & Northern Illinois requested but did not receive complete information on the organization’s solicitation materials and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard for Charity Accountability: 15.
Animal House Shelter, Inc. meets the remaining 11 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

We provide medical and socialization services to abused and neglected animals prior to finding permanent loving homes

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, Animal House Shelter, Inc.'s program expenses were:

  
Emplyee Wages 362,396
Vet Fees 123,857
Casual Labor 92,410
Drugs and Medicine 74,677
Pet Supplies 48,378
Pet Food 35,057
FICA 28,978
Lab Fees 8,377
Disposal and Cremation 741
Pet Services 300
Total Program Expenses: $775,171
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Lesley Irwin, President
Compensation*:
$36,000

Chair of the Board: Lesley Irwin
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Full time director of the shelter

Board Size: 8

Paid Staff Size: 8

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, invitations to fund raising events, internet, cause-related marketing
Fund raising costs were 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $281,438, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

              

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on Animal House Shelter, Inc.'s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Adoptions 665,914
Donations 281,438
Refunds -1,050
Total Income $946,302


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: Less than 1%  Administrative: 18% 

Total income   $946,302
  Program expenses $775,171
  Fund raising expenses 3,117
  Administrative expenses 167,498
 
Total expenses   $945,786
Income in Excess of Expenses   516
Beginning net assets   (1,821)
Ending net assets   (1,305)
Total liabilities   47,911
Total assets   $46,606


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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

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