BBB Wise Giving Report for
Animal Legal Defense Fund

BBB Wise Giving Report issued December 2009
BBB Wise Giving Report expires December 2011


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Animal Legal Defense Fund
Address: 170 East Cotati Avenue
  Cotati, CA 94931
Phone: 707-795-2533
Web Address: www.aldf.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1984, California
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

ALDF meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Most ($927,194 or 90%) of ALDF's public education program expenses were carried out through educational materials and other activities conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals. ALDF's criminal justice program works with law enforcement and prosecutors to seek penalties for animal abusers. Its litigation program files lawsuits to stop the abuse of companion animals, and animals abused in industries including factory farming and the entertainment business. Furthermore, its animal law program is dedicated to advancing the field of animal law among legal professionals and in law schools. ALDF reports having about 140 student Animal Legal Defense Fund Chapters in law schools across the US and Canada and, in 2008, it created the first center for animal law.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, ALDF's program expenses were:

  
Legal programs 2,554,779
Public education 1,025,718
Total Program Expenses: $3,580,497
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Stephen Wells, Chief Executive Officer / Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $92,234

Highest Paid Executive: Joyce Tischler, Founder/General Counsel
Compensation*: $102,893

Chair of the Board: Katie M. Brophy
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Attorney

Board Size: 10

Paid Staff Size: 17

*2008 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, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, cause-related marketing, and membership appeals,
Fund raising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $5,819,858, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
ALDF incurred joint costs of $1,176,611 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $927,194 was allocated to program expenses and $249,417 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
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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 ALDF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Donations from individuals and corporations 2,605,327
Bequests 1,486,869
Grants and contributions 1,482,000
Donations from foundations 145,000
Sale of mailing list 100,662
Interest and dividends 34,823
Sublease rental income 11,675
Other 242
Urealized losses on Investments, net -1,500,887
Total Income $4,365,711


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 12%  Administrative: 5% 

Total income   $4,365,711
  Program expenses $3,580,497
  Fund raising expenses 523,838
  Administrative expenses 220,937
 
Total expenses   $4,325,272
Income in Excess of Expenses   40,439
Beginning net assets   4,327,292
Ending net assets   4,367,731
Total liabilities   871,515
Total assets   $5,239,246


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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.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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