BBB Wise Giving Report for
Born Free USA, united with Animal Protection Institute

BBB Wise Giving Report issued August 2009
BBB Wise Giving Report expires August 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: Born Free USA, united with Animal Protection Institute
Address: 1122 S Street
  Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-447-3085
800-348-7387
Web Address: www.bornfreeusa.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Formerly known as:Animal Protection Institute

Year, State Incorporated: 1968, California
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to end the unnecessary suffering of wild animals in captivity, rescue individual animals in need, protect wildlife including highly endangered species in their natural habitats, and encourage compassionate conservation globally.

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Born Free USA, united with Animal Protection Institute (Born Free/API) meets the 20Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

Born Free/API's primary areas of concern include animals used in entertainment, exotic "pets," compassionate consumerism, animals used in research and testing, wildlife, trapping, companion animals, and farmed animals. Born Free/API continually works on several major campaigns and initiatives that involve multiple components such as education, legislation, advocacy, and litigation. The organization also publishes a quarterly magazine called "Animal Issues." Located in Texas, the organization's Primate Sanctuary provides refuge to about 500 snow monkeys, vervets, and baboons. Some ($305,211 or 17%) of Born Free/API's programs are conducted in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, Born Free/API's program expenses were:

  
Animal advocacy 1,091,455
Primate sanctuary 491,730
Public education 176,887
Lobbying 28,239
Total Program Expenses: $1,788,311
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : William Travers, Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*:
 None

Highest Paid Executive: Nicole G. Paquette, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Compensation*: $70,000

Chair of the Board: Ronnie Wilkie
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Director of Operations, Ascot Limited

Board Size: 7

Paid Staff Size: 18

*2008 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. According to Born Free/API, the CEO is not compensated.
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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 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,043,597, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
Born Free/API incurred joint costs of $436,016 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $305,211 was allocated to program expenses and $130,805 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 Born Free/API's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 1,335,283
Bequests 708,314
Other 11,309
Investment income (loss) -679,089
Total Income $1,375,817


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 75%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 12% 

Total income   $1,375,817
  Program expenses $1,788,311
  Fund raising expenses 305,141
  Administrative expenses 299,256
 
Total expenses   $2,392,708
Expenses in Excess of Income   (1,016,891)
Beginning net assets   3,717,978
Ending net assets   2,701,087
Total liabilities   129,844
Total assets   $2,830,931


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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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