Foothills Humane Society Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Foothills Humane Society, a private 401c 3 non-profit no-kill animal welfare organization has been a cornerstone of our community since 1957. What sets us apart is our commitment to accepting all stray dogs and cats picked up by Animal Control Officers in Polk County and surrounding areas despite being a private organization. In a rural community where unneutered animals roam freely, our shelter experiences a constant influx of animals requiring medical care, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and basic training to find loving homes. Annually our intake is around 1200 1600 dogs and cats including those seized due to neglect and abuse. Ninety-four percent of those intakes are adopted into homes. Additionally, Foothills Human Society offers the important community service of returning lost animals to their owners. These owners are often residents but can include tourists and equestrians who visit our area with their pets and are misplaced through no fault of their own. We also address the responsibilities and benefits of spaying or neutering pets through education and awareness and by providing low-cost options. Through a generous donation, we now have on-site equipment for our own spay/neuter clinic. We intend to have the support of local veterinarians to provide this surgery pro bono to the shelter. This is an exciting prospect for the many dogs and cats who have adopters but cannot leave the facility until they are neutered. Foothills Human Society is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, a paid Executive Director, and her small staff who takes its mission seriously. All other positions are filled by volunteers requiring up to 4500 volunteer hours per month. With only 17.6 of the annual expenditures covered by Polk County, Foothills Humane Society depends upon grants, donations, and in-kind contributions to fund its mission. The Foothills Humane Society remains committed to serving the dogs and cats of Tryon, Columbus, Mill Spring, Saluda, and parts of Rutherfordton, NC that are withinPolk County - and as space allows, Landrum, Campobello, and Gowensville, SC, for this and many years to come.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 67.3%; rating input score 67
• Program expense ratio: 73.3%; rating input score 73
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.56 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 8.7%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.28; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.7% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.4% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings