Fyims Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Friends for life [ffl] is the only no kill, leed-certified shelter in houston and we have created programs that are completely unique within the animal welfare industry. We are thought leaders in the animal welfare community and have a significant and growing list of "firsts and onlys" in the field. We mentor over 40 other shelters in progressive methods of lifesaving. Houstonians (and animal advocates everywhere) are aching to end the killing of animals in shelters. The media coverage is passionate. Yet, until ffl started new and progressive programs, nothing had changed in the way houston animal shelters work since 1924. Even among no kill programs, ffl is unique in our engagement with the community, the way that we organize our leadership and governance, the emphasis we place on a professional animal behavior department, our support of targeted, data-driven trap-neuter-return programs and our commitment to the principles of nonviolent communication. From a programmatic standpoint, rather than exclusively taking animals from city or county agencies, a voluntary constraint many no kill shelters place upon themselves, ffl is a partner to the community as a whole and accepts animals who are strays, animals from owners who can no longer care for them, while also pulling the most at-risk animals from city and county kill lists.we have created effective paths that are proven to reduce the killing of animals in all houston shelters. We have created programs that are no kill and expand the definition of adoptable to find homes for the animals who would be killed in the present system. Our programs work to save seniors, nursing babies, and those who need medical care. We have redefined adoptable: we take in animals regardless of breed, age, or condition. If the animal is treatable or able to be saved, we make it happen. More than 75% of the animals we place in loving homes would not make the "adoptable" list at other area shelters. We're able to do this by maintaining a large network of foster homes that provide temporary care and critical rehabilitation for our animal clients. We fund 100% of the cost of the animals for the foster including all medical, supply, and behavioral training. The majority of the thousands of animals we have placed in homes would not have made it out of traditional shelters alive. We treat animals that need the basics (vaccinations, deworming, spay/neuter) and those that require major surgeries and specialist consultations.the robust screening process of potential homes has been refined during our two decades of operation. The adoption process includes a "sleepover" that allows a potential adopter to get to know the pet on a trial week-long stay. Offsite adoption events are conducted using our mobile adoption vehicle (mav) to make adoptable animals accessible at locations around the greater houston area.our unique "thinking outside the shelter" program works to keep animals out of any shelter in the first place. We look upstream for lasting solutions to the homeless animal problem and innovate creative solutions that prevent issues from arising in the first place. Three specific programs lead the way in this initiative: fix houston initiative, thinking outside the shelter program and free pet food and veterinary drive-thru services.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 90.2%; rating input score 90
• Program expense ratio: 76.9%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.44 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 32; 32nd 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: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 83.3%; rating input score 83; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15.4%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.34; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.9%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.4% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings