Hard Luck Animal Welfare Advocates

What it reported doing in 2025

In 2025, Hard Luck Animal Welfare Advocates significantly expanded both the scale and impact of our program services, continuing our commitment to improving outcomes for Stocktons most vulnerable animals. Building on the foundation established in prior years, we broadened our operational reach by launching a dedicated Community Outreach Department, designed to increase visibility, strengthen community engagement, and ultimately drive higher adoption and live release rates.This expansion allowed us to deepen connections within the community through events, partnerships, and education, while also improving pathways for animals to move safely and efficiently out of the shelter system and into homes or rescue placement.A major milestone in 2025 was helping facilitate a key partnership that led to the acquisition of an additional 10,000-square-foot facility, which is being developed into the new shelters new Wellness & Community Center (WAC), set to open in Spring 2025. This center will serve as a hub for accessible veterinary care, community resources, and expanded programmingfurther strengthening the safety net for the communitys pets and their families.While construction of the shelters permanent medical facilities is still underway, our team adapted quickly to ensure continuity of care. Throughout much of 2025, our surgery team operated out of the new hospital space at the WAC, allowing us to maintain and grow our capacity for lifesaving medical interventions, including spay/neuter surgeries and critical care procedures.Supporting this growth is a robust and multidisciplinary team of more than 60 staff members, including veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, veterinary technicians, foster and rescue coordinators, community outreach staff, customer service representatives, and administrative leadership. This structure reflects a comprehensive, team-based approach to animal welfareensuring that every stage of an animals journey, from intake to medical care to placement, is supported by dedicated expertise.The impact of these combined efforts is reflected in the years outcomes. In 2025, the shelter achieved a live release rate of over 84% for dogs and approximately 74% for cats, demonstrating meaningful progress in lifesaving efforts. Additionally, rescue and transfer partnerships accounted for over 34% of all outcomes, highlighting the strength of our collaborative network.With a total of more than 8,100 animals entering the shelter system in 2025, the need for comprehensive, scalable services remained high. Through strategic growth, operational flexibility, and community-centered programming, Hard Luck continued to meet this demand while driving improved outcomes across the board.As we look ahead, the expansion of our facilities and programs positions us to further increase access to care, reduce barriers to ownership, and create a more sustainable, humane system for animals and the people who love them.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 88.5%; rating input score 89
• Program expense ratio: 89.9%; rating input score 90
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• 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: 4 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 57
  • 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: Fail
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1.5%; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.09; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 13.2%; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 58.2% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 51.6% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.1% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings