Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers

What it reported doing in 2024

Student programs: over the past seven years, heart's compassionate communities awards (cca) program has reached 45,000+ students in 70+ public schools, equipping young people to build healthier, more resilient communities for people, animals, and the environment. During this past school year, our instructors provided guidance on creating programs that help make our food systems more equitable, humane, and sustainable. We partnered with 16 schools in New York city, indianapolis, and chicago, reaching more than 10,000 students. As a newly designated New York city public schools-approved food education provider, we expanded our reach to schools where an average of 82% of students come from low-income households. Through the cca program, we provided humane, sustainable, and equitable food system curricula; ongoing staff support to guide student-led service actions; and microgrants of up to $1,000 to help bring projects to life. Schools hosted family engagement events, student-led outreach campaigns, and year-end showcases that extended the impact of projects beyond the classroom. Students explored critical topics such as culturally affirming and affordable healthy eating, food sovereignty and urban gardening, pollinator protection, industrial agriculture's impact on climate and animals, and inequities in food access. The results were powerful. Students grew thousands of servings of fresh produce using hydroponics, school gardens, and even student-built greenhouses - food that was shared at family distribution days, community meals, and school-based cooking workshops families learned alongside students at culturally affirming, plant-based cooking nights, while community events drew strong participation from parents, educators, and local officials. Beyond food production, students created wildlife habitats, pollinator gardens, and sensory-friendly outdoor spaces that will provide lasting benefits for their peers and neighborhoods.heart's new youth changemakers clubs (yccs) have been a major focus this year as we piloted programs in New York and other cities. Yccs empower young people in and outside of school to lead projects for animals, people, and the environment, supported by heart's resources, guidance, and microgrants of up to $250. In New York city, a high school ycc of english language learners raised over $600 for a local animal shelter through a multilingual fundraiser, while elementary students launched a campaign to protect wild animals and habitats. Beyond New York, Indiana youth wrote and performed a play to raise awareness about the plight of orangutans; Washington students created a campaign for shelter animals and built birdhouses and feeders for displaced wild birds; Texas students staged a "living wax museum" portraying real-life animal advocates; and chicago teens partnered with the anti-cruelty society to reduce pet returns. Across all sites, students reported strong satisfaction and showed growth in empathy and leadership, validating the model and informing plans for expansion.in addition, three retired nyc teachers we trained taught heart's multi-lesson curriculum, equipping students with knowledge and strategies to make meaningful change for animals, people, and the environment. In the spring 2025 term, they reached 300 students in queens and brooklyn classrooms.this june, in partnership with earth charter Indiana, we hosted two climate camps in indianapolis for children ages 5-12, continuing our commitment to accessible and inclusive environmental education. Over half of campers received financial support, and our beginners camp offered a fully bilingual experience for 32 young learners. Held in eagle creek park, campers engaged in hands-on learning about climate science, civic engagement, and ecosystem interdependence. Our food camp reached 50+ teens, focusing on food justice, climate education, and topics such as carbon footprint reduction and equitable food systems.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 70.1%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $1.29 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 18; 18th 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: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -416.7%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.7; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -4.2% per year; rating input score 0; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.8% per year; rating input score 0; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10.2% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings