Let's Be Smart Inc

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
204051556
IRS 990 coverage
2021–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2020, Form 990-N 2018
Location
New York, NY, USA
Phone
6462174714
Rating
75
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Animal Protection and Welfare

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$153,031
Expenses
$154,539
Assets
$5,706
Liabilities
$1,769

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

7 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • TOMMY ARVANITIDIS (PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • TOMMY ARVANITIDIS (PRESIDENT)
  • MARY JO KEEBLE (DIRECTOR)
  • JULIE KELLEY (TREASURER)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Aims to educate about the importance of animals by raising the awareness level for their rights, well-being, and care. The organization focuses on bringing communities together to promote responsible care of animals through events and hopes to foster the practice of understanding and compassion with animals. Promoting adoption/fostering programs and activities that aim to improve the livelihood of animals and support sanctuaries and other projects, are integral part of our mission.

What it reported doing in 2024

Let's be s.m.a.r.t. Steps in to provide accessible education, practical for both children and adults, about the importance of animals, how to care for them, and the benefits humans reap from engaging with them. Our pawzitive program and publishing various education material promote the health and well-being of animals and their relation to human beings for social and health benefits. Let's be s.m.a.r.t. Also runs a shelter in greece which works to rescue cats in need and find adoptive, loving forever homes. Let's be s.m.a.r.t. Organizes a variety of events designed to bring communities together with the common goal of facilitating and encouraging the responsible care of animals. All of our events pair hands-on activities for all ages with education about animal benefits. Let's be s.m.a.r.t. Focuses on the implementation of solution-minded programs. Programs may include education about how to care for animals on a limited budget or small living quarters, and proper stray care and pet care.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 100% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Program spending has declined or grown slowly and revenue has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 68
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 88
  • Sustainability: 28
  • Growth: 20

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 77.1%; rating input score 77
  • Program expense ratio: 76.3%; rating input score 76
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th 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; 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: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -1%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.04; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.31; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -22.9% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -1.4% per year; rating input score 0; 19th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 31.3% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 77.1% of revenue deployed · 76.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 5 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $118K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 7 people listed
  • Consistency: 19 of 19 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 4 filing years from 2021 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 36/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 3/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 15/100.