The Human-animal Bond Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Ridgeway farm: the human animal bond continued to manage the cheat lake farmers market, where it supported 8-10 local farmers and served as a valuable source of locally grown produce for over 200 community members throughout the spring, summer and fall months. We continued to offer community garden plots with seven groups participating. Most grew for their families but one focused on growing and selling heritage seeds and another sold at the farmers market expanding our reach. We collaborated with the obesity medicine program at wvu hospitals by hosting a weekly healthy eating program over the summer where, as part of their clinical program, alongside physicians and nutritionist, patients learned to prepare healthy meals using locally grown vegetables and had dinners together at the farmhouse. An arts at ridgeway farm festival was hosted in the fall where 30 local artists displayed and sold their work throughout the property. The event was organized by 30 volunteers from the community and wvu and drew over 250 visitors. We have further opened the property to the community by hosting birthday and holiday parties, encouraging families to enjoy nature and the outdoor spaces. We continue to support the activities of the avian conservation center of appalachia on the ridgeway farm property where 1000s of children and their families visit the bird facilities and events annually. A proposal was successfully submitted for the usda 2025 northeast farmer grant. Results aim to provide regional farmers with sustainable, flexible solutions for drought resilience. Improvements continue on the quarry run property which has been opened for use for training to search and rescue dog training programs. Discussions were initiated with wvu hospice regarding the possibility of partnering on the development of an animal assisted hospice house on the property. An alternative site was chosen.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 41.7%; rating input score 42
• Program expense ratio: 85.6%; rating input score 86
• 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: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 29
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • 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: 51.3%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 20.47; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.24; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.3%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 20.6% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -9.4% per year; rating input score 0; 6th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7% per year; rating input score 100; 55th percentile among comparable filings