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Friends of Animals

CharityWatch report issued
November 2020

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
94%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$3
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Friends of Animals
777 Post Road
Suite 205
Darien, CT 06820

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 04/30/2020

Program Percentage: 94%

The percentage of Friends of Animals's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$4,900,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $3

How many dollars Friends of Animals spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$3,500,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Friends of Animals IRS Form 990 13-6018549
Friends of Animals Audited Financial Statements 13-6018549
Entity: Friends of Animals
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-6018549
Entity: Friends of Animals
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 13-6018549

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Friends of Animals
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Friends of Animals
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Michael Harris Wildlife Law Program Director $212,277
2 Priscilla Feral President $137,359
3 Robert Orabona Director of Operations $129,990
1
Name: Michael Harris
Title: Wildlife Law Program Director
Compensation: $212,277
2
Name: Priscilla Feral
Title: President
Compensation: $137,359
3
Name: Robert Orabona
Title: Director of Operations
Compensation: $129,990

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

According to the Friends of Animals (FoA) audit of April 30, 2020 (Note 13, Donations in-kind), FoA received donated in-kind advertising in fiscal 2020 on which it placed a value of $44,598.

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Friends of Animals (FoA) audit of April 30, 2020 (Note 12, Related party):

"FoA has supported Primarily Primates, Inc. ('PPI'). PPI is a 78-acre sanctuary in Texas that houses chimpanzees, monkeys and other animals that have been used in experiments, entertainment or traded as pets, and have been subsequently cast off and are in need of permanent shelter. FoA shares common (although not majority) board members with PPI. Total financial support provided to PPI for the years ended April 30, 2020 and 2019 was $732,667 and $764,707, respectively. Included in this amount was $130,181 and $134,483 of donated administrative support during the years ended April 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. A portion of the support is from funds raised on behalf of PPI. 

"The Organization supports a wild horse project in which wild horses were rescued and are being kept and cared for on the PPI property. PPI cares for the animals and the Organization reimburses PPI for all expenses incurred relating to this project. During the years ended April 30, 2020 and 2019, the Organization reimbursed PPI for expenses of $5,490 and $7,755, respectively."

According to the Friends of Animals (FoA) tax filing for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020, FoA reports re: the existence of a family or business relationship among officers, directors, trustee, or key employees (IRS Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2):

"Priscilla Feral, President of Friends of Animals, Inc. and Bob Orabona, Operations Director of Friends of Animals, Inc. are married" (IRS Form 990, Schedule O).

FoA reports having seven voting members on its governing body at fiscal year-end 2020, with six members being independent (IRS Form 990, Part VI, Section A, lines 1a & 1b).


In addition, FoA reports re: Business Transactions Involving Interested Persons, a transaction in the amount of $95,979 involving Jane Seymour, daughter of Priscilla Feral, President. The description of the transaction is: "Compensation as Creative Director" (IRS Form 990, Schedule L, Parts IV & V).

According to the Friends of Animals audit of April 30, 2020 (Note 14, Subsequent event):

"On May 4, 2020, the Organization received a loan for $327,415 from People's United Bank, N.A. through the Small Business Association's Payroll Protection Program to cover payroll and utility costs. The loan bears interest at 1% and will be paid in 17 monthly installments of $18,426, beginning on November 29, 2020. However, per the loan agreement, the loan will be forgiven if the funds are used to cover payroll and utility costs, which the Organization fully anticipates."

According to the Friends of Animals (FoA) tax filing for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2020, FoA reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"Michael Harris received a board approved bonus based upon the court awards won. The amount is reported in his 2019 W2."


Michael Harris is reported as Wildlife Law Program Director. His reported "Bonus & incentive compensation" payment in calendar year 2019 is $51,831; his reported total compensation is $212,277 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).