Nine Lives Foundation

95%

Impact & Measurement

Accountability & Finance

Culture & Community

Leadership & Adaptability

Nine Lives Foundation

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501(c)(3) organization

Donations are tax-deductible

https://ninelivesfoundation.org/

3137 JEFFERSON AVE

Redwood City CA 94062-2959

650-368-1365

Redwood City CA | IRS ruling year: 2005 | EIN: 20-2150714

An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.

Organization Mission

Nine Lives Foundation proudly provides lifelines for at-risk cats and kittens and affordable, compassionate care for our feline friends and the people who love them. ... (More)

Rating Information

Great

This charity's score is 95%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.

This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 29% Accountability & Finance, 52% Impact & Measurement, 8% Leadership & Adaptability, 11% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.

Historical Ratings

Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.

Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!

Total Revenue Amount	Expectation to Receive Credit
$2 million or higher and 40% or higher donor support	Expected to complete an audit and have an audit oversight committee
$1 million or higher	Expected to complete an audit
$500,000 - $1 million	Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation
Less than $500,000	No expectation (removed from scoring methodology)

Impact & Measurement

Score

100

This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.

Learn more

Assessments

Impact

100 out of 100 points

75% of Impact & Measurement score

Full Credit

Partial Credit

No Credit

Impact Evaluation

100 out of 100 points

Impact Statement

$490,860 total costs / 630 rescues = roughly $780 rescues one animal [2021 USD]

Program Context

Cat & Kitten Rescue and Adoptions: This program rescues animals that would have otherwise been killed or left in some other bad condition. These animals are taken in and sheltered.

Data Time Period

1/1/23 to 12/31/23

Benchmark for Scoring

Impact scores of animal shelters are based on the cost a household spends saving the life of their pet. Programs receive an Impact score of 100 if they are less than 75% that cost and a score of 80 if they are less than 125%. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 65. This program shelters an animal for less than 75% the cost a household spends saving the life of their pet.

Methodology

This impact score was determined through the Animal Shelter methodology which is fully detailed in the Charity Navigator Guide to Ratings. Analysis conducted in 2024 by Charity Navigator using data submitted by the nonprofit, theory and evidence from scientific research studies, and public datasets.

Data Source

The nonprofit submitted data on how many animals it intaked as well as how many animals received a "non-rescue" exit

Measurement

98 out of 100 points

25% of Impact & Measurement score

Full Credit

Partial Credit

No Credit

The Measuring Outcomes assessment evaluates how well a charity tracks progress towards its mission's outcomes.

Displayed below are the responses provided by the charity for the Measuring Outcomes assessment. Each question is designed to address specific criteria, with responses eligible for full, partial, or no credit. Please refer to the scoring rubric for details on how responses are scored.

Selected program: Cat & Kitten Rescue and Adoptions

Program Planning and Design

28 out of 28 points

This section assesses the use of crucial evaluation tools in program objective-setting and activities.

Charity leadership uses information collected to make decisions regarding programs

Agree, uses information collected to improve programs

Charity has shared understanding across staff of how programs lead to the goals a program achieves

Agree, has universal understanding of how programs achieve goals

Charity has documents and reviews how program activities lead to change

Agree, documents and reviews

Charity has researched program model before implementation in the following ways

Review of academic research
Consulted other nonprofits
Referred to the practices of similar nonprofits
Referred to the practices of government programs
Surveyed target population
Assessed ethical and legal compliance

Charity revisits how program activities lead to change

Agree, does revisit how program activities lead to change

Charity tracks program progress in the following ways

Tracks activities
Tracks outcomes and impacts
Tracks using timelines and milestones
Aligns plan with mission

Program Development

23 out of 25 points

This section assesses the consideration of stakeholders in program objectives and activities.

Charity identifies program target population needs in the following ways

Discussions or surveys with target population on how program activities best serve their needs
Discussions with local nonprofits on their programs
Does not identify program target population

Charity considers practical, cultural, and political needs and interests of those served by program

Agree, charity is responsive to practical, cultural, and political needs

Charity uses SMART Goals

Agree, identified Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals

Data Collection and Analysis

19 out of 19 points

This section assesses the best practices used in collecting and analyzing program data.

Charity tracks program information in the following ways

Collects data before a program is initiated
Collects data during program implementation
Collects data when a program is complete

Charity collects programmatic information on those served by the program in the following ways

Identifies the number of those served by program
Collects demographic data of those served by program
Identifies the number of those successfully served by the program
Collects information about the quality of service from the target population

Charity assesses program effectiveness at multiple points in time

Agree, collects information before and after a program is implemented

Reporting and Distribution of Results

19 out of 19 points

This section assesses reporting and disseminating program results.

Charity reports program results to key stakeholders

Reports results to stakeholders
Does not report results to stakeholders

Charity reports both favorable and unfavorable results

Yes, charity reports both favorable of unfavorable results

Use of Results

9 out of 9 points

This section assesses the use of results to guide learning.

Charity uses program results to inform future work for the following reasons

Sustain and secure funding
Inform strategic planning
Improve program operations
Understand the impact of their work
Inform how we create future programs

Equity Data (4/7)
	We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
	We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios.
	We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
	We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
	We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
	We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured
	We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.

Equity Policies & Processes (5/7)
	We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
	We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
	We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
	We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
	We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
	We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
	We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.

Nine Lives Foundation

Rating Information

Rating Report

85

Key Accountability Metrics

Tax Form Disclosures and Policies

Website Disclosures

Financial Metrics

Additional Information

100

Assessments

Impact

100 out of 100 points

Measurement

98 out of 100 points

93

Assessments

Constituent Feedback

100 out of 100 points

Equity Strategies™

89 out of 100 points

100

Strategy

40 out of 40 points

Leadership

30 out of 30 points

Adaptability

30 out of 30 points

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Rating Information

Rating Report

85

Key Accountability Metrics

Tax Form Disclosures and Policies

Website Disclosures

Financial Metrics

Additional Information

100

Assessments

Impact

100 out of 100 points

Measurement

98 out of 100 points

93

Assessments

Constituent Feedback

100 out of 100 points

Equity Strategies™

89 out of 100 points

100

Strategy

40 out of 40 points

Leadership

30 out of 30 points

Adaptability

30 out of 30 points