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Walnut Creek CA | IRS ruling year: 1996 | EIN: 68-0240341
Organization Mission
Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) was created in 1991 by Tony and Elaine La Russa to address the needs of companion animals. ARF saves dogs and cats who ... (More)
Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) was created in 1991 by Tony and Elaine La Russa to address the needs of companion animals. ARF saves dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each others' lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home, where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to care. ARF is an organization that can not only aid abandoned and homeless animals, but also promote the concept that people's lives can be enhanced by strengthening the bonds between humans and animals. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 99%, earning it a Four-Star rating.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 80% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
| Date Published | Form 990 FYE | Overall Score | Overall Rating |
| Rating Version: 2.1 | |||
| 6/1/2020 | 2019 | 98.11 | |
| 4/1/2019 | 2018 | 100.00 | |
| 7/1/2018 | 2017 | 98.11 | |
| 7/1/2017 | 2016 | 99.90 | |
| 6/1/2016 | 2015 | 98.21 | |
| Rating Version: 2.0 | |||
| 10/1/2015 | 2014 | 96.51 | |
| 9/1/2015 | 2014 | 95.51 | |
This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 11/1/2014 | 2013 | 92.03 | |
| 12/20/2013 | 2012 | 91.07 | |
| 8/1/2013 | 2012 | 90.63 | |
| 4/1/2012 | 2011 | 90.34 | |
| 9/20/2011 | 2010 | 93.05 | |
| Rating Version: 1.0 | |||
| 5/1/2011 | 2010 | 90.90 | |
| 6/1/2010 | 2009 | 94.49 | |
| 4/1/2009 | 2008 | 91.60 | |
| 3/1/2008 | 2007 | 91.14 | |
| 3/1/2007 | 2006 | 83.92 |  |
| 2/1/2006 | 2005 | 72.96 |  |
| 3/1/2005 | 2004 | 69.89 |  |
| 6/1/2004 | 2003 | 82.40 | |
| 8/1/2003 | 2002 | 66.84 | |
| 2/5/2003 | 2001 | 66.08 | |
| 10/15/2002 | 2000 | 67.71 | |
Proceed with Caution - Reported Other Material LawsuitOn April 19, 2021, The Mercury News reported on improper conduct alleged to have taken place at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in an article titled, "Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation in turmoil after he and family resign." For more information regarding this matter, please see The Mercury News article.
On April 22, 2021, The San Francisco Chronicle published an article titled, "Why Tony La Russa is staying with Animal Rescue Foundation despite his family’s protest." For more information, please see The San Francisco Chronicle article.
| Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation has provided their response to this Advisory. |  |
For more information about our alerts methodology, see here.
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2022
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No CreditMajority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members10 out of 10 points Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see if at least 50% of board members are indentified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 9 independent members10 out of 10 points Independent Board Size - 9 independent members10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Yes20 out of 20 points Independent Audit or Financial Review - Yes20 out of 20 points
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| 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) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None20 out of 20 points Material Diversion of Assets - None20 out of 20 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditWebsite Listed on Tax Form - Listed5 out of 5 points Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points Whistleblower Policy - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed5 out of 5 points Document Retention and Destruction - Listed5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes5 out of 5 points Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes5 out of 5 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Tax Form Distributed to Board Before Filing - Listed5 out of 5 points Tax Form Distributed to Board Before Filing - Listed5 out of 5 points
Providing copies of the IRS Form 990 to the governing body prior to filing is considered a best practice, as it allows for thorough review by the individuals charged with overseeing the organization. The Form 990 asks the charity to disclose whether or not it has followed this best practice.
Loans to/from Officers - Listed5 out of 5 points Loans to/from Officers - Listed5 out of 5 points
Making loans to related parties, such as key officers, staff, or Board members, is not standard practice in the sector as it diverts the charity's funds away from its charitable mission and can lead to real and perceived conflict-of-interest problems.
The IRS requires charities to disclose on their Form 990 any loans to or from current and former officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and other "disqualified persons." Some state laws go so far as to prohibit loans to board members and officers.
Although employees and trustees are permitted to make loans to charities, this practice can also result in real and/or perceived conflict of interest problems for the charity. Furthermore, it is problematic because it indicates that the organization is not financially secure. Our analysts check to see if any loans have been made.
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed5 out of 5 points Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed5 out of 5 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditLiabilities to Assets: Ratio - 0.83%25 out of 25 points Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 0.83%25 out of 25 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 85.12%25 out of 25 points Program Expense: Ratio - 85.12%25 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Efficiency: Ratio - $0.0425 out of 25 points Fundraising Efficiency: Ratio - $0.0425 out of 25 points
The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. We calculate the charity's average expenses and average contributions over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Working Capital: Ratio - 10.12 years25 out of 25 points Working Capital: Ratio - 10.12 years25 out of 25 points
Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed IRS Form 990. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. We calculate the charity's average total expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
No Data Available
Salary data is coming soon.
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Animal Rescue Foundation) or EIN (680240341) in the 'Search Term' field.
Not Currently Scored
Animal Rescue Foundation cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditConstituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points Constituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. The methodology leveraged for Constituent Feedback is based on The Core Principles of Constituent Feedback, which describes listening and responding well to feedback. Charity Navigator participates in a consortium with other feedback experts and leading nonprofit infrastructure platforms to drive Constituent Feedback's advancement, promotion, and data collection.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
Residents of Contra Costa County who, without intervention, would be forced to surrender their pet(s) to an animal shelter due to a financial or personal crisis may be eligible for assistance through ARF Pet Safety Net. ARF Pet Safety Net assists qualifying Contra Costa County residents who want to keep their pets out of the shelter and with their families where they belong. In addition to community programs supporting under-resourced pet guardians, ARF’s Pets and Vets program supports Veterans struggling to readjust to civilian life. In tandem with ARF’s shelter animal rescue efforts, this program transforms pre-evaluated dogs into psychiatric service animals supporting Veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, anxiety, and more, with no out-of-pocket cost to Veterans.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Community meetings or town halls
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners, Other means
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
Through feedback from ARF's volunteers, we've shifted to offer more virtual options for engagement. Volunteers can now schedule their shifts themselves online and sign-up to receive weekly updates through e-newsletters.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic ARF secured an early California essential services designation allowing us to stabilize our priority efforts of rescue and adoption. This allowed us to revise cleaning and safety protocols to resume animal-care and clinic operations, and our adoptions team developed a digital, contact-less adoption method to meet the rising demand for companion animals during shelter-in-place mandates. With the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations and changing mask mandates, ARF revised protocols for staff, volunteers and adopters to allow for interactive, in-person adoption appointments. Following feedback from volunteers, ARF now offers a virtual Volunteer Orientation option for those interested in limiting their in-person interactions.
Equity Practices - Data Available79/100 points Equity Practices - Data Available79/100 points
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 79 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 4 Equity Practices.
This assessment demonstrates the importance of implementing practices that contribute positively to an organization's overall culture, both internally and with respect to community engagement. Furthermore, equity centered frameworks and similar approaches have drawn much attention from donors, experts, and sector leaders who underscore its value to the nonprofit's overall health and capacity for mission success. Currently, the Equity Strategies Checklist assessment consists of practices and policies that promote racial equity in their operations and programs (per the Equity Strategies checklist administered by Candid). As we refine our DEI assessment, Charity Navigator partners with DEI consultants and field experts to broaden and deepen this work.
| Equity Practices (0/7) | |
| The organization did not respond to this question. | |
| Equity Policies and Procedures (4/7) | |
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. | |
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditMission 10/10 points Mission 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) was created in 1991 by Tony and Elaine La Russa to address the needs of companion animals. ARF saves dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each others' lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home, where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to care. ARF is an organization that can not only aid abandoned and homeless animals, but also promote the concept that people's lives can be enhanced by strengthening the bonds between humans and animals.
Vision 10/10 points Vision 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
ARF elevates pets in our society, enhances connections, and transforms the bond between people and a
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals 20/20 points Goals 20/20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Rescue homeless dogs and cats from municipal shelters, provide life-saving medical care and rehabilitation, and help them find loving homes through ARF's adoption pathway.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: Provide spay / neuter surgeries to both shelter animal populations and provide a low-cost option to community members to prevent overpopulation and unnecessary animal surrenders to local shelters.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Leadership Development 15/15 points Leadership Development 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
ARF regularly encourages and sponsors staff and volunteer opportunities to enhance personal education and improve operational capacity through both individual development and group/team efforts. Staff teams participate in annual, national animal welfare conferences focused on shelter and veterinary clinic operations. With a focus internally on staff development, managers participated in DiSC personality assessment to enhance cross-departmental collaboration and all staff are encouraged to attend onsite workshops on topics as diverse as productive conflict management, diversity and inclusivity, and compassion fatigue identification and coping methods. ARF also recruited a volunteer specializing in organizational management who helped strategically review internal program processes for efficiencies as well as staff and customer enhancements. ARF is currently integrating new opportunities and training reviews for volunteer engagement after many COVID-influenced hiatuses.
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
In addition to multi-year programs and clinic teaching opportunities, ARF is highly engaged locally and nationally. ARF participated in the drafts of the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (2021) featuring ARF’s Pets and Vets program and training model, resulting in the Department of Veteran Affairs’ pilot program pairing Veterans with service-related mental health challenges and dogs training as psychiatric service animals. ARF regularly speaks at conferences and shares Pets and Vets Program graduates’ testimonials through multiple media channels. Locally, ARF organizes community events for free and low-cost veterinary services for pet guardians. One example is Monument Crisis Center, a social services center providing direct aid, resources, referrals and food to families, teens and senior citizens. By bringing ARF’s mobile veterinary clinic vehicle to their facility, clients can also get support for their pets’ basic veterinary wellness exams including vaccinations and microchips.
Adaptability Story 30/30 points Adaptability Story 30/30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
ARF’s clinic increased spay/neuter efforts with animal welfare community partners and began offering weekly “Wellness Wednesday” clinic appointments to Veterans’ pets free-of-charge as well as monthly mobile clinic days at the Livermore Veterans' Administration. ARF’s Resource Center inquiries continued to increase in conjunction with rising unemployment and the surging demand for low-cost veterinary services amidst an impacted nationwide labor shortage. Through the ARF Emergency Medical Fund® and Pet Safety Net program, pet guardians could receive aid and support in accessing veterinary care both at ARF and with local partners. Adoption events in the community restarted using the mobile adoption vehicle and incrementally increased onsite adoption days from 5 days per week to 7.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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