Board and Staff developed Strategic Plan 2014-2019 to guide the work of the organization. The five-year plan and the organization's accomplishments have been reviewed annually. Work is underway on Strategic Plan 2020-2025 . Goal 1: Provide Sanctuary - Offer lifelong, integrated care for elephants already in Sanctuary, and welcome additional captive elephants that will benefit from lifelong care, and that meet criteria for acceptance. Goal 2: Influence through Education - Increase understanding of and support for conservation efforts to protect elephants in the wild, and promote practices to improve the wellbeing of captive elephants. Goal 3: Create and Share Best Practices - Develop models for 'whole elephant' care, and create connections within the global elephant community to help promote best practices in elephant management, treatment, and care. Goal 4: Amplify Public Awareness - Foster recognition for The Elephant Sanctuary as a thought-leader on elephant wellbeing among various publics, in order to reach and retain diverse audiences inclined to support our mission and values. Goal 5: Sustain the Mission - Build and diversify financial support in order to sustain sanctuary for captive elephants, as well as to educate the public about the complex challenges facing elephants, both in captivity and the wild. Goal 6: Develop Organizational Capacity - Cultivate the necessary people, systems and infrastructure to provide the ideal environment for elephants in need -- so that they might live out their lives to the fullest extent possible -- and through which The Sanctuary might effectively fulfill its mission.

The Elephant Sanctuary will - maintain individualized care plans for the health and wellbeing of each resident elephant, with a commitment to Protected Contact management and 24/7 veterinary care; - grow the number of participants in educational outreach programs, and increase collaborations with international partners; - expand relationships with elephant support groups and experts in the field, and publish and/or share best practices on elephant wellbeing and care; - demonstrate growth in digital-marketing success, and align all efforts to optimize opportunities for connecting with donors; - expand and diversify the donor base, and broaden support from individuals, corporations, foundations and workplace giving programs; - evaluate and upgrade facilities, fencing and equipment on an ongoing basis, and meet or exceed standards set by both regulatory and accrediting agencies.

Whole Elephant Care at The Elephant Sanctuary is provided by a Team comprised of Director of Veterinary Care, Veterinarian, Registered Veterinary Technician, Elephant Care Manager, and 18 full-time Caregivers. Caregiver staff undergo extensive training on elephant behavior, husbandry, and all of the aspects needed to properly care for elephants as a species but also learn to care for the specific and individual needs of the elephants that call The Elephant Sanctuary home. The Elephant Sanctuary also collaborates with national experts in the fields of behavior and medicine. The Sanctuary's Facilities Team includes Director of Facilities, Supervisor, and eight full-time Maintenance Staff working to maintain the physical infrastructure needed to provide elephants with shelter and care. The Elephant Discovery Center engages with learners from all across the world through a variety of online distance learning programs to connect audiences with The Elephant Sanctuary’s resident elephants and their wild relatives. The Sanctuary employs three full-time educators and more than 150 dedicated EleAmbassadors from around the country volunteer their time to share stories of The Sanctuary with their communities. The Sanctuary also employs dedicated Communications and Development teams that market and fundraise for the organization, expanding and diversifying The Sanctuary's supporter base. The Elephant Sanctuary works with professional consultants and the Center for Nonprofit Management to continually assess, evaluate and develop the people, systems and infrastructure to support the growth and mission of the organization.

The engagement of Board and staff in strategic planning is a strong indicator of the organization's health. Quarterly and annual assessments measure the success of its programs and focus on mission. Annual staff evaluations and ongoing staff trainings provide opportunity for feedback and professional development. The Elephant Sanctuary uses Testing and Treatment Plans to measure outcomes for Elephant Care and Veterinary Care. The staff will continue to collect comprehensive health data via Physical Exams (weight, mobility, skin, feet, sleep, appetite, digestion, behavior, environmental stimulated responses, etc. ), Clinical Exams (hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, bacterial culture, fecal examination, radiography, ultrasound), Preventive Medicine and Medical Administration to track indicators that measure progress towards achieving the intended results for each individual elephant's health and well-being. Following daily, weekly, monthly and annual evaluations, Treatment Plans are adjusted for a more clearly defined amount of time and/or action required to accomplish positive outcomes for every elephant.

Since 1995, The Elephant Sanctuary has provided home, herd, and individualized care to 28 elephants retired from zoos and circuses. The Sanctuary is currently home to 11 elephants, ranging in age from 34 to 71. The newest member of The Sanctuary's herd, African elephant Nosey, was seized by Lawrence County Animal Control in Moulton, AL in November 2017 after concerns for her care and well-being were raised by the public. The Sanctuary was contacted to provide emergency care and Nosey arrived in Tennessee soon after. In 2014 The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee was accredited by Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). The Elephant Sanctuary met standards for re-accreditation in 2019. As confirmed through an onsite visit by GFAS, this re-accreditation signifies The Elephant Sanctuary meets the Federation’s rigorous, peer-reviewed standards that define a true sanctuary providing humane and responsible care of animals, as well as standards around safety and security, veterinary care, and other areas of financial and organizational sustainability. Accredited status with GFAS provides a transparent, trusted means for the public, donors, and government agencies to recognize The Elephant Sanctuary as an outstanding sanctuary. In 2017 The Elephant Sanctuary was certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). To be certified, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee submitted a detailed application and underwent a thorough investigation and on-site inspection by a team of AZA officials to make certain it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation, and safety. The inspecting team observed all aspects of the institution’s operation and animal care. Final approval of accreditation/certification was granted after a formal meeting of the AZA’s accreditation commission. The Elephant Sanctuary looks forward to welcoming more elephants from North America in need of retirement. Many of The Sanctuary’s resident elephants have come to live in Hohenwald as the result of collaboration between the elephant’s owners and The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary stands ready to discuss the option of a sanctuary retirement and its benefits with owners and guardians of elephants living in captivity. Although the elephants' habitats are closed to the public, Sanctuary elephants “visit” classrooms, homes and communities virtually through the solar-powered EleCams that allow supporters to observe, without interference, their natural behaviors. With Distance Learning programs ballooning in popularity in 2019 (nearly 11,000 students reached in 39 countries), and the expanded Elephant Discovery Center in Hohenwald hosting more visitors, young people around the world are becoming advocates for wildlife. With the recent addition of a third Education Staff member, we look forward to continuing to grow our educational outreach.