Let's face it. Not everyone shares the same thoughts on animals rights and cruelty prevention. Sometimes its because of a lack of education on the issues. Although animal shelters and centers are here to help protect animals after being abused or neglected, it is important to "get involved" with the real causes of the problem. Instead of just helping the effects (the neglected animals), the causes needed prevented. This can be done by getting involved with the community and increasing awareness of issues. The ASPCA is a perfect example of how rescuing animals can be achieved through other means aside from directly helping animals.
Although the ASPCA has saved countless animals, they are also taking the steps to prevent it from ever occurring. They are "getting involved" through community outreach projects. Education workshops are available through the ASPCA for adults to learn how to raise children with the knowledge of the importance of caring responsibly for animals. Along with parent education workshops, they offer teacher workshops as well. They help give teachers the ideas for incorporating caring for animals into their classrooms. What better way to help prevent cruelty, than to go to children and help them learn at an early age the importance of animals. This program is a benefit to teachers as well because in some cases it can be used as continuing education credits. Another workshop they carry is the community education workshops. These are designed for community groups, such as: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, YMCA, etc. It offers a great chance for youth to get hands on experience with service projects. By offering these workshops, the ASPCA is taking an additional needed step in the preservation of animals.
Having additional means for the public to learn about animals will help increase awareness of the issues that effect animals. If a child grew up with little or no interaction of animals, they may not have a close connection of understanding the necessity for responsibly caring for animals. Through interacting with animals, children learn that animals have emotions and they are not always just necessarily pets, but they can benefit people in a number of ways such as being working animals (guide dogs for the blind, horses that pull carriages, and etc.). The ASPCA is a prime example of what animal rescue centers can do other than just care directly for animals. They can help solve the root of the problem by educating the community and gaining their interest on these topics.
For information on ASPCA's outreach programs, visit their website:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=edu_kids
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
ASPCA® Mission: OrangeTM
Most people who are aware of animal rights have heard of the ASPCA. They were originally founded in 1866 as the first animal welfare organization in the United States. Since then, they have reached over 1,000,000 members throughout the United States in their national organization and still strive to prevent cruelty to animals. They are always on a continuing mission to find new methods for helping animals. Their latest project, ASPCA® Mission: OrangeTM, is a targeted approach in helping various communities improve humane animal treatment.
ASPCA® Mission: OrangeTM launched in 2007. The purpose of this project is for the ASPCA to form partnerships with targeted communities throughout the year. For 2007, the following communities made it on their list:
1. Austin, Texas
2. Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi
3.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. Spokane, Washington
5. Tampa, Florida
Their goal is to help these communities "improve save rates, prevent animal cruelty and create model humane communities." With the ASPCA's experience and knowledge they will work with these communities and educate them in improved ways of handling their facilities. They have committed to helping each of these cities for three years. As these communities reach their goals of improvement, the ASPCA will move to other communities. Ultimately, they would like to help new communities within 2008. During their partnerships, the ASPCA will donate up to $200,000 to each of these communities. The success of their work will be measured by their adoption rates, which they hope to achieve a 10% rate increase by the end of the year. The long term goal is to achieve a 75% save rate among animals brought to their facilities. Information for these communities will be shared from the Richmond SPCA, whom are the model organization. The Richmond organization achieved not having to euthanize any healthy, homeless animals in 2006. They will be the model for other organizations to follow in their daily operations and unique techniques for improving adoptions. The ASPCA is branching out with this major project in order to prevent cruelty to animals.
The ASPCA continously strives to improve living for animals. With their new project, they will help other communities improve operations and save the lives of many animals through increased adoption rates and decreased euthansia rates. The ASPCA is and will remain one of the nations leaders in preventing the cruelty to animals.
For more information on their project, visit:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=missionorange_overview
ASPCA® Mission: OrangeTM launched in 2007. The purpose of this project is for the ASPCA to form partnerships with targeted communities throughout the year. For 2007, the following communities made it on their list:
1. Austin, Texas
2. Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi
3.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4. Spokane, Washington
5. Tampa, Florida
Their goal is to help these communities "improve save rates, prevent animal cruelty and create model humane communities." With the ASPCA's experience and knowledge they will work with these communities and educate them in improved ways of handling their facilities. They have committed to helping each of these cities for three years. As these communities reach their goals of improvement, the ASPCA will move to other communities. Ultimately, they would like to help new communities within 2008. During their partnerships, the ASPCA will donate up to $200,000 to each of these communities. The success of their work will be measured by their adoption rates, which they hope to achieve a 10% rate increase by the end of the year. The long term goal is to achieve a 75% save rate among animals brought to their facilities. Information for these communities will be shared from the Richmond SPCA, whom are the model organization. The Richmond organization achieved not having to euthanize any healthy, homeless animals in 2006. They will be the model for other organizations to follow in their daily operations and unique techniques for improving adoptions. The ASPCA is branching out with this major project in order to prevent cruelty to animals.
The ASPCA continously strives to improve living for animals. With their new project, they will help other communities improve operations and save the lives of many animals through increased adoption rates and decreased euthansia rates. The ASPCA is and will remain one of the nations leaders in preventing the cruelty to animals.
For more information on their project, visit:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=missionorange_overview
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Types of Animal Shelters
When deciding what type of animal shelter you will open, there are a few to choose from: municipal animal shelters,"no-kill" shelters, sanctuaries, and animal rescue organizations. They each play an important role in helping animals. However, as you will see, they are each unique in their own ways and will determine what type of shelter you would want to open based upon their functions.
Municipal animal shelters are the "animal control" agencies. These agencies are set up by cities to provide services to the community, such as maintaining pet codes and offering spaying and neutering programs, as well as other benefits. However, they believe in humanely euthanizing animals. This is because they accept all animals that come to their door, unlike "no-kill shelters". "No-kill" shelters are able to provide a "no-kill" policy by limiting the number of animals they allow. By not euthanizing, they would become quickly over populated. So, both exist for good purposes of providing animals with a place to stay. Although the municipal does euthanize, it gives an opportunity for animals to stay for a chance at adoption or the claiming of a pet and to stay off of the streets where they could otherwise be harmed. At both of these organizations, animals are trying to be adopted to people. However, a sanctuary does not provide that service. Their main focus is taking care of animals that can not possibly find a home and need place to stay for the remainder of their lives. This could be due to medical, behavorial, or other issues. Still yet, there are animal rescue organizations. They specialize in finding animals homes as opposed to sheltering them. They will foster animals for a short period if needed. Also, they usually are focused on a specific breed of an animal as opposed to all dogs, cats, etc. As you can see, each of these organizations have extremely differing roles.
Deciding on what type of animal shelter you prefer to open is dependent of your values and goals. Each of these organizations plays a vital role in helping displaced animals have a home. Obviously, if you prefer to not euthanize an animal, a municipal shelter would not be for you. However, if you do not want to turn any animals away, then it would be. Deciding your goals of helping animals will allow you to choose which of these organizations would be best for you. No matter which one is chosen, they play a vital role in the community and all have benefits of helping animals find homes.
For related information and a more thorough analysis of these topics, check out the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_shelter
Municipal animal shelters are the "animal control" agencies. These agencies are set up by cities to provide services to the community, such as maintaining pet codes and offering spaying and neutering programs, as well as other benefits. However, they believe in humanely euthanizing animals. This is because they accept all animals that come to their door, unlike "no-kill shelters". "No-kill" shelters are able to provide a "no-kill" policy by limiting the number of animals they allow. By not euthanizing, they would become quickly over populated. So, both exist for good purposes of providing animals with a place to stay. Although the municipal does euthanize, it gives an opportunity for animals to stay for a chance at adoption or the claiming of a pet and to stay off of the streets where they could otherwise be harmed. At both of these organizations, animals are trying to be adopted to people. However, a sanctuary does not provide that service. Their main focus is taking care of animals that can not possibly find a home and need place to stay for the remainder of their lives. This could be due to medical, behavorial, or other issues. Still yet, there are animal rescue organizations. They specialize in finding animals homes as opposed to sheltering them. They will foster animals for a short period if needed. Also, they usually are focused on a specific breed of an animal as opposed to all dogs, cats, etc. As you can see, each of these organizations have extremely differing roles.
Deciding on what type of animal shelter you prefer to open is dependent of your values and goals. Each of these organizations plays a vital role in helping displaced animals have a home. Obviously, if you prefer to not euthanize an animal, a municipal shelter would not be for you. However, if you do not want to turn any animals away, then it would be. Deciding your goals of helping animals will allow you to choose which of these organizations would be best for you. No matter which one is chosen, they play a vital role in the community and all have benefits of helping animals find homes.
For related information and a more thorough analysis of these topics, check out the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_shelter
Monday, September 17, 2007
ASPCA Shelter Outreach
The ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is one of many shelters that helps give a home to animals in need. Being a well established non-profit organization, they have lots of knowledge and expertise in running a non-profit. They have actually published a book,"Keys to a Great Shelter: The ASPCA National Shelter Outreach Guide to Starting and Improving a Humane Organization", in order to help people get started in opening a humane organization for animals in need. They specify 10 tips that are essential to starting a humane organization:
1. Assess your community- Find out exactly what the needs of your community are. For instance, are there already well-established organizations? If there are, opening another one may actually make things worse because there will be even less resources for donations.
2.Think Twice- Helping animals may sound like a dream come true. However, there are lots of responsibilities other than just spending time with animals.
3. Get Experience - Volunteer at a local shelter so you can see what its all really about.
4. Form a Team of Go-Getters - Make sure you form a group of people with knowledge and expertise in related fields. Not only will you need people with environmental knowledge, but people with accounting, marketing, management, and other business skills are a major benefit in running a non-profit organization.
5. Visit Other Shelters- Learning what other shelters do can give you a basis for your own shelter.
6. Decide What Type of Shelter You Want - There are several types of shelters. Do research to find out which one would be best for your community. (Specific types of shelters will be discussed in depth in later postings).
7. Come up with a Mission Statement and a Plan- As discussed in earlier postings, a non-profit organization has a mission statement that their entire planning revolves around. It is the core reason the organization exists.
8. Raise Funds - Fundraising is a key event of a non-profit. Without it, there would not be enough cash flow to fulfill the mission.
9. Toot Your Horn- When the organization opens, make sure its a very "grand"-opening. Make sure as many people as possible in the community know about it.
10.Don't Forget the Animals - Starting a shelter is not an easy task, just remember why you started it in the first place.
These are just the ten essential tips that the ASPCA has put in their book. There are several other responsibilities that an organization must follow in order to succeed. However, these are some of the most critical. For a more complete description of tips and other related materials from the ASPCA, visit their website:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_startashelter
1. Assess your community- Find out exactly what the needs of your community are. For instance, are there already well-established organizations? If there are, opening another one may actually make things worse because there will be even less resources for donations.
2.Think Twice- Helping animals may sound like a dream come true. However, there are lots of responsibilities other than just spending time with animals.
3. Get Experience - Volunteer at a local shelter so you can see what its all really about.
4. Form a Team of Go-Getters - Make sure you form a group of people with knowledge and expertise in related fields. Not only will you need people with environmental knowledge, but people with accounting, marketing, management, and other business skills are a major benefit in running a non-profit organization.
5. Visit Other Shelters- Learning what other shelters do can give you a basis for your own shelter.
6. Decide What Type of Shelter You Want - There are several types of shelters. Do research to find out which one would be best for your community. (Specific types of shelters will be discussed in depth in later postings).
7. Come up with a Mission Statement and a Plan- As discussed in earlier postings, a non-profit organization has a mission statement that their entire planning revolves around. It is the core reason the organization exists.
8. Raise Funds - Fundraising is a key event of a non-profit. Without it, there would not be enough cash flow to fulfill the mission.
9. Toot Your Horn- When the organization opens, make sure its a very "grand"-opening. Make sure as many people as possible in the community know about it.
10.Don't Forget the Animals - Starting a shelter is not an easy task, just remember why you started it in the first place.
These are just the ten essential tips that the ASPCA has put in their book. There are several other responsibilities that an organization must follow in order to succeed. However, these are some of the most critical. For a more complete description of tips and other related materials from the ASPCA, visit their website:
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_startashelter
Friday, September 14, 2007
Basic Structure of a Non-profit
There are a variety of positions held in a successful non-profit. Work must be delegated to different groups to be efficient. Not all non-profits will have the same amount of members, but it is important to note that in order to be effective, it will take a lot more than just one person. A basic run down of the structure of a typical non-profit is as follows:
1. Volunteers- These are some of the most important people to a non-profit. They help the organization carry out its daily operations and goals. Without them, it would be very difficult to achieve goals because of the cost of normal labor.
2. Clients- These people are the ones who use the services of the organization. For example, if there is a non-profit women's clinic, women seeking treatment are the clients.
3. Board- The board is made up of people that have come together to achieve the missions of the non-profit and are ultimately responsible for it. They have complete power over the organization. However, in a nonprofit board, they do not receive payment for their work and are considered volunteers.
4. Committees- These are groups of people that carry out specific functions for the board. It usually consists of one or more board members plus other members to assist them. They are generally used to assist with issues that the board can not handle or carry out on their own.
5. Staff- A group of people designed to support the committees and follow the executive director's duties.
6. Board Chair- This is a single individual responsible for coordinating activities between the various groups of the non-profit. It is primarily a leadership and persuasive role.
7. Executive Director- This person is responsible for the work of the committees and staff, and the major role is to perform the board's desires.
Obviously, there are a number of roles in a non-profit. It is important to have a structured plan for members and how each individual will help the organization achieve its goals. It helps eliminate overwhelming duties by having other members assist "higher-up" members. Having a well structured organization can mean the loss or achievement of its mission and its dire to have good organization for efficiency.
For a more detailed explanation of duties check out the following site:
http://www.managementhelp.org/org_thry/np_thry/np_intro.htm#anchor249619
1. Volunteers- These are some of the most important people to a non-profit. They help the organization carry out its daily operations and goals. Without them, it would be very difficult to achieve goals because of the cost of normal labor.
2. Clients- These people are the ones who use the services of the organization. For example, if there is a non-profit women's clinic, women seeking treatment are the clients.
3. Board- The board is made up of people that have come together to achieve the missions of the non-profit and are ultimately responsible for it. They have complete power over the organization. However, in a nonprofit board, they do not receive payment for their work and are considered volunteers.
4. Committees- These are groups of people that carry out specific functions for the board. It usually consists of one or more board members plus other members to assist them. They are generally used to assist with issues that the board can not handle or carry out on their own.
5. Staff- A group of people designed to support the committees and follow the executive director's duties.
6. Board Chair- This is a single individual responsible for coordinating activities between the various groups of the non-profit. It is primarily a leadership and persuasive role.
7. Executive Director- This person is responsible for the work of the committees and staff, and the major role is to perform the board's desires.
Obviously, there are a number of roles in a non-profit. It is important to have a structured plan for members and how each individual will help the organization achieve its goals. It helps eliminate overwhelming duties by having other members assist "higher-up" members. Having a well structured organization can mean the loss or achievement of its mission and its dire to have good organization for efficiency.
For a more detailed explanation of duties check out the following site:
http://www.managementhelp.org/org_thry/np_thry/np_intro.htm#anchor249619
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Business Incubators
With that sort of title, you might be wondering what exactly a business "incubator" is. Basically, it is a method starting businesses can use to get their businesses "going". An incubator is a firm that focuses on giving support to starting firms. This can be done in a number of ways, such as resources and management training, in order to help revitalize economies.
By using an incubator, a start-up company can receive the benefits of low cost resources. The focus of an incubator is to help a company find resources at low costs in order to maximize potential and success. For instance, an incubator can help a company find low cost rental space, give access to equipment or technologies, and simply share some costs. Incubators are an incredible help in getting a business started when a start-up company has limited resources.
Aside from help with resources, incubators assist in management training. Depending on what the main objective of the incubator is depicts what kind of skills it will most likely bestow upon a new company. Most likely though, incubators will train new companies on financial management and basic skills on getting started and being able to maintain a successful business.
Using an incubator firm is just another one of the many ways to get a business started. It isn't easy to come up with the funds and always have the "know how" on how to run things. By using the assistance of an incubator, a firm is able to obtain resources it may not normally be able to and to gain knowledge from an experienced firm.
http://www.nbia.org/resource_center/what_is/index.php
By using an incubator, a start-up company can receive the benefits of low cost resources. The focus of an incubator is to help a company find resources at low costs in order to maximize potential and success. For instance, an incubator can help a company find low cost rental space, give access to equipment or technologies, and simply share some costs. Incubators are an incredible help in getting a business started when a start-up company has limited resources.
Aside from help with resources, incubators assist in management training. Depending on what the main objective of the incubator is depicts what kind of skills it will most likely bestow upon a new company. Most likely though, incubators will train new companies on financial management and basic skills on getting started and being able to maintain a successful business.
Using an incubator firm is just another one of the many ways to get a business started. It isn't easy to come up with the funds and always have the "know how" on how to run things. By using the assistance of an incubator, a firm is able to obtain resources it may not normally be able to and to gain knowledge from an experienced firm.
http://www.nbia.org/resource_center/what_is/index.php
Friday, September 7, 2007
Fiscal Sponsorship
Having enough funds to get a non-profit started can always be a challenge. Luckily, there is something called "fiscal sponsorship" that can help one get started. A fiscal sponsor is an established non-profit organization that is filed as tax-exempt by the IRS that then provides assistance to another group that is not yet filed as tax-exempt. They may not be filed because they are awaiting approval or for other reasons like being a short term project. A fiscal sponsor gives assistance to a new organization in several ways.
One way a fiscal sponsor can help a new non-profit organization get started is by taking charge of their finances. A new organization may not have the knowledge or experience in the handling of grants or donations, so the sponsor gives them guidance with expenses and how to file them for accounting purposes.Other than financial assistance, a fiscal sponsor can help a new organization learn the skills needed to manage a non-profit. Skills and past experience can easily be taught through a positive relationship between the two, which is why it is important to have the relationship pre-planned on paper as to how the sponsor will assist the new organization. By receiving this assistance, it will give the new organization more credibility and the ability to receive donations, since most people will not donate to a cause that is not yet filed as tax-exempt status. A fiscal sponsor can basically be the "jump start" to a new non-profit organization.
Although a fiscal sponsor assists a new organization in a number of ways, it is important to note that it may come at a cost. Some fiscal relationships may not charge a service fee, but other normal costs associated with the running of the organization can be expected, such as employee costs. In other cases, some relationships may require a certain percentage be paid. In either case, the rewards of learning to properly run an organization from one that is already established are plentiful with proper planning and management.
Finding a fiscal sponsor can be a great help in getting a non-profit started if they do not have the resources to start it on their own. For more information on fiscal sponsorship and how to get one started, the following links are helpful:
http://www.ctaconline.org/fiscal.asp
http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm
http://www.compasspoint.org/search/index.php?keywords=fiscal&acctech=1&boardcafe=1&bookstore=1&events=1&content=1&funders=1&links=1&askgenie=1&gallery=1&presenters=1&pressreleases=1&classes=1
One way a fiscal sponsor can help a new non-profit organization get started is by taking charge of their finances. A new organization may not have the knowledge or experience in the handling of grants or donations, so the sponsor gives them guidance with expenses and how to file them for accounting purposes.Other than financial assistance, a fiscal sponsor can help a new organization learn the skills needed to manage a non-profit. Skills and past experience can easily be taught through a positive relationship between the two, which is why it is important to have the relationship pre-planned on paper as to how the sponsor will assist the new organization. By receiving this assistance, it will give the new organization more credibility and the ability to receive donations, since most people will not donate to a cause that is not yet filed as tax-exempt status. A fiscal sponsor can basically be the "jump start" to a new non-profit organization.
Although a fiscal sponsor assists a new organization in a number of ways, it is important to note that it may come at a cost. Some fiscal relationships may not charge a service fee, but other normal costs associated with the running of the organization can be expected, such as employee costs. In other cases, some relationships may require a certain percentage be paid. In either case, the rewards of learning to properly run an organization from one that is already established are plentiful with proper planning and management.
Finding a fiscal sponsor can be a great help in getting a non-profit started if they do not have the resources to start it on their own. For more information on fiscal sponsorship and how to get one started, the following links are helpful:
http://www.ctaconline.org/fiscal.asp
http://www.managementhelp.org/strt_org/strt_np/strt_np.htm
http://www.compasspoint.org/search/index.php?keywords=fiscal&acctech=1&boardcafe=1&bookstore=1&events=1&content=1&funders=1&links=1&askgenie=1&gallery=1&presenters=1&pressreleases=1&classes=1
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Great Cats of Indiana
There are several non-profit organizations all over the world that are trying to help the environment in some way. Great Cats of Indiana is a wonderful example of a whose primary focus is helping animals in need and shows that it doesn't matter where you live because a non-profit can be started anywhere. They help displaced and neglected animals by giving them a place to stay safely and receive the proper food and medical requirements the animals need. They house tigers, lions, cougars, bobcats, jaguars, and even though they aren't "cats", wolves and bears. Their website is a clear picture of what a non-profit organization is, from their mission statement, online store, and through their daily operations it can be seen "what it takes" to run a non-profit organization.
Like other non-profit organizations, Great Cats of Indiana has a mission statement. Their mission statement reveals their goals and objectives for forming their organization. Their primary focus is to care for displaced animals that need their help in order to live. Not only do they want to serve animals, but they want to educate people to help bring an end for the need of these animals to have to live in a sanctuary, instead of in the wild where they should be. Their mission statement exemplifies their goals of providing a future for wildlife.
Another key factor in being a non-profit organization is finding different methods of fundraising other than just simple donations. Donations are good but not always reliable. One way Great Cats has achieved this is through their online store, gift shop, and daily openings to the public. By providing alternative methods of fundraising, they are able to cover more expenses needed for the animals. Their online store sells knives and they also have a gift shop visitors can shop if they go to one of the daily opened visiting times. Allowing people to visit their animals is a great way to raise more funds for the animals, and possibly create new donors. Great Cats is doing what non-profits have to do in order to raise the appropriate funds for caring for their animals.
Running a non-profit organization is "no piece of cake". It takes a lot of hard work and committed people to effectively run one. Great Cats exemplifies this on their web page by the following statement," When they get hungry, thirsty, cold or sick they can’t fix this on their own, they need us to provide food and water, shelter and medicine when needed to assure they stay healthy. This is a responsibility we take very seriously. By taking these animals in we have agreed to give up our vacations, a night on the town, the nine to five lifestyle and any sense of a routine day to day existence. The path we have chosen is difficult at times, but we gave up these things because the animals needed us to be a part of their lives. We gave up these things because we feel they are worth it, and we feel that they deserve a chance to have a life free from the abuse, torture, pain and neglect many of them knew before coming home to our facility." They have given up many of the things people take for granted in their daily lives just to save these helpless animals. Being able to take care of them is rewarding enough for them. These are the type of people needed to run an effective non-profit organization: dedicated and hard working.
Great Cats of Indiana is a real life example of what it takes to run a non-profit organization. Everything from their mission statement, to the long hours they endure to care for what they cherish most. If you are interested in seeing them and their "cats" in action, you can catch them on Animal Planet's "Growing up Tiger". Also, feel free to check out their website and make a donation to help their cause!
http://www.greatcatsofindiana.org/index.htm
Like other non-profit organizations, Great Cats of Indiana has a mission statement. Their mission statement reveals their goals and objectives for forming their organization. Their primary focus is to care for displaced animals that need their help in order to live. Not only do they want to serve animals, but they want to educate people to help bring an end for the need of these animals to have to live in a sanctuary, instead of in the wild where they should be. Their mission statement exemplifies their goals of providing a future for wildlife.
Another key factor in being a non-profit organization is finding different methods of fundraising other than just simple donations. Donations are good but not always reliable. One way Great Cats has achieved this is through their online store, gift shop, and daily openings to the public. By providing alternative methods of fundraising, they are able to cover more expenses needed for the animals. Their online store sells knives and they also have a gift shop visitors can shop if they go to one of the daily opened visiting times. Allowing people to visit their animals is a great way to raise more funds for the animals, and possibly create new donors. Great Cats is doing what non-profits have to do in order to raise the appropriate funds for caring for their animals.
Running a non-profit organization is "no piece of cake". It takes a lot of hard work and committed people to effectively run one. Great Cats exemplifies this on their web page by the following statement," When they get hungry, thirsty, cold or sick they can’t fix this on their own, they need us to provide food and water, shelter and medicine when needed to assure they stay healthy. This is a responsibility we take very seriously. By taking these animals in we have agreed to give up our vacations, a night on the town, the nine to five lifestyle and any sense of a routine day to day existence. The path we have chosen is difficult at times, but we gave up these things because the animals needed us to be a part of their lives. We gave up these things because we feel they are worth it, and we feel that they deserve a chance to have a life free from the abuse, torture, pain and neglect many of them knew before coming home to our facility." They have given up many of the things people take for granted in their daily lives just to save these helpless animals. Being able to take care of them is rewarding enough for them. These are the type of people needed to run an effective non-profit organization: dedicated and hard working.
Great Cats of Indiana is a real life example of what it takes to run a non-profit organization. Everything from their mission statement, to the long hours they endure to care for what they cherish most. If you are interested in seeing them and their "cats" in action, you can catch them on Animal Planet's "Growing up Tiger". Also, feel free to check out their website and make a donation to help their cause!
http://www.greatcatsofindiana.org/index.htm
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