Best Friends Animal Society logo

Best Friends Animal Society

Public charity · Grantmaker Kanab, UT EIN: 23-7147797 Website

Best Friends Animal Society is based in Kanab, Utah, and makes grants supporting animal welfare organizations and lifesaving programs. Its stated purpose is to help bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets by promoting exemplary animal care and building community programs and partnerships.

Key facts about Best Friends Animal Society

In short: Best Friends Animal Society gave $14.3M across 418 grants in 2025 (avg $34K). 48% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
23-7147797
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$14,261,469
Grants made (2025)
418
Average grant
$34,118
Median grant
$12,500
New grantees (estimate)
48% first-time grantees (200 of 418, 2025)
Total assets
$194,689,106
How to apply
For the Rachael Ray grants, organizations must be Best Friends Network Partners, and only one proposal may be submitted per organization. Full details ↓
Deadline
The listed next deadline for Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards is April 6, 2027.
Next open deadline
April 6, 2027 (Pet Lovers' Choice Awards)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$194.7M

-2.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$14.3M

-11.2% YoY

Grant Count

418

+36.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$34K

-34.8% YoY

Is Best Friends Animal Society open to new grantees?

48%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 200 of 418 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $50K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.

  • 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 134% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Best Friends’ stated mission is “to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets.” Its filing says it pursues this purpose by demonstrating and promoting exemplary animal care and building community programs and partnerships.

Its grant programs support efforts such as adoption, spay/neuter, return-to-home, and other lifesaving programs. The Rachael Ray Save Them All Grants support projects to increase the lifesaving of cats and dogs in U.S. shelters. The Rachael Ray No-Kill Excellence Grants support no-kill organizations maintaining their lifesaving work and helping other organizations in their communities reach a 90% save rate. Eligible project examples include medical care, staffing needs, mentorship, community partnerships, shelter operations, and pet-retention services.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, Best Friends reported making 307 grants totaling $16,053,157. Grant amounts ranged from $5,125 to $2,350,000, with a median of $17,405. The largest reported grants included $2,350,000 to Austin Pets Alive, $1,394,250 to Jacksonville Humane Society, and $865,525 to Operation Kindness, each for program service support.

Review Cycle

The listed next deadline for Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards is April 6, 2027. The 2027 Rachael Ray grant-cycle dates are listed as coming soon.

Open Grants

4 open opportunities from Best Friends Animal Society

Show all 4 →
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Best Friends Animal Society?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Rachael Ray grant programs require projects to be implemented in the United States. Best Friends Network Partners include animal welfare organizations across all 50 states.

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M119 grants2019 172 grants2020 174 grants2021 193 grants2022 309 grants2023 307 grants2024 418 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.0M (2019) to $16.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 418 grants totaling $14.3M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Austin Pets Alive: $1.1MAustin Pets Alive$1.1MJacksonville Humane Society: $855KJacksonville Humane Society$855KOperation Kindness: $726KOperation Kindness$726KMSPCA: $520KMSPCA$520KSan Diego Humane Society: $410KSan Diego Humane Society$410KHumane Society of North Texas: $408KHumane Society of North Texas$408KThe Underground Dog: $359KThe Underground Dog$359KRichmond Animal League Inc: $280KRichmond Animal League Inc$280KHumane Society of Northeast Georgia: $263KHumane Society of NortheastGeorgia$263KHumane Society for Greater Savannah: $241KHumane Society for GreaterSavannah$241K

The largest 2025 recipient was Austin Pets Alive ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $5.2M.

Grant Size Distribution

1,401 grants across all recorded years

1164<$50K139$50–100K68$100–250K18$250–500K8$500K–1M4$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,164 grants of 1,401 (83%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Austin Pets Alive Program service support$1,121,824
Jacksonville Humane Society Program service support$855,400
Operation Kindness Program service support$725,525
MSPCA Program service support$519,600
San Diego Humane Society Program service support$410,198
Humane Society of North Texas Program service support$407,500
The Underground Dog Program service support$359,000
Richmond Animal League Inc Program service support$279,759
Humane Society of Northeast Georgia Program service support$263,255
Humane Society for Greater Savannah Program service support$241,083

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $200,572,201 $148,272,851 $173,381,071 $16,053,157
2023 $216,306,392 $173,491,983 $148,139,598 $12,562,190
2022 $178,197,428 $141,488,178 $123,525,355 $6,085,475
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$50M$100M$150M$200M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$194,689,106$200,572,201$216,306,392
Revenue$173,780,697$148,272,851$173,491,983
Expenses$175,675,944$173,381,071$148,139,598
Net Investment Income$7,154,904$4,232,138$3,909,922

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 10, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 30, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
  4. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 5, 2020)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2021)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 13, 2024)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Abigail Jones as board vice-chair; Lynn Flanders as board treasurer; Micarl Hill, Oke Mueller, Lona Williams, Denise Clark, and Phefelia Nez as board members; Alfred Battista as board chair and internal consultant; Gregory Castle as co-founder and internal consultant; and Bernadette Mejia as board secretary and director of principal gifts.

Best Friends Animal Society is led by Julianne Castle, Board Member & Chief Executive Officer since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 19 of 26 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Julianne Castle

    Board Member & Chief Executive Officer

    CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2021

    Chief Executive Officer → Board Member & Chief Executive Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $210K (2019) → $536K (2025)

  • Alfred Battista

    Board Chair, Co-Founder & Internal Consultant

    Board Chair Internal Consultant → Board Chair & Internal Consultant, 2024

    Board Chair & Internal Consultant → Board Chair, Co-Founder & Internal Consultant, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $151K (2019) → $204K (2025)

  • Bernadette Mejia

    Board Member, Co-Founder & Director of Principal Gifts

    Director of Principal Gifts → Board Secretary & Director of Principal Gifts, 2024

    Board Secretary & Director of Principal Gifts → Board Member, Co-Founder & Director of Principal Gifts, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $116K (2019) → $186K (2025)

  • Karen Gallardo

    Senior Director, Major & Planned Giving

    Senior Director - Major & Pla → Senior Director - Major & Planned Giving, 2022

    Senior Director - Major & Planned Giving → Senior Director, Major & Planned Giving, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $205K (2019) → $284K (2025)

  • Erika Westbay Arnold

    Director & Process Excellence

    Director - Process Excelle → Director - Process Excellence, 2022

    Director - Process Excellence → Director & Process Excellence, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $180K (2020) → $203K (2025)

  • Cyrus Mejia

    Board Member, Co-Founder & Internal Consultant

    Internal Consultant → Co-Founder & Internal Consultant, 2024

    Co-Founder & Internal Consultant → Board Member, Co-Founder & Internal Consultant, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $85K (2019) → $98K (2025)

  • Gregory Castle

    Board Member, Co-Founder & Internal Consultant

    Board Member & CEO Emeritus → Co-Founder & Internal Consultant, 2023

    Co-Founder & Internal Consultant → Board Member, Co-Founder & Internal Consultant, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $238K (2019) → $178K (2025)

  • Greta Palmer

    Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

    Chief Brand & Communications Officer → Chief Brand & Communications, 2021

    Chief Brand & Communications → Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $159K (2019) → $232K (2025)

  • Holly Sizemore

    Chief Mission Officer

    Chief Mission Officer → Chief Missions Officer, 2020

    Chief Missions Officer → Chief Mission Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $157K (2019) → $236K (2025)

  • Judah Battista

    Chief Sanctuary Officer

    Chief of Staff → Chief Sanctuary Officer, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $147K (2019) → $234K (2025)

  • Marc Peralta

    Chief Program Officer

    Senior Director of National No-Kill Advancement → Senior Director - National No Kill Advancement, 2020

    Senior Director - National No Kill Advancement → Chief Program Officer, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $152K (2019) → $226K (2025)

  • Stephen Howell

    Chief Operating & Financial Officer

    Chief Operating Officer → CFO & COO, 2022

    CFO & COO → Chief Operating & Financial Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $255K (2019) → $459K (2025)

  • Susan Citro

    Chief Experience Officer

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $190K (2019) → $296K (2025)

  • Valerie Dorian

    Chief Development Officer

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $207K (2019) → $284K (2025)

  • Amy Starnes

    Principal & Growth Initiatives

    Chief Innovation Officer → Principal & Growth Initiatives, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $124K (2021) → $220K (2025)

  • Elise Traub

    Chief External Affairs Officer & Chief of Staff

    Senior Director Office of External Affairs → Chief External Affairs Officer & Chief of Staff, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $155K (2021) → $224K (2025)

  • Joseph Angelo

    Chief People & Culture Officer

    Board Member → Chief People & Culture Officer, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $263K (2024) → $300K (2025)

  • Rebecca Huss

    General Counsel

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $172K (2021) → $248K (2025)

  • Susan Cosby

    Senior Advisor, Strategy & Integration

    Senior Director - Lifesaving Centers → Senior Advisor, Strategy & Integration, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $153K (2021) → $195K (2025)

  • Abigail Jones

    Board Vice Chair

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Denise Clark

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lona Williams

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lynn Flanders

    Board Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Micarl Hill

    Board Secretary

    Board Member → Board Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Oke Mueller

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Phefelia Nez

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (10)
  • Former: Erin Katribe (2024) — Director & National Veterinary Program
  • Former: Jose Ocano (2019–2023) — Senior Director - Talent & Culture
  • Former: Tara Timpson (2022–2023) — Staff Veterinarian
  • Former: Molly Jordan Koch (2019–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Angela Embree (2019–2021) — Chief Information Officer
  • Former: Mary McDonell (2021) — Senior Director - Finance
  • Former: Charles Bradbury (2020) — General Manager of Hospitality
  • Former: Brent Toellner (2019) — Senior Director of National Programs
  • Former: Elissa Jones (2019) — Senior Director, Communications & Creative
  • Former: Teresa Bodem-Linebaugh (2019) — Director of Opertaions & Strategic Projects

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Julianne Castle — Board Member/Chief Executive Officer: $536KJulianne CastleBoard Member/Chief Executive…$536KStephen Howell — Chief Operating and Financial Officer: $459KStephen HowellChief Operating and Financial…$459KJoseph Angelo — Chief People and Culture Officer: $300KJoseph AngeloChief People and Culture Officer$300KSusan Citro — Chief Experience Officer: $296KSusan CitroChief Experience Officer$296KKaren Gallardo — Sr Director, Major & Planned Giving: $284KKaren GallardoSr Director, Major & Planned…$284KValerie Dorian — Chief Development Officer: $284KValerie DorianChief Development Officer$284KRebecca Huss — General Counsel: $248KRebecca HussGeneral Counsel$248KHolly Sizemore — Chief Mission Officer: $236KHolly SizemoreChief Mission Officer$236KJudah Battista — Chief Sanctuary Officer: $234KJudah BattistaChief Sanctuary Officer$234KGreta Palmer — Chief Marketing and Communications Officer: $232KGreta PalmerChief Marketing and…$232KMarc Peralta — Chief Program Officer: $226KMarc PeraltaChief Program Officer$226KElise Traub — Chief External Affairs Officer & Chief of Staff: $224KElise TraubChief External Affairs Officer…$224KAmy Starnes — Principal, Growth Initiatives: $220KAmy StarnesPrincipal, Growth Initiatives$220KAlfred Battista — Board Chair/Co-Founder/Internal Consultant: $204KAlfred BattistaBoard Chair/Co-Founder/Internal…$204KErika Westbay Arnold — Director, Process Excellence: $203KErika Westbay ArnoldDirector, Process Excellence$203KSusan Cosby — Sr Advisor, Strategy & Integration: $195KSusan CosbySr Advisor, Strategy &…$195KBernadette Mejia — Board Member/Co-Founder/Director of Principal Gifts: $186KBernadette MejiaBoard…$186KGregory Castle — Board Member/Co-Founder/Internal Consultant: $178KGregory CastleBoard…$178KCyrus Mejia — Board Member/Co-Founder/Internal Consultant: $98KCyrus MejiaBoard…$98K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $536K, to Julianne Castle (Board Member/Chief Executive Officer). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741
Phone: (435) 644-2001
Website: https://bestfriends.org

Frequently asked questions about Best Friends Animal Society

How much does Best Friends Animal Society give each year?

Best Friends Animal Society gave $14.3M across 418 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $16.1M across 307 grants.

What is Best Friends Animal Society's typical grant size?

Best Friends Animal Society's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $34,118, across 418 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Best Friends Animal Society that year got $17K on average.

Does Best Friends Animal Society give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 418 grants with a stated purpose on Best Friends Animal Society's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program service support" (418 grants).

Who are Best Friends Animal Society's largest grantees?

Best Friends Animal Society's largest 2025 grantees include Austin Pets Alive ($1,121,824), Jacksonville Humane Society ($855,400) and Operation Kindness ($725,525), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Best Friends Animal Society?

Best Friends Animal Society reported $194.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $173.8M.

What does Best Friends Animal Society fund?

Best Friends’ stated mission is “to bring about a time when there are no more homeless pets.” Its filing says it pursues this purpose by demonstrating and promoting exemplary animal care and building community programs and partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Best Friends Animal Society?

For the Rachael Ray grants, organizations must be Best Friends Network Partners, and only one proposal may be submitted per organization. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Best Friends Animal Society make grants?

The Rachael Ray grant programs require projects to be implemented in the United States. Best Friends Network Partners include animal welfare organizations across all 50 states.

What is Best Friends Animal Society's EIN?

Best Friends Animal Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7147797. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Best Friends Animal Society by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Best Friends Animal Society's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Similar funders in Utah

Onerefugee

Salt Lake City, UT

Onerefugee supports students with refugee backgrounds pursuing postsecondary education and careers, providing coaching, education-related financial assistance, and career and community opportunities in Utah, Idaho, and Arizona. In 2024, its 431 awards ranged from $11 to $8,758, with a median of $1,019; it accepts applications from eligible individual scholars, not outside organizations, and applications are currently closed.

Education

Assets

$36K

Grants

495

Total Given

$1.3M

George S and Dolores Dore

Salt Lake City, UT

The foundation supports Utah projects that improve community quality of life, including arts and culture, education, community welfare, health, and preservation; 96% of its 2024 grant dollars went to Utah recipients. Its program lists awards up to $2 million, while 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $5.575 million, with a median of $17,750. It encourages early submissions and provides application-window dates, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$966.8M

Grants

400

Total Given

$27.0M

Larry H Miller and Gail Miller Family Foundation

Sandy, UT

The foundation supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in health, food and shelter security, education, jobs and economic self-reliance, and cultural and spiritual enrichment, with most funding going to Utah. Typical awards are $15,000–$25,000 through its Community Support Grants and about $5,000 through its General Operating Grants; larger Strategic Initiative Grants exceed $50,000. It accepts applications for its grant programs, reviewed monthly for Community Support and General Operating Grants; Strategic Initiative applicants begin with a one-page concept outline.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$773.9M

Grants

324

Total Given

$33.2M

University Impact

Provo, UT

University Impact supports social and environmental initiatives through donor-advised, community, and field-of-interest funds, with grants covering areas such as education, health, poverty alleviation, and sustainability. In 2024, its median grant was $20,000, though awards ranged widely; most grant dollars went to Utah, with additional funding in several other states and elsewhere. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Education

Assets

$384.7M

Grants

317

Total Given

$42.3M

The Community Foundation of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

The Community Foundation of Utah supports charitable work across varied areas, including housing, homelessness, healthcare access, community development, and services for vulnerable communities, with much of its grantmaking directed by donors. Its 2024 grants had a median of $20,000, though amounts varied widely; its 25 Squared initiative awards at least $2,500 to eligible Utah nonprofits. It supports Utah and the broader United States; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$190.4M

Grants

299

Total Given

$60.0M

Sorenson Legacy Foundation

Midvale, UT

The Sorenson Legacy Foundation funds education, innovation, health care, and community development, with a preference for organizations serving Utah. Its 2024 grants ranged from $700 to $5.675 million, with a median of $20,000. It accepts unsolicited requests; first-time applicants are advised to inquire before applying.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$465.5M

Grants

266

Total Given

$28.0M

Making a Difference Foundation

Midvale, UT

The foundation funds medical missions, healthcare for underserved communities, local causes aligned with CHG employees’ interests, and humanitarian relief, with much of its giving focused on areas near CHG offices and grants also reaching other states and countries. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $138,572, with a median of $2,500; it accepts requests through a grant request form, with quarterly deadlines.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$5.8M

Grants

229

Total Given

$828K

Mountain America Foundation

Sandy, UT

Mountain America Foundation supports community-serving organizations and scholarships for students pursuing post-secondary education, with most grant funding going to Utah and smaller amounts to Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $2,000. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$2.0M

Grants

237

Total Given

$1.5M

Our Rescue

Salt Lake City, UT

OUR RESCUE funds survivor care and services, anti-trafficking education and advocacy, and law enforcement training, equipment, and capacity building. Its 2025 grants ranged from $4,734 to $245,000, with a median of $10,654; its 2026 Survivor Care Impact Grant offers $5,000–$25,000 for U.S.-based projects, and its law enforcement work spans the United States, Canada, and worldwide. The Survivor Care program is currently closed to applications; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests for other grants.

Assets

$36.9M

Grants

178

Total Given

$2.9M

The Zions Bancorporation Foundation

Salt Lake City, UT

The Zions Bancorporation Foundation funds charitable work in areas including affordable housing, community service, arts and culture, education, economic development, and health and human services, with grants across several states—especially Utah, Texas, California, Nevada, and Arizona. In 2024, awards ranged from $156 to $100,000, with a median of $2,570. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives to preselected organizations.

Assets

$43.3M

Grants

178

Total Given

$1.4M

Sad Foundation Inc

Park City, UT

Assets

$2.6M

Grants

145

Total Given

$130K

IHC Health Services Inc

Salt Lake City, UT

It funds community health initiatives, especially healthcare access, behavioral health, and health education, in communities served across the Intermountain West. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,750; Healthcare Access Grant requests may be $5,000–$50,000, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Assets

$18.7B

Grants

142

Total Given

$11.1M

More Funders in Utah

Best Friends Animal Society down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?