Best Friends Animal Society logo

Best Friends Animal Society

KANAB, UT EIN: 23-7147797 Website
Environment & Animals

Best Friends Animal Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Kanab, Utah. Founded in 1984, the organization operates the largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals in the United States, serving as a home-between-homes for up to 1,600 animals on any given day. Beyond its flagship sanctuary in Kanab, Best Friends maintains regional pet adoption centers across the nation, including locations in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, and Northwest Arkansas.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$200.6M

-7.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$16.1M

+27.8% YoY

Grant Count

307

-0.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$52K

+28.6% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: To bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets®

Vision: A better world through kindness to animals

Best Friends works to end the killing in America's animal shelters through building community programs and partnerships across the nation. The organization's guiding principles include the golden rule, kindness, positive influence, leadership, authenticity, and transparency.

The organization's primary focus areas include animal protection and welfare, with specific initiatives addressing cat welfare, pit bull terrier advocacy, and puppy mill prevention. Best Friends also operates adoption programs for dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, parrots, pigs, and waterfowl.

Grantmaking

Best Friends Animal Society functions as both a recipient and a grantmaker. The organization made grants totaling $17,110,976 in its most recent fiscal year (2024).

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Best Friends' grantmaking focuses primarily on California, Texas, and Virginia. The organization operates physical locations in Utah, California, New York, Texas, and Arkansas, with a nationwide network of members and partners.

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year 2024:

  • Total assets: $200,572,201
  • Total revenues: $148,272,851
  • Total expenses: $173,381,071
  • Number of employees: 1,119

Tax Status:

  • 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit
  • Tax ID: 23-7147797
  • IRS ruling year: 1971
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$48M$95M$143M$191M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$200,572,201$216,306,392$178,197,428
Revenue$148,272,851$173,491,983$141,488,178
Expenses$173,381,071$148,139,598$123,525,355
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$4,232,138$3,909,922$2,048,565
Distributable Amount———

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$8M$12M$16M171 grants2020174 grants2021193 grants2022309 grants2023307 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AUSTIN PETS ALIVE$2.4MANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF …$240KBETTERTOGETHER FOREVER$204KBELLEVILLE AREA HUMANE S…$202KANGEL CITY PIT BULLS$202KBRANDYWINE VALLEY SPCA$114KANIMAL HUMANE ASSOCIATIO…$84KANIMAL CARE CENTERS OF NYC$78KBALTIMORE ANIMAL RESCUE …$71KANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEAGUE…$69K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

166<$50K51$50–100K27$100–250K4$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

4 open opportunities from Best Friends Animal Society

Show all 4 →
Foundation

Best Friends Network Partner Grants

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Pet Lovers' Choice Awards

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY

Amount

Up to $20,000

Deadline

April 6, 2027

Annual
Foundation

Rachael Ray No-Kill Excellence Grants

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY

Amount

Up to US $60,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Julianne Castle serves as a manager of the organization.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JULIANNE CASTLECHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER$527KSTEPHEN HOWELLCFO AND COO$432KSUSAN CITROCHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER$282KVALERIE DORIANCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER$268KKAREN GALLARDOSR. DIRECTOR, MAJOR & PLANNE…$265KJOSEPH ANGELOCHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFF…$263KHOLLY SIZEMORECHIEF MISSIONS OFFICER$226KREBECCA HUSSGENERAL COUNSEL$223KJUDAH BATTISTACHIEF SANCTUARY OFFICER$222KMARC PERALTACHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER$219KGRETA PALMERCHIEF BRAND & COMMUNICATIONS$219KAMY STARNESCHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER$215KELISE TRAUBCHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFIC…$214KALFRED BATTISTABOARD CHAIR / INTERNAL CONSU…$192KERIKA WESTBAY ARNOLDDIRECTOR, PROCESS EXCELLENCE$190KSUSAN COSBYSENIOR ADVISOR, STRATEGY & I…$184KERIN KATRIBEDIRECTOR, NATIONAL VETERINAR…$177KBERNADETTE MEJIABOARD SECRETARY / DIRECTOR O…$175KGREGORY CASTLECO-FOUNDER / INTERNAL CONSUL…$170KCYRUS MEJIACO-FOUNDER / INTERNAL CONSUL…$93K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ABIGAIL JONESBOARD VICE-CHAIR1—
LYNN FLANDERSBOARD TREASURER1—
MICARL HILLBOARD MEMBER1—
OKE MUELLERBOARD MEMBER1—
LONA WILLIAMSBOARD MEMBER1—
DENISE CLARKBOARD MEMBER1—
PHEFELIA NEZBOARD MEMBER1—
ALFRED BATTISTABOARD CHAIR / INTERNAL CONSULTANT40$191,978
GREGORY CASTLECO-FOUNDER / INTERNAL CONSULTANT40$170,107
BERNADETTE MEJIABOARD SECRETARY / DIRECTOR OF PRINCIPAL GIFTS40$175,342
CYRUS MEJIACO-FOUNDER / INTERNAL CONSULTANT40$93,378
JULIANNE CASTLECHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER40$526,755
STEPHEN HOWELLCFO AND COO40$432,322
SUSAN CITROCHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER40$281,634
JOSEPH ANGELOCHIEF PEOPLE AND CULTURE OFFICER40$262,833
VALERIE DORIANCHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER40$268,195
HOLLY SIZEMORECHIEF MISSIONS OFFICER40$226,183
JUDAH BATTISTACHIEF SANCTUARY OFFICER40$221,647
GRETA PALMERCHIEF BRAND & COMMUNICATIONS40$218,617
MARC PERALTACHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER40$219,193
ELISE TRAUBCHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER & CHIEF OF STAFF40$213,572
AMY STARNESCHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER40$215,495
KAREN GALLARDOSR. DIRECTOR, MAJOR & PLANNED GIVING40$265,320
REBECCA HUSSGENERAL COUNSEL40$223,417
ERIKA WESTBAY ARNOLDDIRECTOR, PROCESS EXCELLENCE40$189,763
SUSAN COSBYSENIOR ADVISOR, STRATEGY & INTEGRATION40$184,475
ERIN KATRIBEDIRECTOR, NATIONAL VETERINARY PROGRAM40$177,361

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2026

Best Friends Animal Society awarded more than $120,000 in grants and distributions to partner shelters and rescue organizations in Northwest Arkansas. The organization continues to expand its grantmaking through the Rachael Ray Save Them All Grants and Rachael Ray No-Kill Excellence Grants programs, with 2026 grant recipients announced and ongoing funding opportunities available to partner organizations.

New Braunfels humane society receives $35K Rachael Ray Save Them All grant

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Environment & Animals

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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