This analysis provides a detailed breakdown of financial activities for Castles For Underdogs from October 2024 through March 15, 2025. Overall, the organization shows a positive financial position with a net profit of $608.64 (9.2% profit margin).
The organization's spending clearly demonstrates its mission focus, with 69.9% of expenses directly related to animal care (veterinary services, food, contracted care, toys/training, and fresh bones). Meanwhile, administrative expenses remain relatively low, and the organization demonstrates its commitment to the broader rescue community by donating 7.9% of its expenses to other rescue organizations.
Key Findings
Animal-Focused Mission: Nearly 70% of expenses are directly related to animal care, demonstrating clear mission alignment.
Veterinary Concentration: Veterinary expenses represent the largest single expense category (29.7%), with a significant spike in January ($1,316.79 on January 24, 2025).
Income Stability: While donations represent the majority of income (54.9%), the organization has additional income streams that provide some diversification.
Monthly Variability: Significant monthly variability in both income and expenses presents a cash flow management challenge, particularly the substantial loss in January 2025.
Charitable Giving: The organization demonstrates commitment to the broader animal welfare community by donating 9.6% of its expenses to other rescue organizations (FTHRESCUE, Alma Delafuen, and Yvonne Ortiz).
Direct Animal Care Structure:
Food expenses spread across multiple vendors (Tractor Supply, Walmart, Food King)
Contracted dog care represents a significant expense (18.7%)
Low expenditure on enrichment items (toys, training) at 1.9%
Low Administrative Costs: Office supplies and sanctuary materials represent only 5.0% of expenses, indicating efficient operations.
Budget Development: Create a detailed annual budget with monthly allocations based on historical patterns to better manage cash flow.
Reserve Fund: Establish a reserve fund (minimum $2,500 recommended) to cover months with negative cash flow.
Expense Categorization: Further reduce the "Other Expenses" category (currently 15.6%) to gain complete visibility into spending patterns.
Donation Strategy: Develop a more consistent monthly donation solicitation strategy to reduce income variability.
Veterinary Partnerships: Explore formal partnerships with veterinary providers to potentially secure discounted rates for regular services.
Food Vendor Consolidation: Evaluate whether consolidating food purchases with fewer vendors might yield cost savings while maintaining nutritional quality.
Contracted Care Review: Assess contracted dog care arrangements to determine if restructuring could provide more consistent monthly expenses.
Preventive Health: Invest in preventive care programs that may reduce emergency veterinary expenses in the long term.
Donor Communications: Highlight your efficient use of funds (70% direct animal care) in donor communications.
Grant Opportunities: Pursue grants specifically for veterinary care and animal food costs, which represent your largest expense categories.
Amazon Wishlist: Create an Amazon wishlist for sanctuary supplies that supporters can purchase directly.
Collaborative Partnerships: Formalize relationships with the rescue organizations you support to potentially share resources and reduce costs.
Volunteer Program: Evaluate whether some contracted services could be supplemented with volunteer support to reduce expenses.
Castles For Underdogs demonstrates strong mission alignment with the majority of funds directed to animal care. The organization maintains a positive financial position overall, though significant monthly variability presents challenges. By implementing more structured budgeting, building reserves, and optimizing major expense categories (particularly veterinary and contracted care), the organization can enhance its financial stability while continuing its important animal welfare work.