irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $63KEDUCATION & WORKSHOPS. EDUCATION OF FERAL CAT CARETAKERS IN COLONY MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING TRAPPING, FEEDING, AND SHELTER-BUILDING.
- #2 $43KNEIGHBORHOOD CATS SERVED AS THE FIELD COORDINATOR FOR THE RESCUE OF 617 CATS WHO SURVIVED THE AUGUST 2023 WILDFIRE IN LAHAINA, HAWAII.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Colony Care Education
Offers educational resources on colony management, including feeding, trapping, shelter-building, and insulating materials to support caretakers of feral cat colonies.
Neighbor Conflict Mitigation
Advises caretakers on humane methods to keep cats out of private gardens and yards, including motion-activated sprinklers and ultrasonic deterrents to maintain positive community relations.
Wildfire Rescue Coordination
Served as field coordinator for the rescue of 617 cats following the August 2023 wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, providing emergency response and recovery support.
Winter Shelter Program
Provides guidance and DIY instructions for building insulated shelters using materials like styrofoam boxes, storage bins, and rigid foam board to protect community cats during cold weather.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for Feral Cats 5 activities
- Designing and improving TNR trapping equipmentCo-designed the first commercially available drop trap with Tomahawk Live Trap and invented the "auto-drop trap" with an internal trip plate for unattended capture; collaborated on specialized trapping equipment for community cat programs.
- Developing and distributing educational resourcesAuthored the Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook and co-authored The Return-to-Field Handbook; provides free downloadable TNR guides and maintains a website with instructional materials visited by thousands weekly.
- Implementing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programsConducts large-scale TNR operations by trapping, spaying or neutering, vaccinating, eartipping, and returning free-roaming cats to their territories; includes mass trapping of entire colonies and holding cats in traps during the process to reduce stress and injury. Provides food and cleaning for trapped cats twice daily during holding periods.
- Providing TNR and colony management trainingOffers online and live TNR certification workshops, advanced trainings, and educational materials for community cat caretakers globally; covers trapping, feeding, shelter-building, and colony management. Includes a free online introductory TNR course and downloadable checklist for trap care.
- Relocating feral cat coloniesCoordinates the relocation of feral cat colonies by trapping, providing veterinary care, transporting, and confining cats in new territories for up to three weeks to establish feeding routines; includes moving entire groups or pairing bonded cats when splitting colonies.
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Rescue and Adoption of Cats 3 activities
- Building and distributing winter shelter guidanceProvides detailed instructions and materials guidance for constructing insulated winter shelters for community cats using durable bins, styrofoam boxes, rigid foam board, and emergency cardboard boxes; recommends straw and shredded newspaper as insulation.
- Feeding and maintaining feral cat coloniesProvides ongoing food and care for feral cat colonies dependent on human support; offers guidance on feeding practices to strengthen caretaker-cat bonds and support health.
- Rescuing and caring for injured, ill, and unsocialized catsProvides veterinary care, temporary housing, and specialized cage setups for injured, ill, or unsocialized cats during TNR projects, including nursing mothers and cats awaiting relocation.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Conducting disaster preparedness educationOrganized a five-hour online presentation in 2025 to provide a comprehensive disaster response roadmap for cat rescue operations.
- Delivering grant writing training for community cat initiativesProvides free, on-demand online training in grant writing specifically for community cat programs through Community Cats Central.
- Disaster response cat rescue and recoveryRescued over 600 cats, including the final 48 who had eluded capture for months, following the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire in Maui; achieved a 95% live placement rate for rescued cats. Served as field coordinator for the rescue of 617 cats in the same disaster.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$757K
Contributions & grants$678K90%
Program service revenue$60K8%
Investment income$19K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$654K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising18%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$797K
Cash$233K
Investments$542K
Liabilities$18K
Net assets$779K
Liquid reserves14.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN RICHMOND | EXEC DIR/BRD | 40 | $70K |
| BRYAN KORTIS | TREASURER | 40 | $57K |
board members · 4
- ALEXANDRA ALTON — BOARD MEMBER
- ANITRA FRAZIER — BOARD MEMBER
- EMMA COBB — BOARD MEMBER
- NANCY PETERSON — SECRETARY
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Community Cats Central Partner — Co-hosts and provides on-demand trapper tips and tricks webinar content.
- Community Cats Central Partner — Hosts Neighborhood Cats' online TNR certification workshop and grant writing course.
- Community Cats Podcast Partner — Co-hosts the online introductory TNR training workshop with Neighborhood Cats.
- Community Cats Podcast Partner — Collaborates to present TNR certification workshops and advanced trainings.
- Feralvilla Partner — Partner organization from which pre-made feeding stations can be purchased
- Foy's Pet Supplies Partner — Supplies insulated shipping boxes used for cat water stations.
- Grants 4 Animals Partner — Provides grant writing expertise for a course offered through Neighborhood Cats' partner platform.
- Home Depot Partner — Source recommended for purchasing straw bales and rigid foam board insulation for winter cat shelters
- Humane Society of the United States Network — Nancy Peterson, board member, is affiliated with Humane Society of the United States (retired).
- Kauai Partner — Geographic region referenced in discussion of feral cat habitats
- Lahaina wildfire response coalition Partner — Coordinated field operations for cat rescue following the August 2023 wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii.
- Maui Humane Society Partner — Responded to request from Maui Humane Society to coordinate rescue of cats after Lahaina wildfire.
- Michael's Partner — Source recommended for purchasing straw for winter cat shelters
- Outback Partner — Geographic region referenced in discussion of feral cat habitats
- Rubbermaid Partner — Manufacturer of storage bins recommended for conversion into winter cat shelters
- The Kitty Tube Partner — Source recommended for purchasing straw and durable insulated cat shelters
- Tomahawk Live Trap Partner — Collaborated to design the first commercially available drop trap for community cat capture.
- Tomahawk Live Trap Partner — Collaborative partner in designing and distributing TNR equipment for community cats.
- livetrap.com Partner — Supplies the feral cat den used in the Feral Cat Setup
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Behavior-Based Trapping Optimizationmethodology: behavioral_trappingBy using feeding schedule conditioning, trap-training, and low-suspicion trapping methods like drop traps and gravity-based mechanisms, we increase capture success for wary cats, because predictable routines and reduced fear responses make elusive cats more accessible for TNR and medical care.
- Community Empowerment Through Field-Based Educationmethodology: community_empowerment_modelBy training community members and caretakers in TNR and colony management using field-experience-based methods, we increase the sustainability and reach of feral cat care, because hands-on, practical education builds confidence, competence, and long-term stewardship among local residents.
- Environmental Support for Colony Sustainabilitymethodology: environmental_supportBy providing insulated shelters, freeze-resistant water access, and discreet feeding stations, we improve the health and survival of outdoor cat colonies while minimizing community conflict, because environmental stability reduces stress, prevents disease, and fosters neighbor tolerance through responsible management.
- Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as Primary Population Managementmethodology: tnr_modelBy implementing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) at scale — including mass trapping of entire colonies and targeted deployment in high-need areas — we reduce feral cat overpopulation and nuisance behaviors over time, because sterilization addresses root causes rather than symptoms, while respecting cats' natural behaviors and territory bonds.