research dossier

SPIRIT ANIMAL SANCTUARY INC

BOONVILLE, NY · EIN 202963480 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE D20 · Animal-Related · Micro (<$100K) · spirit-animal-sanctuary.com

revenue

$99K

expenses

$255K

net assets

$-161K

employees

—

program ratio

78%

mission · from form 990

SPIRIT ANIMAL SANCTUARY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT FACILITY THAT PROVIDES FOOD, WATER, HOUSING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, REGULAR VETERINARY CARE, ENRICHMENT AND ONGOING BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TRAINING FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 BEHAVIORALLY OR MEDICALLY CHALLENGED DOGS IN OUR CARE. THE SANCTUARY ALSO OFFERED CANINE BEHAVIOR ADVICE THROUGH BLOGS AND OVER 100 EMAIL CONSULTATIONS. THIS WILL FURTHER THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE INHERITED BEHAVIOR OF DOGS. WE ARE SPECIAL - WE PROVIDE A "HOME FOR LIFE" FOR UNADOPTABLE DOGS. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE DOGS WE SAVE WILL HAVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING. DOGS ARE SOCIAL PACK ANIMALS - THEY NEVER DO WELL IN SOLITARY KENNEL ENVIRONMENTS. WE HAVE PROVIDED A SPACE THAT ENSURES THEIR OPTIMUM HAPPINESS. THE SANCTUARY IS COMMITTED TO MAKING EACH DOG'S LIFE AS FREE AND HAPPY AS POSSIBLE - A LIFE WORTH LIVING. THE SANCTUARY RAISES FUNDS FOR SANCTUARY PURPOSES THROUGH FOUNDATIONS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Animal sanctuary providing lifelong care for behaviorally or medically challenged dogs who cannot adapt to traditional homes. Located in Boonville, NY, the organization offers a safe, enriched environment with social groups, medical care, and behavioral training. Founded in 2004, it currently houses around 100 dogs and relies on donations and volunteer support.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Canine Behavior Consultations

Offers behavioral advice and support through blogs and email consultations to promote understanding of dog behavior

Lifelong Care Program

Provides permanent housing, medical care, enrichment, and behavioral training for unadoptable dogs in a pack-based, low-stress environment

activities · 5 groups

What they do

Animal Rescue Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Engaging volunteers in sanctuary operations
  
  Engages volunteers in daily animal care, event support, companionship for dogs, and fundraising to support the sanctuary.
Animal Welfare Fundraising through Retail and Sales 1 activity
- Operating an online store to support sanctuary funding
  
  Operates an online store where proceeds from merchandise sales directly support the sanctuary.
Humane Education and Responsible Pet Ownership 1 activity
- Providing canine behavior education and consultation
  
  Provides canine behavior advice through blogs and over 100 email consultations to further understanding of inherited dog behavior, and offers support and guidance to individuals needing help with their pets.
Animal Welfare and Rescue Support 1 activity
- Rescuing and providing long-term sanctuary care for dogs
  
  Provides food, water, housing, emergency and regular veterinary care, enrichment, and ongoing behavior modification training for approximately 100 behaviorally or medically challenged dogs. Offers long-term care, trust-building, and socialization in a safe, loving environment, including for abused, abandoned, neglected, and non-household-adjusted animals.
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operating and expanding sanctuary facilities
  
  Operates spacious, temperature-controlled buildings with 24/7 access to large, secure outdoor play yards. Constructing new buildings to free up space for current and future dogs. Previously purchased 128 acres of land in 2004 and framed and enclosed the main animal building by 2005.

financials · form 990EZ · fy2024

revenue

Total revenue$99K

Contributions & grants$99K100%

Program service revenue——

Investment income——

Other revenue$25

expenses

Total expenses$255K

Program expenses78%

Admin / overhead22%

Fundraising0%

Salaries & benefits—

Grants paid out—

Largest expense lineFacilities

balance sheet

Total assets$457K

Cash$294K

Investments$0

Liabilities$633K

Net assets$-161K

Liquid reserves13.8 mo

3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -67.1%

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 2

BROOKE POPOVITCH — DIRECTOR
STEPHEN MAROLF — DIRECTOR

relationships · 3

Who they work with

Barbara and William Schoolman Partner — Provided business knowledge and contacts to help frame and enclose the main animal building.
Spirit Animal Sanctuary Partner — Organization providing sanctuary to dogs including Archie.
amenjivar.sas@gmail.com Partner — Email contact for inquiries and communications

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.

Compassionate Connection and Dignity-Based Care 132 orgs

methodology: compassionate_connection
By honoring each animal’s intrinsic dignity and fostering compassionate human-animal connections, the sanctuary promotes emotional well-being, because recognizing individual worth is foundational to psychological recovery and socialization.
shared approach: Reciprocal Human-Animal Healing →
Story-Based Support Engagement 132 orgs

methodology: story-based engagement
By sharing individual animal stories and enabling virtual sponsorship, the organization deepens supporter engagement and sustains funding, because personal narratives create emotional investment that translates into long-term support.
shared approach: Reciprocal Human-Animal Healing →
Individualized Trauma-Informed Rehabilitation 12 orgs

methodology: trauma-informed care
By allowing dogs to heal and acclimate at their own pace through rest, positive reinforcement, and individualized bonding, the sanctuary supports recovery from trauma, because forced timelines hinder trust and emotional healing in rescued animals.
shared approach: Trauma-Informed Rehabilitation →
Home-for-Life Sanctuary Model

methodology: home-for-life sanctuary model
By providing a permanent, non-kennel sanctuary environment with social pack integration, the organization ensures long-term well-being for unadoptable dogs, because dogs thrive emotionally and behaviorally in stable, social, and low-stress settings that honor their natural instincts.