How The Open Sanctuary Project Measures Our Impact

“Before OSP was launched it was hard to find good information, and everybody was making mistakes which were often really bad for the animals. What a daunting task – there is so much to compile, so much to write. I’ve been sharing OSP with a number of sanctuaries both in Europe and the US. It takes a load off for sanctuaries and microsanctuariesMicrosanctuaries are small scale communities of human and nonhuman (generally “unconventional or farmed”) animal companions, who live together in a chosen shared lifestyle and in commitment to ending the oppression of all beings. Microsanctuaries adhere to the notion that no nonhuman member of the community should “serve a purpose.” Microsanctuaries can exist in any context: rural, suburban, or urban. A microsanctuary can consist of as small a community as one animal and one human caregiver. For more information on microsanctuary please refer to the Microsanctuary Resource Center., because they don’t have to make the mistakes that were made 10 or 15 years ago. This database is every caregiver’s dream.”
Hervé Breuil – Shelter Director, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary

As The Open Sanctuary Project embarks on its eighth year of operations, we are so grateful to our audience, our supporters, and all those who use our resources to help animals and make every animal sanctuary a success story. To offer you a better insight into our work, we have created this page to share more about our program and missionThe stated goals and activities of an organization. An animal sanctuary’s mission is commonly focused on objectives such as animal rescue and public advocacy. alignment, the efficiency and effectiveness of our programming, and our existing program support and needs. 

To do so transparently and accurately, we have systematically collected and analyzed our programming. While some metrics are easy to gather and share, others are less tangible. For example, it is impossible to measure the direct impact of the time The Open Sanctuary Project has saved for sanctuaries in researching complicated care topics, or the budget saved on costly mistakes and veterinary emergencies avoided, or how we have helped lessen caregiverSomeone who provides daily care, specifically for animal residents at an animal sanctuary, shelter, or rescue. burnoutA physical and emotion reaction to prolonged, unmanaged workplace stress.. After all, how do you measure the quantifiable value of preventing disease spread through robust intake procedures? How can you assess the impact of enrichment opportunities that caregivers now offer residents in sanctuaries on the well-being of the caregivers and the residents? In short, how do you calculate the value of the lives enhanced and saved due to having free access to compassionate, accurate and actionable information?

This page offers an analysis of the metrics we can quantify as well as qualitative assessments of The Open Sanctuary Project’s programming. We hope that this will give you a better insight into the manifold impacts of your support for our work. 

Key Metrics On Our Team, Our Resources, And Our Impact

“We get so many questions from people who say they want to start a sanctuary, and OSP has all the resources there, instead of us spending hours typing, copying notes, getting everything together, we just send people straight to the OSP website.” 
Pam Ahern – FounderSomeone who starts an organization. A Founder may or may not also be the Executive Director of an organization., Edgar’s Mission Australia

• Founded as an independent organization in 2018, The Open Sanctuary Project is a freely accessible, always-growing digital library that includes over 750 responsibly researched resources for anyone interested in compassionate long-term care of farmed animalsA species or specific breed of animal that is raised by humans for the use of their bodies or what comes from their bodies., effective community education, advocacy practices, and sustainable management practices of animal-based organizations. 
• The Open Sanctuary Project’s staff is a small and lean team of five individuals with accumulated decades of experience in animal rescueAn organization that helps secure animals from dangerous or unacceptable situations. As organizations, rescues may or may not have dedicated permanent infrastructure for housing animals., direct caregiving, education, narrative-sharing, law, and nonprofitA non-governmental organization whose primary purpose is something other than selling goods or services. governance. Our staff is the heart and soul of all our programming. 
• The Open Sanctuary Project operates on a small annual budget of approximately $400,000. 96% of this budget goes directly into programming expenses, with a mere 4% going to administrative and fundraising costs. For reference, our most recent 990 is available here. 
• In 2023 alone, over half a million individual users from every country on Earth accessed The Open Sanctuary Project’s resource library. 
• The Open Sanctuary Project’s resources includes downloadable templates and resources for use in resident recordkeeping, governance purposes, sanctuary education lesson plans, and even more. Our audience has downloaded these kinds of resources over 5,400 times.
• Over 1,100 sanctuaries, rescues, and animal advocacy organizations, located in at least 43 different countries, utilize our resources. 
• We are a 501(c)(3) public charity, with a Gold Transparency rating from Guidestar/Candid, and a Four Star rating (the highest available) from Charity Navigator.

 Program-Specific Metrics And Analysis

The above metrics offer an impressive bird’ s-eye view of The Open Sanctuary Project’s reach and impact. As mentioned, our program offerings are vast, spanning countless direct-care resources, educational resources, and sustainable nonprofit governance resources, among others. In this section, we want to highlight the impact of four of our specific program offerings so you can get a more granular look at our work.

The Veterinary Review Initiative

“I learn so much from OSP’s documents. There is only so much my brain has retained from vet school and it’s been nice to review these, enhancing and refining my own knowledge!” 
Feedback From A Veterinarian Participant In The Veterinary Review Initiative

Finding information about animal health that is both reliable and applicable to compassionate care settings can be quite daunting, and in some cases, it simply does not exist. This is one of the many reasons we started our Veterinary Review Initiative in 2020. By working with veterinarians who have experience with farmed animal sanctuariesAnimal sanctuaries that primarily care for rescued animals that were farmed by humans., we can help ensure that the information we provide is not only accurate and current, but also relevant to sanctuary care. 

Since 2020, we have worked with ten veterinarians, almost all of whom have volunteered their time or given us a significantly reduced rate because they appreciate what we do and want to support our work. We have always received positive feedback, even in instances where the reviewing veterinarian had suggestions for changes. On multiple occasions, a reviewing veterinarian has replied with something along the lines of “I wish this were required reading” or “Can I share this with my clients?” demonstrating the importance of our work.

Because of the nature of our work, we often find ourselves providing information that is difficult (and, in some cases, impossible) to find outside of sanctuary spaces. For example, we provide detailed information about elder care for species that are only allowed to live a small fraction of their natural lifespan in most settings. Many veterinarians may not have had the opportunity to care for these species in old age, so it is common for sanctuaries to work with veterinarians who do not yet have experience in elder care of farmed animalA species or specific breed of animal that is raised by humans for the use of their bodies or what comes from their bodies. species. This can make it challenging for sanctuaries to know how to best care for elderly residents. By having our elder care resources reviewed by veterinarians who do have experience caring for elderly individuals, we strive to provide the best information possible to caregivers. 

While it may be easy to find information about certain diseases, finding information that can be easily applied to sanctuary spaces is much more difficult. For example, for many diseases, the standard industry recommendations for disease prevention and management cannot be applied to sanctuary spaces because they are in conflict with compassionate care. By providing veterinarian-reviewed recommendations regarding how sanctuaries can prevent and manage specific diseases, we impart caregivers with trusted information that is impossible to find elsewhere.

By the end of 2024, The Open Sanctuary Project will offer nearly 100 veterinarian-reviewed written resources with more to come soon! Additionally, all healthcare-related information in our Compassionate Care Classroom coursework has been reviewed by experienced veterinarians. 

The Compassionate Care Classroom

“I have a difficult time reading and retaining information. Something about the order and manner that all this information was written, in combination with quizzes, was incredibly helpful for me. I feel like I have a toolkit of knowledge that will come in handy long into the future.”
Feedback From A Basic Chicken Care Part 1 User

“Thank you so much for all the information. It’s such a relief that I don’t have to rely on books written by backyard chickenThe raising of chickens primarily for the consumption of their eggs and/or flesh, typically in a non-agricultural environment. keepers or farmers. It feels good to have all of the necessary information for a sanctuary setting. Thank you!!”
Feedback From A Basic Chicken Care Part 2 User

In addition to our written resources, we also provide detailed animal care courses through our Compassionate Care Classroom. Just like all of our online resources, these courses are free to the public. We currently offer the following courses:

• Basic Chicken Care Part 1
• Basic Chicken Care Part 2
• Separate supplementary courses for large breedDomesticated animal breeds that have been selectively bred by humans to grow as large as possible, as quickly as possible, to the detriment of their health. and non-large breedA domesticated animal breed that has not been specifically engineered to grow as quickly as possible for the purpose of human consumption. In resources at The Open Sanctuary Project, "Heritage" breeds of turkeys, for instance, are "non-large breed", even if they are physically quite big. chickens 
• Basic Sheep And Goat Care Part 1
• And our newest addition, published in 2024, Sheep And Goat Care Part 2!
  

As of November 11, 2024, we have had over 700 enrollments. Participants include sanctuary founders, staff and volunteers, animal shelterAn organization, either government-funded and maintained or not-for-profit and funded by charitable contributions, with a physical infrastructure in which homeless animals are cared for and offered for adoption. staff and volunteers, private caregivers, and others who want to know more about the compassionate care of farmed animals. Several organizations have had multiple staff/volunteers enroll in our courses, suggesting they see value in their team taking the time to complete our curriculum. Additionally, our chicken care courses are now an approved option for folks in Minneapolis who need to complete a chicken education component as part of their application for a permit to care for chickens. This came about after Chicken Run Rescue, an approved chicken care instructor for Minneapolis Animal Care and Control chicken permit applications, updated their certification process and began requiring completion of our chicken care course. 

The Open Sanctuary Project’s Care Program Evaluation Checklist

“Livin’ Like Larry Farm Sanctuary has this and it’s even more helpful than we could have imagined! Thank you, The Open Sanctuary Project!”
Social Media Feedback on the Care Program Evaluation Checklist

Our Care Program Evaluation Checklist is a comprehensive, 188-page book designed for sanctuaries looking to review their practices and policies regarding the care of certain species, as well as general policies and safety.

The major “all-species” sections of the checklist include:

• Facilities, Living Spaces, And Storage
• Vehicles, Equipment, Tools, And Supplies
• Policies, Procedures, And Documentation
• Care For All Species
• Capacity For Responsible Care

The species-specific sections include:

• CowsWhile  "cows" can be defined to refer exclusively to female cattle, at The Open Sanctuary Project we refer to domesticated cattle of all ages and sexes as "cows."
• Pigs
• Goats & Sheep
• Equines
• Chickens
• TurkeysUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated turkey breeds, not wild turkeys, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource.
• DucksUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated duck breeds, not wild ducks, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. & GeeseUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated goose breeds, not wild geese, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource.
• Llamas & Alpacas

To date, over 250 Care Program Evaluation Checklists are in the hands of compassionate caregivers and sanctuaries worldwide!

The Open Sanctuary Podcast

“As a caregiver, I am often on my feet doing the day-to-day work of caregiving for my residents, or am in transit to or from the vet. The podcast is a great way for me to catch up on OSP resources while I’m on the go.”
Jenny Mathison, Founder and President, Rooster Haus Rescue

In 2023 we successfully planned and launched The Open Sanctuary Podcast, a free audio resource available on platforms that gives busy caregivers an additional way to access our resources. By the end of 2024, 35 episodes will be released. As of November 2023, The Open Sanctuary Podcast reached Position 1 in Finland, 28 in Spain, 44 in Canada, 57 in France, 62 in Australia, and 155 in the United States in the “How To” category. The Open Sanctuary Podcast is one of our most popular resource offerings, with positive feedback coming in nearly every week!

The Open Sanctuary Project’s Community Feedback And Engagement

“Thank you for everything you do to support sanctuaries.  I started Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary three years ago with a great deal of passion and dedication, but barely any experience in caring for farmed animals. Your guides and expertise have been an incredible resource for our sanctuary.  My staff and volunteers have taken your animal care courses and learned crucial and life saving information about caring for our animals.  As a sanctuary founder, it seems my job is always to support others (animals and people).  It is invaluable for me to be supported by the Open Sanctuary Project. Thank you for the bottom of my heart and my very muddy farm boots.”
Michele Waldman, Founder, Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary, Potomac, MD

At The Open Sanctuary Project, keeping our ears to the ground, receiving feedback from the sanctuary and rescue community, incorporating it into our work, and engaging outwardly are key components to carrying out our mission of serving as a lifeline to sanctuaries globally. The following data offers you some insight into our work in this area.

Contact Form Submissions

“This is a wonderful resource, thank you! I need all the information I can get and this will be a tremendous help. Thanks again for all you do to freeshare this priceless information and education.”
Response From A Contact Who Requested And Received Direct Guidance From Staff Regarding An Animal Cruelty Case.

Every year we receive requests for assistance from sanctuaries and committed individuals seeking to provide compassionate care to nonhuman animals through our social media platforms, direct emails to staff members, and the contact form on our site. Since the launch of our contact form in June 2020, we have received hundreds of messages. This doesn’t include the numerous emails staff received directly or messages sent through our social media platforms. 

As of November 2024, we have received nearly 450 submissions through our contact form alone! Among these are: 

• 212 requests for information about nonhuman animal health, nutrition, rescue, and other direct care questions. 
• 83 requests for information and assistance to start a sanctuary.
• 20 requests about community education.
• 20 requests regarding nonprofitsNon-governmental organizations whose primary purpose is something other than selling goods or services. and operations.
• 20 inquiries into volunteering.
• And many more that were challenging to put in a specific category!

Sanctuary Visits and One-on-One Telecalls

Our conversation was truly a gift and I don’t think I have the words to describe how much it meant to me. I know I talk a lot about my years working in animal sheltering – they were years of learning and growth and they shaped me as a professional working to make the world a better place for all beings. I was so fortunate to live and work in a community that had the resources to support the life-saving work of the shelter. That meant that as staff, we engaged in critical thinking, continuing education and an openness to change. That is how we propelled our mission forward and saved more animals. I believe the Open Sanctuary Project speaks loudly to these principles. Our conversation was something I have longed for and I will treasure it always! Thank YOU so much for giving your time to me and sharing the spirit of OSP through your thoughtful questions and our ensuing discussion. Our conversation has stuck with me and I have enjoyed turning it over in my head through the last week. I know I will continue to do so! Thank you for the very important work that you do. It is truly life-saving in the broadest sense.
Abbie Hubbard, Founder, Minnow And Blossom’s Place

Yearly onsite (and occasionally offsite) visits and one-on-one telecalls with sanctuary and rescue folks allow us to gather evidence supporting impact that is reflection-based. During these visits, in addition to documenting factors like the location, resident composition, protocols, etc., of the organization we are meeting with, we also collect feedback related to the current resources that we offer on our website as well as any desired future resource content they’d like us to offer, such as animal care resource suggestions, land and facilities resource suggestions, volunteer/worker resource suggestions, education/outreach/tour suggestions, and internal infrastructure suggestions (e.g., thoughts on our new website, our merchandise shop, current media formats, etc.) Members of our team log these reflections and feedback, review them together as a staff, and adjust our programming as appropriate to reflect our learning from these conversations.

Beyond The Open Sanctuary Project: Knowledge For Kindness In The Wider Community

“Thank you again for joining us on the podcast last week. It was such a wonderful experience and truly brightened an otherwise difficult day. Your insights and compassion will resonate so well with our community of animal advocates—I know listeners are going to be inspired by your story.”
Daria Tavana, The Street Dog Coalition

The Open Sanctuary Project has become the de facto information library of the global farmed animal sanctuaryAn animal sanctuary that primarily cares for rescued animals that were farmed by humans. community, with organizations freely sharing and disseminating our resources to their supporters and fellow sanctuaries.

In addition to widespread sharing of our work on social media, our resources have been published and promoted by multiple animal rescue, care, and advocacy organizations, including:

• Valley View Pet Hospital
• Global Federation Of Animal Sanctuaries 
• Microsanctuary Resource Center
• P.E.A.C.E Canada
• Harvest Home
• Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary
• Ross Mill Farms
• Chicken Run Rescue
  

The Open Sanctuary Project’s Staff has also participated in multiple conferences and knowledge sharing opportunities, including:

• Humane Hoax Chicken Webinar 
• Equilibrium by P.E.A.C.E. podcast
• Hope For The Animals podcast
• Institute For Animal Happiness’ Avian Influenza HPAI Forum For The Hudson Valley
• The Bearded VegansIndividuals who seek to eliminate the exploitation of and cruelty to nonhuman animals as much as possible, including the abstention from elements of animal exploitation in non-food instances when possible and practicable as well.
• The Association for Professional Humane Educators Conference
• The Street Dog Podcast

How You Can Help Us Magnify Our Impact: A Call To Action

“The Open Sanctuary Project’s free online library is an immensely valuable resource that saves sanctuaries precious time and energy by providing relevant, accessible, and well researched information about compassionate animal care and other critical aspects of running a sanctuary. I am very grateful for OSP’s important work and support for sanctuaries around the world and believe that investing in OSP represents an investment in the farmed animal sanctuary movement as a whole.”
Gene Baur, President, Co-Founder and CEO, Farm Sanctuary

All nonprofits face difficult challenges in these times, and we are not exempt from them. You can help magnify the reach of our work to create knowledge for kindness and realize our vision of a world in which every farmed animal is a success story and every caregiver has access to the information they need to help animals live long and happy lives free from exploitationExploitation is characterized by the abuse of a position of physical, psychological, emotional, social, or economic vulnerability to obtain agreement from someone (e.g., humans and nonhuman animals) or something (e.g, land and water) that is unable to reasonably refuse an offer or demand. It is also characterized by excessive self gain at the expense of something or someone else’s labor, well-being, and/or existence..
To help get the word out about our life-saving work, we have created a Case For Support which offers the information we have shared with you here, and more! It includes more testimonials and case studies of how The Open Sanctuary Project’s work has directly impacted caregivers and the animals they care for. We want to continue our work long into the future and continue to meet the needs of all the individuals who have benefitted or may benefit from freely accessible and responsibly researched information. Our audience and supporters can help us do that by taking any one of the steps outlined below!

How you can help:

• Make a tax-deductible donation to The Open Sanctuary Project via our Donate Page.
• Share our Case For Support document far and wide! 
• Follow us on social media on Facebook and Instagram. 
• Subscribe to The Open Sanctuary Podcast on your favorite podcast platform, or find us on Spotify. We always appreciate five-star ratings and a review!
• Share our work with others in the movement who might not yet know about us.
• Consider a purchase from our Support Shop! 
• If you’re interested in volunteering as a fundraiser or if you have ideas or thoughts for us on future resources, please feel free to contact us! 
• Check out this page for ongoing impact metrics and testimonials about The Open Sanctuary Project!