Nonprofit Profile

Friends of Upland Animal Shelter (“Friends”) is registered with the State of California as a non-profit corporation in good standing and approved by the State of California Franchise Tax Board and federal Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) public benefit charitable organization dedicated to finding a permanent home for every adoptable animal at Upland Animal Shelter.  As required by the California Department of Justice, we are also registered with the California Registry of Charitable Trusts and in good standing.  

Friends is a member of the Upland Community Foundation, Upland Chamber of Commerce, Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, California Animal Welfare Association, and a Best Friends Network Partner.  In addition, Friends has developed strategic partnerships with ASPCA, VCA, Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine (Western), and many others.

Team Structure

Friends operates with a 7-member, all volunteer, Board of Directors, several volunteer professional advisers to address veterinary medicine, animal behavior and training, finance and accounting, insurance and legal matters, and human resources, plus several standing committees that work on fundraising/development, finance, thrift shop and shelter operations.  While some of our advisers are paid for their professional services, none of the Board of Directors are paid, including the Director overseeing shelter operations and the Director overseeing thrift shop operations.  Friends also employs a shelter manager and over twenty staff members at Upland Animal Shelter and 2nd Chance Thrift Shop.  Our work is complemented and supported by volunteers.