We are often asked where the money we need to operate comes from and how it is spent. Two pie charts, shown below, answer those questions graphically. This article provides more context.
Our income
Our income in 2022 was $51,825 USD.
Most of that income (40%, or $20,724 USD) came from our donors. A few donors, called Queridos Amigos, have pledged $100 USD per month for three years. Other donors give smaller amounts either monthly or occasionally. Monthly donations of any amount are extremely valuable to us because they enable us to plan our activities in the knowledge that funds will be available for them.
Monthly donations of any amount
are extremely valuable to us
because they enable us to plan our activities.
We ask our sterilization clients to support us modestly by contributing the equivalent of US $7.50 per case, regardless of whether an animal is a dog or a cat, female or a male. Their contributions are included among the donations shown in the chart. A few sterilization clients contribute more than $7.50 per case; others who are unable to afford even our modest fee receive the service without charge.
Our second major source of income is our fundraising activities—mainly the anniversary Fiesta and auction each February, but also, our Meet and Greet last September, our Christmas market, tee shirt sales, and greeting card sales. From time to time, we receive donations in kind, such as veterinary and campaign supplies, which are gratefully accepted.
The 501(c)3, or nonprofit, status of our US corporation has facilitated donations from U.S. donors. We were fortunate in 2022 to receive two grants totaling US $12,000 from U.S. family trusts. They, too, have enabled us to invest in our essential activities.
A monetary value cannot be assigned to the work of our volunteers, but it is extremely significant. Without their dedicated support, we could not exist.
We receive no support from the Mexican government, although we are registered with the federal government as asociación civil, or nonprofit organization. That is because Mexico recognizes as eligible for its support only charitable organizations whose mission explicitly benefits humans, not animals.
Our expenses
Our expenses in 2022 were $37,595 USD. By far the largest share (78%, or $29,202 USD) was for the sterilization campaigns. The average cost of a sterilization case is about $23 USD.
We provide the equipment, medical supplies, transportation of the equipment and supplies to the campaign sites, a modest fee per case to the three veterinarians who conduct most of the surgeries, and a modest monthly stipend to our sterilization campaign coordinator. Because the Mexican government does not recognize Amigos as a tax-exempt organization, we pay the customary 16% value-added tax, called IVA, on all our supplies except some medicines.
In contrast, expenses for our educational activities are very modest: just 6%, or $2,265 USD in 2022. Our bus messages represent the major educational expense in 2022. We expect educational costs to rise somewhat during 2023, as our Teaching Children Compassion for Animals initiative gains momentum. But again, we rely on volunteers to conduct this program.
We have also been very fortunate this year to be invited to give regular interviews about pets’ needs and pet owners’ responsibilities on the popular television program “Despierta Guanajuato” (“Wake Up Guanajuato”) on Channel 8. The interviews cost us nothing.
Fundraising represents just 6% of our expenses ($2,275 USD), and most of those expenses are associated with our February fiesta.