Now Accepting Nominations for the Carole Noon and Outstanding Sanctuary Awards
On behalf of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries Board of Directors and GFAS Award Committee, we are excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2025 Carole Noon and Outstanding Sanctuary Awards!
The GFAS Carole Noon Award is given annually to an individual who embodies and puts into practice the GFAS philosophy of vision, dedication, and excellence in animal care at sanctuaries. The award was created in 2009 to honor outstanding contributions to the animal sanctuary field to memorialize Carole Noon, Ph.D., a courageous and innovative sanctuary pioneer, and champion of chimpanzees.
The Outstanding Sanctuary Awards recognize excellence in humane and responsible animal care; professionalism and ethics; organizational sustainability; public engagement; and contributions to, and leadership within, the sanctuary field. GFAS Accredited/Verified organizations of varying missions are eligible, including sanctuaries which provide lifetime care for animals; transition and rescue centers which temporarily care for animals with a goal of placing them in adoptive homes; and rehabilitation centers which temporarily care for wildlife so that they can be returned to their native environments.
Recipients will be honored in four categories:
- Outstanding Equine Sanctuary of 2025
- Outstanding Farmed Animal Sanctuary of 2025
- Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary of 2025
- Outstanding International Sanctuary of 2025
The deadline for submissions is September 3, 2025.
The GFAS Award Committee, which includes past Carole Noon Award recipients, reviews all nominations, and makes recommendations; the full GFAS Board of Directors then makes the final selection. The award recipients are honored publicly, receive an engraved plaque, and are presented with a gift for their affiliated organization.
For full nomination requirements, evaluation criteria, and nomination forms, please see the GFAS website. For questions, please e-mail
GFAS Accredited, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest recently rescued George, a chimpanzee previously held by West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon, Oregon. After receiving numerous animal welfare violations, the roadside zoo was recently shut down and over 300 animals were seized. As usual, many GFAS sanctuaries stepped up to rescue all kinds of animals held there. Before being dumped at the roadside zoo, George was exploited in the entertainment industry as a young chimpanzee. George has had a tough life under human control. Thankfully, those memories can now fade as George gets to experience peaceful and fun days exploring his new sanctuary home, developing trust in his new caregivers, and hopefully with time, building bonds with new chimpanzee friends. George’s enthusiasm for his new home is truly heartwarming as you can see in this video of his first time out in the habitat: George Explores The Bray
Welcome to Brazil Kenya and Pupy!
In a truly remarkable feat, GFAS Accredited, Global Sanctuary for Elephants, has removed the last captive elephants from Argentina. Kenya, a female African elephant, had been held solitary in a small zoo enclosure for decades. In all of that time, she hasn’t even seen another elephant. And now that has changed. Kenya will experience autonomy and choice as she comes to discover herself and nature once more. She joins Pupy, a female African elephant who was also transported out of Argentina this past June and is relishing her natural habitat. These two will now traverse at will, a vast landscape as was always meant to be. With the support of the GSE team, and the bounty of nature, the promise of true sanctuary has arrived.
Check out this amazing timeline of Kenya’s journey: Kenyas Relocation to Sanctuary – Global Sanctuary for Elephants and learn Pupy’s story: Pupy – Global Sanctuary for Elephants
Follow their progress and cheer them (and the other girls) on here: Global Sanctuary for Elephants – Elephant Sanctuary Brazil
Resources
Webinars from Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare – This source does cover welfare improvements to industry practice as well as individual animals. GFAS does not endorse animal production practices. However, webinars regarding pain management, etc. are useful and relevant to sanctuary care.
New study shows how important sanctuary representation is to the animal protection message.
European Association of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries: report on wildlife rescue efforts within zoos
Pro-Tip: Why Every Animal Sanctuary Needs a Strategic Accounting Partner
Article written by Non-Profit Books. For inquiries or questions about the accounting and bookkeeping services offered, email: or send a message.
Non-profit animal sanctuaries serve a critical role in saving, protecting, and nurturing animals in need. The staff and volunteers at these sanctuaries bring unmatched compassion and dedication to animal welfare. Often, sanctuaries have a basic bookkeeper managing receipts, recording expenses, and handling routine transactions. However, relying solely on basic bookkeeping can keep organizations stuck in survival mode rather than empowering them to thrive and expand their impact. Here’s why adding a strategic accounting partner to your team is not just helpful, it’s vital for your financial health and long-term mission.
- Moving Beyond Record-Keeping to Financial Leadership
A bookkeeper ensures your entries are accurate and up to date, but their job is more about day-to-day processing than financial leadership. A strategic accounting partner serves as a financial navigator, helping sanctuary leaders interpret numbers, spot trends, and transform basic data into actionable insights. This bigger-picture thinking transforms raw financial numbers into stories and strategies that move your mission forward.
- Enhancing Grant and Donor Confidence
Most non-profits rely on grants and donations. Sophisticated funders increasingly expect robust financial planning, oversight, and transparent reporting. A strategic accountant can prepare your organization for audits, help you track restricted funds, and package your financials in a donor-friendly way. This professionalism reassures funders that their gifts are stewarded with care and can set your sanctuary apart from others competing for the same donations.
- Proactive Risk Management and Compliance
Non-profits face complex compliance requirements and potential risks – be it with IRS rules, grant covenants, or state charity laws. Missing a critical deadline, misclassifying a transaction, or failing to allocate expenses properly could jeopardize your funding or lead to penalties. An accounting partner brings expertise in non-profit regulations and can develop systems and checklists that protect your sanctuary and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.
- Stronger Budgeting, Forecasting, and Planning
Animal care organizations often operate on tight budgets, with fluctuating income. A strategic accountant helps you build realistic budgets, perform cash flow forecasting, and plan for the unexpected, like a sudden influx of rescues or an economic downturn. This forward-thinking approach positions your sanctuary to weather financial storms and make strategic decisions about growth, staffing, or infrastructure.
- Maximizing Resources for Greater Impact
A strategic accounting partner can help evaluate the efficiency of your programs, identify areas where you might save money or increase impact, and measure your financial progress against your mission goals. This doesn’t just save dollars, it means more resources to help animals, improve facilities, and expand outreach.
Passion for animal welfare powers your sanctuary, but financial strategy sustains it. By investing in a strategic accounting partner, you empower your organization to tell its story proudly, deliver confident stewardship to funders, and make decisions with clarity. With an experienced financial advocate by your side, your sanctuary can move beyond survival and thrive in its mission to care for animals in need.
GFAS Policy on Organizational Updates
A friendly reminder for our currently Accredited and Verified groups, to keep us, at GFAS, up to date with any major changes which occur at your sanctuary organization. Although GFAS status is for three years, we are delighted to hear from our certified groups at any time!
Click here to find the GFAS policy on organizational updates. Thanks so much for your review and assistance.
Certifications and Renewals
Over the past month GFAS has transitioned one group from Verified to Accredited status and renewed two organization!
Congratulations to all these groups!
Verified to Accredited
Rising Starr Horse Rescue, Connecticut
Renewal
Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Florida
Wolf Haven International, Washington