The Gentle Barn recently published their financial documents for 2024, and the numbers leave us with even more questions and concern for the animals. Despite reporting revenue of nearly $4.3M in 2024, the organization ended the year at loss of over $640K. They ended 2023 at a loss of over $360K. After reporting large and growing financial deficits in 2023 and 2024, it's hard to imagine why the organization's board of directors didn't flag and address these issues earlier—potentially avoiding the current $2M crisis they claim to be in.

The breakdown of expenses outlined in Gentle Barn’s 2024 990 Form shows that of the reported expenses, an astounding $2.3M went to salaries. The most disappointing revelation is that despite the financial instability of the organization, the founders and executive staff all received raises in 2024, and that the organization continues to fund first-class flights for the founders.

Co-Founder Jay Weiner's salary grew to $159,390 in 2024 (from $149,326 in 2023), and other reported pay bumps were as high as 25%. Founder Ellie Laks' salary did not increase, but the rent that the organization pays Ellie for use of her California property grew by 27% in 2024 to $92,400, raising her overall compensation by more than $18,000 compared to the previous year.

Founders Jay & Ellie, a married couple, earned a combined $396,600 in 2024, between their salaries and rent income. According to MIT's Living Wage Calculator, the living wage for a married couple in Los Angeles County with one dependent is $26.71/hr per person, or just under $112K per year combined (based on a 40hr work week). With their organization in financial trouble, why would the founders receive compensation so much higher than necessary?

Given this information, any fiscally responsible nonprofit could have seen a financial crisis coming and made adjustments to prevent it. Erin Nelson, an associate professor of nonprofit management, said in an article published this week in The Tennessean newspaper: "You shouldn't be $2 million in the hole so soon. They should have been able to weather it further with adequate financial planning."

So why did the board approve large raises and increased rent if Tennessee needed support and the animals were in danger of losing their home? We have to question if this organization's priority is truly the animals, as they say, or if the founders are more motivated by personal gain.

The animals deserve to have their care and wellbeing at the forefront of every decision, especially with a closure looming in the very near future. Now is the time to demand financial transparency and a safe rehoming & transport plan for the animals in Tennessee.

Voice your concerns to The Gentle Barn today:

• Comment on their Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok posts
• https://www.gentlebarn.org/contact/
• Call the main office at (661) 252-2440
• Email board member Claudia Goodman at claudia@claudiagoodman.com (publicly available via Google)
• Email board member Marc Hernandez at marc.hernandez@compass.com (publicly available via Google)