By Hector Gonzalez
Special to The Lookout

December 9, 2015 -- Similar in function to the support and fund-raising group, Friends of Santa Monica Public Library, a new nonprofit organization of volunteers has officially been sanctioned to work on behalf of the City's animal shelter.

City Council members, as part of the consent calendar for Tuesday's meeting agenda, approved articles of incorporation and a set of bylaws for the new Friends of the Santa Monica Animal Shelter, allowing it to become a federally recognized nonprofit organization.

Council members last year approved a staff proposal to create a nonprofit entity to help off-set some of the shelter's costs through fundraising, and also to formalize the shelter's relationship with donors and animal-care professionals who volunteer their time at the facility at 1640 9th Street.

Setting up the new entity will be relatively cheap, $850 to apply for federal tax exemption status, according to City staff.

Staff researched founding documents for similar local nonprofits such as the library support group and the Santa Monica Arts Foundation, then drafted articles of incorporation and bylaws “tailored” to meet the main objective of the new shelter group -- increasing donations through fundraising and community partnerships.

As a result of the Council’s action, benefactors to the new nonprofit organization can receive a tax deduction for their donations, which is not currently the case.

Operated by the Santa Monica Police Department, the City's shelter already relies heavily on volunteers who help with its daily operation, including feeding, cleaning, vaccinating and preparing animals for adoption, among other service.

Along with stray dogs, cats and other found animals, the shelter houses the Police Department’s K-9 dogs and horses.

Donations are the main way the City pays for veterinary procedures at the shelter. Without donors many surgeries and other procedure “would otherwise be cost-prohibitive,” said a 2014 staff report.

But donations account for less than 1 percent of the shelter's operations.

“Currently, there is no mechanism for a potential donor to receive a tax deduction for donations, therefore the majority of these potential donors decide to give elsewhere,” staff wrote.

“As a result, the Santa Monica Animal Shelter loses the opportunity to utilize donated funds, goods, and services to benefit the animals it serves.”

Giving donors the opportunity to legally deduct their contributions would increase donations to the shelter, which “in turn would increase the level of services provided” at the facility, said the staff report.

With additional funds to support existing services, the shelter could provide lower-cost spay and neuter surgeries and microchips.

The shelter also could acquire a new mobile veterinary clinic, as well as provide animal adoption starter kits and animal emergency preparedness kits “equipped with individual transport kennels,” staff said.

The new organization will be headed by a six-member board, including five voting members made up of local residents and one City employee, whose primary function would be fundraising.

The board would meet regularly in meetings open to the public, the staff report said.