They have now rid themselves of the other co-founder Scott Blais. The BOD have replaced his $35k salary with 3 new director positions at an unknown cost. They never file their 990 until the last min... more
Elephant Sanctuary
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Rob Atkinson has also left now and they are in search of another CEO. The other co-founder left this year. The ones that need to go are the board of directors.
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How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
They have now rid themselves of the other co-founder Scott Blais. The BOD have replaced his $35k salary with 3 new director positions at an unknown cost. They never file their 990 until the last minute and then it is almost two years old.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the time before the BOD took over when it was a wonderful place.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Get rid of the BOD before they do even more financial damage and harm the elephants.
It just gets worse and worse for this once magnificent charity. A second lawsuit by another employee has been filed against The Elephant Sanctuary. Here is the link to the story.
http://lewisherald.atomicnewstools.com/pages/?p=2495
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing the rescued elephants living as-free-as-possible life.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
boot out the current BOD and reinstate Carol Buckley.
I write this review in memory of a dog named Bella. Who, without the Elephant Sanctuary, would have never known the love of an elephant named Tara. The Elephant sanctuary is a peaceful place for elephants to live out their years with plenty of room to be...elephants.
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Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Why should I continue to donate to an organization whose Baord of Directors ousted the very insirational primary founder and CEO, but did not make that info public until months afterwards so they could continue to solicit donations in her name? This charity does not file mandatory paperwork in a timely manner. The last 990 covers 2009. They were late in filing the proper paperwork to maintain their non-profit status in the state of Tennessee. They do not publicly list their Board of Directors identities nor remuneration on their website. This organization has not submitted to independent financial audit. Their overall Charity Navigator rating has fallen to 3 stars. There are just too many issues with this organization for me to maintain my desire to contribute. There are other elephant welfare organizations that have transparent operations and I believe are more worthy of my hard earned money.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
n/a
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Open the books for audit. Remove the current Board of Directors. Reinstate the former co-founder. Work to overcome the damage done by the current Board of Directors in order to regain the respect of the public and donors.
I had been a donor for eleven years because of the excellence of the dream that Carol Buckley created for old, sick, and needy elephants. I kept in touch with what they did during all that time, through newsletters, web site, national news media, and special programs about animals that included The Elephant Sanctuary. All during this time, they did everything right! I contributed all I could and even set up a trust that was to go to them upon my passing.
Now, however, that evil people, attracted by the money good people have donated to help the elephants, have descended into the Sanctuary, huge amounts of money are being given to spouses of board members and to contractors who have done no work. Worst of all, they have, in a coup that blindsided her, ousted Carol Buckley, the inspiration for The Elephant Sanctuary, without whom the Sanctuary never would have existed or have been the excellent refuge for beleaguered elephants that it was. They knew she would never stand for their evil acts -- in fact, she closed the bank account from which the spouse and contractor had been paid!! This is all described in the lawsuit Carol filed against the Sanctuary, referenced in a comment above.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
A heaven on earth for elephants while Carol Buckley was there, and grief and dismay at her being ousted. No way can these people properly care for the elephants -- all they care about is getting as much money as they can out of it!
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Throw out every board and staff member and reinstate Carol Buckley immediately! If any staff member was not directly involved in Carol's ousting, they're still complicit by staying there and helping them do their evil deeds instead of quitting in protest!
I have supported The Elephant Sanctuary for years. I even have my front
license plate from this organization. I read "Water for Elephants" and can't help but want to help those beautiful creatures. However, the news
letters have changed and I have become suspicious of the new organization. Why is is possible for the "founders" to be fired. My biggest concern right now is the elephants and their care. I have noticed that more have died and fewer have found sanctuary since these changes have occured. Shame on you.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
reading every word of the newsletters in the past and finding many changes in the focus and goals.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
reinstate the original founders and get back to the original mission and the original donors would then come back also.
I have donated to this charity for several years, but stopped in this last year when I had more questions than answers given.
Donor beware as this charity has lost its non-profit status with the State of Tennessee.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
receiving no follow up to my emails after being a donor of 10 + years.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Respond to your donors. Let people know what is going on. Do NOT ignore those who donate and keep you operating. Also, adhere to the original mission to rescue elephants. When was the last elephant rescued?
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Unsure
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
Fifteen years ago, Carol Buckley had a dream for her personally owned elephant. That dream was The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. She built this dream into a reality and became nationally known as one of the foremost authorities on the rehabilitation of sick and exploited zoo and circus elephants. She sacrificed her own personal comfort and wealth in order to build a place where elephants would be safe and put aside enough money to insure their well-being for years to come. One day, a hostile takeover from within the ranks, threw Carol out and The Elephant Sanctuary (TES) has been turned into a high dollar organization. High salaried CEOs have been hired, PR people, attorneys, and more "management staff" than Carol needed to run the entire sanctuary. My husband and I have not only stopped donating, since the very things that drew us to TES have all been removed and/or changed, and TES is NOT the sanctuary that it was first set up to be. We have also removed them from our Living Trust Endowment Fund. Until Carol Buckley is put back at the helm, we want nothing to do with this charity. They have never been truthful with the donors and have erased Carol from her own vision, dream and reality. They are taking credit for everything with the co-founder now claiming to be the founder. If you love elephants, do NOT donate to The Elephant Sanctuary. They are not disclosing all of the truth.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the untruths and half truths that they publish in their newsletters and online.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get rid of every single person associated with TES and put Carol Buckley back in charge to see if she can undo the damage that has been done since the hostile takeover. AND, to salvage what money they've left that was SUPPOSED to go to the elephants, not to high dollar salaries.
The sanctuary was founded in 1995 by two people, Carol Buckley and Scott Blais. There is an error on the Guidestar profile of sanctuary People. Mr. Scott Blais is listed as Founder which is incorrect. When two people perpetuate an enterprise, they forever remain each a Co-founder. To call one person Founder, is to steal the entire endeavor from the other. However this occurred, it needs to be corrected immediately. The other Co-founder, Ms. Buckley, was removed by a vote. Essentially, the vision, the elephant responsible for the vision, and it remains to be seen how much more, seem to have been taken from Ms. Buckley. The reason for this thus far remains a secret.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the period of time before Ms. Buckley was removed and since. There is no comparison. With Ms. Buckley in place, elephants were acquired and donations flourished and ratings were high. That seems to all have changed by the many comments I read to the contrary.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
bring Ms. Buckley back as CEO with a complete reorganization that gives her time to advance sanctuaries elsewhere in the world.
So glad that I stopped donating to them just about the time that Carol was ousted. Lots of fishy and malicious stuff seems to have been and continues to be going on. Shame on them. Review a lot of stuff here - http://www.carolbuckley.com/pdf/Lawsuit_Oct2010.pdf. Thank you to the other reviewer B Ko for the info! : - ) There are two sides to every story - but wow!!!
They seem to still help elephants (thank goodness) - but now you have to wonder how YOUR money is truly being used - payments to the Board's spouses - contractors that do not do any work, etc...
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
newsletters and emails
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Truly find out where donated dollars are going to. Payments to the Board's spouses, broken contracts, payments to contractors that do not do any work - sounds like government workers or the MTA to me. : - )
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