Our Strategic Plan

At the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, our commitments to animal welfare and our community drive everything we do. Our strategic plan is a roadmap for the future, guiding our efforts to enhance our impact and serve our community to our organization’s greatest potential. This plan reflects our dedication to continuous improvement, ensuring that we remain a powerful advocate for animals and a trusted resource for those who care for them. Explore our vision for the future and see how we’re shaping a more compassionate world.

Our Vision:

Our vision is a compassionate community where every animal thrives.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to foster a caring community where companion animals excel in a safe and loving environment, achieved through outreach, advocacy, and comprehensive animal services for our community.

Our Commitment:

With our expertise, resources, and inclusive partnerships, the SPCA is committed to fostering a world where every living being is treated with respect, empathy, and dignity. Through united efforts, we aim to create a lasting impact on the well-being of both animals and their caregivers, ensuring they receive the support they rightfully deserve.

Core Programming:

Shelter Services:
We provide a range of services, including stray and protective custody, owner surrender, transport, adoption, return to guardian, foster, volunteer, and animal care. Our shelter medicine and veterinary clinic services, including high-volume spay/neuter, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), cremation services, compassionate care, and preventive medicine, ensure the health and well-being of animals in our community.

Community Engagement:
Our community engagement initiatives include our Thrift Store, Pet Pantry, pet owner support, and advocacy efforts. These programs are designed to support pet owners and enhance the welfare of animals in our care.

Upcoming Goals and Strategies

Facility Updates: 20 Years Together

As we celebrate our 20th year in our current building, we recognize the importance of refreshing and modernizing our space to meet the evolving needs of our community.

Tactics

  • Capital Needs Assessment: We will conduct a formal assessment of our facility, vehicles, and land needs anticipated over the next 5-10 years.
  • Animal Welfare Market Analysis: We will complete a comprehensive survey and assessment of the services being provided in our region and evaluate the sustainability of our programming.
  • City/County Contract: Finalize negotiations related to public services.
  • Shelter Capacity Analysis: Analyze the efficacy and throughput of services offered.
Goals
  • Future Planning: Plan building and service needs.
  • Address Gaps: Identify and fix service gaps.
  • Predict Needs: Forecast animal population changes.
  • Resource Management: Ensure resources are sustainable.
  • Guide Projects: Plan future investments.
  • Upgrade Facility: Improve the building and equipment.
  • Increase Impact: Enhance program effectiveness.
  • Strategic Focus: Maximize the use of building, vehicles, and land for growth and efficacy.

Thrift Store: Transforming with Purpose

As we celebrate our 20th year in our current building, we recognize the importance of refreshing and modernizing our space to meet the evolving needs of our community.

Tactics

  • Optimize Operations: Improve efficiency through training and strategy development.
  • Track Metrics: Monitor input and output.
  • Diversify Donation Sources: Seek donations from designers and local warehouses, in addition to community donation support.
  • Marketing Campaigns: Expand reach and online presence.
  • Brand Consistency: Link shelter retail space with our off-site store.
  • Cross Branding: Use the off-site store to offer services.

Goals

  • Measure Output: Achieve optimal results.
  • Sustainable Funding: Offset program costs.
  • Increase Impact & Reach: Benefit both people and pets.
  • Community Engagement: Create more opportunities to leverage the space for increased engagement.

People-Centric Approach: Empowering Lives, Enhancing Welfare

The SPCA acknowledges that its mission extends equally to both animals and the humans who care for them. Human guardians, staff members and volunteers are all integral parts of the animal welfare equation.

Tactics

  • Staff and Volunteer Training: Enhance orientation, onboarding, and ongoing training for staff, volunteers, and board members.
  • Community Engagement: Increase services and events in the community.
  • Partnerships: Build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships.
  • Fair Compensation: Ensure all employees receive fair wages.
  • Benefit Review: Update benefits to attract and retain diverse, qualified employees.

Goals

  • Improve Satisfaction & Retention: Boost staff and volunteer satisfaction, recruitment, and retention.
  • Career Promotion: Highlight animal welfare as a career path.
  • Increase Service Usage: Expand access to our services.
  • Boost Involvement: Increase community involvement through volunteerism and events.

Rebranding & Message Enhancement:

The SPCA serves as a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. To maximize our impact and continue our mission, it is crucial that we strengthen our communications and messaging. By refining our brand voice, we can ensure that our message is clear, resonant, and capable of driving the greatest good.

Tactics

  • Rebrand: Update our logo, vision, and mission statement.
  • Define Voice: Set clear messaging and communication standards.
  • Website: Complete development, migration and launch to increase functionality.
  • Update Materials: Refresh collateral and communication tools.
  • Strategic Plan: Finalize and roll out the new strategic plan.

Goals

  • Consistent Messaging: Improve organizational consistency.
  • Build Trust: Establish milestones to gain community trust and support.
  • Increase Stewardship: Promote consistency, communication, and positive engagement with our constituents.

Strategic Timeline Overview (2024-2026)

2024

  • Complete Strategic Plan
  • Complete Capital Needs Assessment, finalize city/county contract negotiations.
  • Start Market Analysis, roll out the strategic plan, board retreat and complete website projects.
  • 2025 Budget & Strategy sessions, begin readily achievable building updates.

2025

  • Complete independent building modifications
  • Wrap up Market Analysis, present findings to stakeholders.
  • Start new city/county contract terms, review strategic direction and capital projects.
  • Review Rummage lease options

2026

  • Budget & Strategy Sessions, formal updates to constituents on upcoming initiatives/projects.
  • Update Strategic Plan for the next five years.

For more information, read our blog post!