This three-year strategic plan is broken down into categories that align with core functions of Harmony Farm Sanctuary’s Leadership Team: Animal Care, People, Capital and Infrastructure, Operational Safety and Resilience, Community Education and Advocacy, Sustainability, and Financial Sustainability.
The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration of operations and activities that serve these goals and for providing the Board of Directors with quarterly updates on progress.
I. Animal Care​
While Harmony Farm Sanctuary’s primary mission is to rescue and rehabilitate animals, HFS also understands that space and other resource constraints limit the ability to provide a safe and comfortable home to meet the rescue demand in Central Oregon.
A. Objective:
Provide continuous high-quality care to animal residents.
Activities
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In order to provide the best care possible, the Animal Care Team will continuously monitor the health, behavior, and temperament of animal residents and provide the necessary guidance to volunteers to ensure the most safe and efficient daily routines for animal care. Proper care for life-long animal residents is HFS’ primary concern and represents more than 75% of our annual operating costs. Animal care costs include veterinary services, medication, farrier services, sheep shearing, emergency care, grain, hay, nutritional supplements, enrichment activities, fence and shelter building and maintenance, manure management, and more. Whenever possible, HFS relies on experienced and trained volunteers to provide care.
B. Objective:
Ensure that all animal residents have regular access to mentally stimulating toys and/or treats.
Activities:
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Provide treats, balls, puzzles, and more to animal residents
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C. Objective:
Help to rescue animals that will go to another sanctuary or home.
Activities:
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Develop and document processes/protocols for helping with third party rescues
II. People
Properly trained volunteers are essential to the successful operation of Harmony Farm Sanctuary. In 2022, HFS trained and scheduled 30 new volunteers for at least one shift each month. As of April 2023, HFS has approximately 100 committed volunteers.
A. Objective:
Implement a system for ensuring that all volunteers are properly trained and review and sign Harmony Farm Sanctuary’s volunteer handbook and liability waiver.
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Activities
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To help ensure that all volunteers are properly trained, HFS has created a comprehensive volunteer handbook, require all volunteers to read and sign its updated volunteer waiver, participate in a Volunteer Safety Orientation, and shadow senior volunteers for 20 hours before becoming an official volunteer.
B. Objective:
Build and strengthen HFS’ volunteer base while maintaining a safe environment for the animals and the people.
Activities
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Engage in at least three community events each year
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Implement new volunteer recruitment methods
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Host quarterly events to bolster community amongst volunteers
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Continue providing sanctuary tours and identifying potential volunteers
C. Objective:
Hire paid staff.
Activity:
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Provide an annual and recurring salary to the Executive Director
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Hire a part-time staff member (Leadership Team to define position) to assist with farm and animal maintenance
D. Objective:
Develop a comprehensive organizational structure.
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Activities
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Formalize position descriptions and terms of positions and identify responsibilities for each member of the Leadership Team and Board of Directors
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Begin to identify future members for the Leadership Team and Board of Directors
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III. Capital and Infrastructure
A. Objective:
Upgrade technology for better donor engagement, public education, and more.
Activities:
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Install internet in the barn
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Upgrade the electrical system throughout the barn allowing us to have heat in the pig stalls and bringing electricity to the tiny house and to the future Infirmary Barn
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Install running, hot water, and a big sink in the barn
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B. Objective:
Ensure that food and hay are properly secured.
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Activities
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Install an adequate container system for food storage in the barn
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C. Objective:
Install an infirmary barn to assist with rehabilitating farmed animals including but not limited to HFS’ current animal residents.
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Activities
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Bring electric out to the new barn location
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Get 3 quotes for approximately 12x24 foot barn structures
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Purchase the infirmary barn BOD approves
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Insulate the infirmary barn
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Purchase metal “cages” for smaller, sick animals, purchase a metal table
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Install cabinets or other necessary storage for items needed in the barn.
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IV. Operational Safety and Resilience
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A. Objective:
Create a Fire Evacuation Plan.
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Activities
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Create a committee of volunteers who are interested in helping create a plan and preparing for an emergency
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Draft and formalize a fire evacuation plan
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B. Objective:
Create a Farm Operating Manual.
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Activities
Draft and formalize a farm operating manual
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V. Community Education and Advocacy
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A. Objective:
Create a formal community education and advocacy program.
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Activities
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Establish a Community Education and Advocacy team
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Define what “community education and advocacy” means
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Schedule regular meetings
B. Objective:
Formally develop a program for at-risk/vulnerable/underrepresented community engagement.
Activities
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Develop and curriculum for at-risk/vulnerable/underrepresented youth
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Find and train volunteers to help run the program
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Build relationships with various programs/non profits in Central Oregon
C. Objective:
Develop a humane education program.
Activities
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Develop curriculum for student programs who partner with the sanctuary
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Build relationships with schools in Central Oregon
D. Objective:
Lobby in support of animal protection measures.
Activities
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Identify at least three proposed policies that would benefit animals and act in support
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Add the chosen policies to the newsletter and social media accounts to spread the word about the policies and the work HFS is doing
VI. Environmental Sustainability
A. Objective:
Implement efficient and ethical composting.
Activities
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Train three volunteers to drive the tractor
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Turn the compost pile at least twice a month
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Build relationships with local gardeners who want the compost
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Post available compost on social media for pick up as compost is ready
B. Objective:
Plant vegetable garden to provide vegetables to animal residents, maintain watering of shade trees on sanctuary grounds, and plant shrubs for chickens.
Activities
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Partner with Sisters Garden Club to assist with spring garden preparedness and tree watering
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Train volunteers to water the trees and help maintain the garden
C. Objective:
Reduce water usage.
Activities
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Teach volunteers how to avoid wasting water
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Set up a system to reuse water from the duck ponds to water the trees
D. Objective:
Promote recycling.
Activities
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Continue collecting Oregon Refundable cans/bottles for the Bottle Drop program
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Recycle non-refundable glass and plastic, empty feed bags and cardboard
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Improve the labeling of bins on farm to help facilitate recycling
VII. Financial Sustainability
A. Objective:
Secure sufficient committed monthly donations to cover base animal care, feed, maintenance, paid staff, and operating expenditures.
Activities
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Design social media fundraising templates
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Identify a standard process for fundraising “asks” (social media, email, newsletter, email, patreon, etc.)
B. Objective:
Formalize processes for tracking sources of donations and detailed costs to allow for a better understanding of effectiveness of specific fundraising efforts and costs of rescuing/homing specific types of animals.
Activities
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Establish a process for tracking in-kind contributions, food, and other materials
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Establish a process for providing receipts/thank yous, etc.
C. Objective:
Raise sufficient funds to hire an Executive Director.
Activities
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Conduct market research to determine a fair salary for a full-time executive director
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Create a position description, including salary band and total compensation
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Apply for grant funding that could support staff salary
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Create a budget for FY2024 that includes a salary line item
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