Compass, Survey & Scoring

How the ACSMM™ Guides Shelters

Your Guide to Achieve No-Kill Operations Starts Here

The Compass Survey is the entry point into the Animal Care Shelter Maturity Model (ACSMM™). It’s a structured selfassessment designed to help shelter leaders understand where they stand today and identify the path forward. By aligning questions to the eight core domains of ACSMM™, it provides a comprehensive snapshot of a shelter organization’s practices, policies, culture, and outcomes.

  • Eight Domains, 6 Maturity Levels, One Survey: Each section of the survey maps directly to an ACSMM™ domain (e.g., Governance, Medical & Behavioral Care, Community Engagement).

  • Quantitative & Qualitative Data: Participants rate their current practices and can add context through openended comments.

  • Collaborative Process: While the survey can be completed individually, it’s most powerful when senior leaders and key team members complete it together, fostering shared understanding.

How the Compass Survey Works

From Answers to Action: Scoring Methodology

  • Weighting by Importance: Each question carries a weighted score to reflect its relative impact on lifesaving outcomes.

  • Domain Scores & Overall Level: Responses are aggregated into a numeric score for each domain and then into an overall maturity level (Negligent, Aware, Developing, Structured, Integrated, or Institutionalized).

  • Comparative Insights: Scores highlight strengths and opportunities across domains, pointing the way to targeted improvements.

The Auto Scoring Tool

To ensure consistency and speed, the Auto Scoring Tool instantly calculates results once the survey is completed. It:

  • Generates Reports: Automatically creates a detailed report with charts and tables showing domain scores, overall maturity level, and recommended next steps.

  • Ensures Data Integrity: Uses a tested algorithm to eliminate human error and keep results confidential.

  • Tracks Progress Over Time: Allows shelters to compare their scores across different years or cohorts, enabling continuous improvement.

Why It Matters

Understanding where your shelter falls on the ACSMM™ spectrum is the first step toward lasting change. The Compass Survey and Auto Scoring Tool:

  • Provide Clarity: Remove guesswork by translating everyday practices into measurable scores.

  • Drive Accountability: Let leaders set specific goals and track improvements objectively.

  • Empower Decisions: Help prioritize resources, policies, and programs to achieve NoKill excellence.

Get Started

Ready to see where your shelter stands? Contact us to schedule your Compass Survey and get started on your roadmap. Our team will guide you through the process and help you interpret your results so you can plan your next steps with confidence.