Honoring Jim Moore: Building compassion from the ground up

Former FAAS CEO John L. Lipp sings the praises of Jim Moore at the groundbreaking for the FAAS Medical Center as Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft looks on

Every year, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) presents the Noah Award to an individual whose vision and dedication have transformed the lives of animals and people in our community. This year, we are proud to honor Jim Moore – developer, contractor, and longtime FAAS champion – whose vision is woven into nearly every chapter of our story.

Jim joined the FAAS board in 2015, a pivotal moment in our organization’s history. Drawing on his expertise in planning and development, he helped renegotiate the animal shelter “service contract” model with the City of Alameda.

Over the years, Jim has become FAAS’s trusted design-build partner. He led the creation of our South Shore Adoption Center and was the driving force behind the new FAAS Medical Center — helping us move from an ambitious $10 million, multi-year project to a beautifully functional facility completed in record time and at one-third of the cost.

Jim Moore (right) with FAAS CEO Adrien Abuyen and Alameda City Council member Tracy Jensen

Jim has gone above and beyond throughout the process, donating labor, securing discounted or donated materials, and staying deeply involved to make sure every detail supports our mission.

Through his company, Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods, Jim has also built facilities for Cat Town, Fix Our Ferals, and other animal rescues — often providing pro bono project management to ensure these organizations have safe, functional, and welcoming spaces. Beyond animal welfare, his work has improved lives across the Bay Area.

He has overseen Oakland projects like the Wood Street Campus and Community Cabins, providing more than 1,300 beds for unhoused residents, and has contributed to civic landmarks such as San Francisco’s Rincon Center, The Cannery, Mills College, Elmhurst Library, and City Slicker Farms.

“Jim Moore is more than a builder,” says John L. Lipp, FAAS’s recently retired long-term CEO. “Quite literally, he is a person who gets the job done, no matter the obstacles. When we needed to grow, he made it possible. And through it all, he’s been a partner, a brother, and a friend. I can’t imagine FAAS without him.”

FAAS would not be the organization it is today without Jim Moore. From playing a central role in renegotiating life-saving contracts to designing spaces that embody compassion, he has helped shape both our history and our future.

“Jim’s integrity, generosity, and vision continue to inspire everyone at FAAS,” says FAAS CEO Adrien Abuyen. “He’s continually demonstrated what it means to build not just structures, but a community that cares deeply for animals and the people who love them.”

At this year’s After the Ball Gala, we are honored to present him with the Noah Award, celebrating not just what he has built, but the heart behind it.