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All fundraising ideas
Fundraising ideas for animal shelters
With millions of animals entering shelters each year, the financial need to aid these furry friends is substantial—not to mention the costs required to pay the humans who care for them.
Whether you’re raising funds for your own shelter or are an animal lover seeking to contribute to the cause, look no further. These animal shelter fundraising ideas will help you meet your goals and create adoption opportunities.
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Featured campaign
Rockingham Harrisonburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Help Us Unleash a $15,000 Matching Gift!
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24-hour relay race
Create the ultimate relay race for rival schools in your district and charge an entrance fee for spectators. Encourage each school to create a team fundraising page where friends and family can show their support with donations and progress toward their goal in real time.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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Peer-to-peer
Virtual auction
Take the bidding online by allowing participants to browse your silent auction catalog, place bids, and win from anywhere!
Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.
Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
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Auctions
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Pet therapy
Invite local animal shelters to bring adoptable dogs and cats to campus during midterms or finals to reduce student stress and raise money for a good cause.
Charge an entry fee and sell inexpensive extras like dog and cat treats. Be sure to offer multiple ways to purchase treats in-person like scan-to-donate and Venmo!
Charge an entry fee and sell inexpensive extras like dog and cat treats. Be sure to offer multiple ways to purchase treats in-person like scan-to-donate and Venmo!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Holiday card campaign
Craft a festive holiday card to mail directly or send digitally to your supporters. Extend season’s greetings, express gratitude for their support, and invite them to contribute toward your year-end fundraising goals.
Use Givebutter’s built-in Canva integration to add a little extra cheer to your letters or emails in just a few clicks.
Use Givebutter’s built-in Canva integration to add a little extra cheer to your letters or emails in just a few clicks.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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Bring your pet to work day
Employees make a donation and bring their furry friends to work with them for the day. Organize pet-themed activities and competitions to raise additional funds. To get remote employees involved, livestream some of the activities and invite coworkers to tune in!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Legacy giving
Encourage supporters to make a planned gift to your organization (e.g., bequests, charitable trusts, or beneficiary designations) to leave a lasting legacy. Wealth screening software can help you identify the best donors to reach out to right in your CRM.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
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Donation forms
Dog walking
Set up a service in which volunteers will walk or play with community members' dogs in exchange for a donation.
Simplify the experience for your supporters by using custom labels to create specific options on your donation forms, like $50 for a 2-hour walk.
Simplify the experience for your supporters by using custom labels to create specific options on your donation forms, like $50 for a 2-hour walk.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Auctions
Pet contest
For National Pet Week, plan a pet competition. Ask people to send in photos of their pets to be judged in various categories like Funniest Pet or Most Adorable. Charge an entry fee, and work with local companies to sponsor a prize.
Invite people to submit their pets via your supporter feed for an engaging way to send in photos alongside their donations.
Invite people to submit their pets via your supporter feed for an engaging way to send in photos alongside their donations.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
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Spring cleaning
Rally volunteers together for a spring cleaning of your community space or a street in your neighborhood. Reach out to local businesses to sponsor the event and offer supplies. Then, invite donations from your local community with scan-to-donate signage as you work!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Beach day
Arrange a day of sand and sun for your team members, volunteers, and the wider community with beach games, a picnic, and lots of family fun.
Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!
Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!
Cost:
2
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2
Impact:
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Membership drive
Incentivize supporters to invite friends and family to sign up for a membership during a specific period of time. Offer discounted rates or additional perks, and accept recurring donations with ease on a user-friendly platform.
Cost:
1
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2
Impact:
3
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Outdoor adventure day
Charge participants a registration fee for a whole day of activities like hiking, fishing, and nature walks. Use free marketing tools to tease different activities and remind supporters of what they need to bring along on the day of!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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Pet picture day
Ask a photographer in your area to volunteer to take pictures of pets and their owners at a local park. Customize your fundraising event page with time-slotted tickets to make the day go smoothly.
Cost:
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2
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Pet costume contest
Invite owners to enter their pets in costume categories such as "cutest" or "most creative." Charge an entry fee and ask attendees to vote on their stylish furry favorite by donating to the pet’s individual fundraising page.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
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Fundraising page
Pet photo calendar
Create a pet photo calendar featuring adorable photos of shelter animals. Sell the calendars online using a donation form or fundraising page and at local events, too!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
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Photo contest
Run a short photo contest for an inexpensive, all-ages fundraiser. Choose a theme, charge a small fee to enter, and invite community members to submit their photos alongside their donations in your supporter feed.
Raise even more by turning the top photos into a deck of cards or a calendar.
Raise even more by turning the top photos into a deck of cards or a calendar.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Pet spa day
Recruit volunteers to perform various pet grooming services like bathing and nail trimming. Charge a fee for every “treatment” at this fundraising event by offering tiered ticket types for various services and combinations.
Cost:
2
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2
Impact:
2
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Horseback riding
Charge a fee for donated guided trail rides or lessons with trained instructors. To give participants access to more activities, offer custom ticket types for this memorable fundraising event.
Cost:
1
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1
Impact:
2
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Pet-friendly bake sale
Choose a location in a high-pet-traffic area, request treat donations from pet supply stores, and get to selling! Offer multiple methods for payment including scan-to-donate and Venmo.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
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Year-end fundraiser
Celebrate the end of the year with a big annual fundraiser. Host an event and attract donations and support with a silent auction, peer-to-peer campaign, and more.
Use the year-end giving checklist to make sure you’ve covered every angle!
Use the year-end giving checklist to make sure you’ve covered every angle!
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2
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Impact:
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Frequently asked questions
How do animal shelters raise money?
Animal shelters raise money through donations, adoption fees, grants, and corporate sponsorships, as well as animal-themed fundraising ideas like pet-friendly bake sales and auctions. Many animal fundraiser ideas also utilize social media to reach a wider audience and solicit more donations.
What are the best pet rescue fundraising ideas?
Some of the best animal rescue fundraiser ideas involve both pet owners and their furry friends. Pet photo shoots, spa days, or competitive dog walks are all pet fundraising ideas that people love. Each supports the fundraising efforts of animal welfare organizations while also sparking joy. Other great animal-related fundraising ideas include selling products like pet calendars and treats.
How do I organize a charity dog/pet walk?
One of the most popular fundraising ideas for animal rescue organizations is a pet walk. It’s a great way to get your whole community involved in fundraising for animals while enjoying the company of their own pet at the same time.
To organize a walk, start by selecting a date, location, and route. Then, promote the event through social media, email newsletters, and flyers. Set registration fees and create fundraising pages for participants to collect donations. On the day of the walk, offer food, merchandise, and even additional activities to create more fundraising opportunities. Finally, thank participants and donors for their support and share the success of the event through social media and other channels.
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