Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi Bre,

I am a grant writer for a nonprofit in Northeastern Minnesota. I'd recommend becoming a partner with Petco Love, Petfinder, and PetSmart Charities if you aren't already. These three organizations have some of the easiest grant applications for shelters/sanctuaries. Additionally, they are all very responsive to questions. 

Unfortunately we don't have our national nonprofit status yet just our statewide status. 

Hi Bre,

I am a grant writer for a nonprofit in Northeastern Minnesota. I'd recommend becoming a partner with Petco Love, Petfinder, and PetSmart Charities if you aren't already. These three organizations have some of the easiest grant applications for shelters/sanctuaries. Additionally, they are all very responsive to questions. 

Hi Bre,

I am a grant writer for a nonprofit in Northeastern Minnesota. I'd recommend becoming a partner with Petco Love, Petfinder, and PetSmart Charities if you aren't already. These three organizations have some of the easiest grant applications for shelters/sanctuaries. Additionally, they are all very responsive to questions. 

Hi Bre, 

It can definitely be hard to know where to start! I would recommend researching foundations in your state that give to animal welfare, you can even reach out to out of state organizations to begin creating a relationship while you work on your national non profit status. Getting on their radar and building a relationship is super helpful for future grant applications. 

I would also say reaching out to local organizations such as rotary clubs, can be helpful. Usually they give to local non profits and many of their members tend to have the resources to provide funding for causes they care about. 

It can also be helpful to reach out to other animal welfare organizations in your area and ask what grants they are applying to. Everyone in the community is usually more than happy to share resources to get more animals the care they need! 

Good Luck! 

Thank you. The issue is the humane society and animal control are the only ones here. Also is tried reaching our to places like rotary with no response.  Should I just keep trying?  I don't want to seem like a stalker 😫 

Hi Bre, 

It can definitely be hard to know where to start! I would recommend researching foundations in your state that give to animal welfare, you can even reach out to out of state organizations to begin creating a relationship while you work on your national non profit status. Getting on their radar and building a relationship is super helpful for future grant applications. 

I would also say reaching out to local organizations such as rotary clubs, can be helpful. Usually they give to local non profits and many of their members tend to have the resources to provide funding for causes they care about. 

It can also be helpful to reach out to other animal welfare organizations in your area and ask what grants they are applying to. Everyone in the community is usually more than happy to share resources to get more animals the care they need! 

Good Luck! 

Bre

First go to the rotary meetings, chamber of commerce meetings, everywhere potential sponsors may be - and don't bring up money/sponsorship etc - just build the relationship. Listen more than talk ask them questions ...and when they ask what you do tell them. It can take up to 6 months depending on how often the meetings are - just build the relationship. Eventually you'll know each other well enough that you can say "Hi Barbara - we're having a xyz clinic and I was wondering if you or your company might be willing to sponsor us". 

BJ

Thank you. The issue is the humane society and animal control are the only ones here. Also is tried reaching our to places like rotary with no response.  Should I just keep trying?  I don't want to seem like a stalker 😫 

Hi Bre, 

It can definitely be hard to know where to start! I would recommend researching foundations in your state that give to animal welfare, you can even reach out to out of state organizations to begin creating a relationship while you work on your national non profit status. Getting on their radar and building a relationship is super helpful for future grant applications. 

I would also say reaching out to local organizations such as rotary clubs, can be helpful. Usually they give to local non profits and many of their members tend to have the resources to provide funding for causes they care about. 

It can also be helpful to reach out to other animal welfare organizations in your area and ask what grants they are applying to. Everyone in the community is usually more than happy to share resources to get more animals the care they need! 

Good Luck! 

I didn't know today meetings were open to the public.  Do you know of any other organizations like them that also have open meetings?  Right now we're hanging flyers on local bulletin boards and going to Vendor show to sell crafts and be seen.  Both seem to be working at least somewhat. 

Bre

First go to the rotary meetings, chamber of commerce meetings, everywhere potential sponsors may be - and don't bring up money/sponsorship etc - just build the relationship. Listen more than talk ask them questions ...and when they ask what you do tell them. It can take up to 6 months depending on how often the meetings are - just build the relationship. Eventually you'll know each other well enough that you can say "Hi Barbara - we're having a xyz clinic and I was wondering if you or your company might be willing to sponsor us". 

BJ

Thank you. The issue is the humane society and animal control are the only ones here. Also is tried reaching our to places like rotary with no response.  Should I just keep trying?  I don't want to seem like a stalker 😫 

Hi Bre, 

It can definitely be hard to know where to start! I would recommend researching foundations in your state that give to animal welfare, you can even reach out to out of state organizations to begin creating a relationship while you work on your national non profit status. Getting on their radar and building a relationship is super helpful for future grant applications. 

I would also say reaching out to local organizations such as rotary clubs, can be helpful. Usually they give to local non profits and many of their members tend to have the resources to provide funding for causes they care about. 

It can also be helpful to reach out to other animal welfare organizations in your area and ask what grants they are applying to. Everyone in the community is usually more than happy to share resources to get more animals the care they need! 

Good Luck! 

Your church, baseball team, kids baseball teams (parents are there), join local chamber of commerce (it's less expensive to join once you get your 501c3 - but you can go talk to them to see what kind of small business resources they have) and once you join go to their meetings and events. Talk to everyone and let them know what you're doing and why. You're spreading the word without asking for money. 

Plan campaigns for donations - the more creative the better - go to non-pet events - you'll be the only sanctuary/rescue type there so you won't be competing with a bunch of other ones. 

As a new non-profit getting grants etc is going to be hard. Funders want to see a track record so begin with small grants asks - $1000 here $2000 there.  Check out https://www.grants4animals.com/ - they do a monthly grant for animals newsletter that costs $10 a month. It will save you way more than $10 a month of time searching for grants. Do your candid profile to at least Gold level - you can search to see what businesses/funders are already supporting animal welfare type organizations.  They also have training on grant writing and other stuff. But before you pay for that let me know and maybe I can help you write some that way you're not digging into your budget yet.

I could go on and on of course - there's a kazillion options - car washes, donation boxes at local businesses, have a restaurant host a tip the nonprofit dinner night - I'm running out of ideas here off the top of my head but if you'd like a list of ideas I can out one together for you.

I didn't know today meetings were open to the public.  Do you know of any other organizations like them that also have open meetings?  Right now we're hanging flyers on local bulletin boards and going to Vendor show to sell crafts and be seen.  Both seem to be working at least somewhat. 

Bre

First go to the rotary meetings, chamber of commerce meetings, everywhere potential sponsors may be - and don't bring up money/sponsorship etc - just build the relationship. Listen more than talk ask them questions ...and when they ask what you do tell them. It can take up to 6 months depending on how often the meetings are - just build the relationship. Eventually you'll know each other well enough that you can say "Hi Barbara - we're having a xyz clinic and I was wondering if you or your company might be willing to sponsor us". 

BJ

Thank you. The issue is the humane society and animal control are the only ones here. Also is tried reaching our to places like rotary with no response.  Should I just keep trying?  I don't want to seem like a stalker 😫 

Hi Bre, 

It can definitely be hard to know where to start! I would recommend researching foundations in your state that give to animal welfare, you can even reach out to out of state organizations to begin creating a relationship while you work on your national non profit status. Getting on their radar and building a relationship is super helpful for future grant applications. 

I would also say reaching out to local organizations such as rotary clubs, can be helpful. Usually they give to local non profits and many of their members tend to have the resources to provide funding for causes they care about. 

It can also be helpful to reach out to other animal welfare organizations in your area and ask what grants they are applying to. Everyone in the community is usually more than happy to share resources to get more animals the care they need! 

Good Luck!