Animal Welfare Professionals

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Thanks for sharing this Megan! Have y'all found anything specifically exciting or worthwhile in getting folks engaged on Social Media?

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

With the social media campaigns, do you usually do any "lead in" posts about upcoming fundraisers or anything or do you go straight for the post with "the ask"? I've been trying to figure out the best approach for this myself so I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Our Pet Pals program is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Audrain Humane Society in Mexico, MO. The end of year fundraiser features, "Furr-ific" Bingo. All proceeds benefit animal care in the Pet Pals program from the street to a shelter, into veterinary care and our foster based rescue to adopt programs.

We are volunteers, who promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats in shelters, and those in foster to adopt rescue homes through the AHS. Pet Pals is our focus program that supplies food, carriers and often covers the cost of dental care and surgery for animals rescued from dire circumstances. We provide the love and care they deserve.

A night of tasty food and fun all for our furry friends is afoot in Mexico, MO!

We will have 20 bingo games with a mix of regular games and special games. 20 Games for $20. Some of the prizes for regular games are: • $50 Dobbs Gift Certificate • Cat Lover's Basket • Bird Feeder and Feed • Movie Lover's Basket • Gift Certificate from Dean Dog & Cat Boarding LLC Some of the prizes for special games are: • Lottery Ticket Tree • Spa Relaxation Basket • Christmas with Dolly Parton Basket • Taste of Mexico, MO restaurants (gift certificates) • Homemade Carrot Cake and Carmel Apple Pie

------------------------------
Diana Henage
Retired Teacher
Audrain Humane Society Pet Pals Volunteer
Mexico, MO

Original Message:
Sent: 10-28-2025 01:01 PM
From: Brandi Washburn
Subject: October + November 2025 Giveaway: Share your end-of-year fundraising strategies!

With the social media campaigns, do you usually do any "lead in" posts about upcoming fundraisers or anything or do you go straight for the post with "the ask"? I've been trying to figure out the best approach for this myself so I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

------------------------------
Brandi Washburn
Executive Director
Bigglesworth Sanctuary
VA

Original Message:
Sent: 10-02-2025 02:27 AM
From: Megan Schwarz
Subject: October + November 2025 Giveaway: Share your end-of-year fundraising strategies!

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

------------------------------
Megan Schwarz
Foster
10 Lives NY
NY

Original Message:
Sent: 10-01-2025 10:39 AM
From: Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Subject: October + November 2025 Giveaway: Share your end-of-year fundraising strategies!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

With the social media campaigns, do you usually do any "lead in" posts about upcoming fundraisers or anything or do you go straight for the post with "the ask"? I've been trying to figure out the best approach for this myself so I'd love to hear what's worked for you.

Our organization approaches fundraising in a few ways, although my involvement is mostly focused on social media posts. As the year comes to the end, my plan is to fundraise for specific foster cases with particular financial needs - for example, we have two medical procedures coming up that need funding. I find that sometimes people prefer to know exactly what their money is going towards. Our org also designed T shirts and we are selling those for the first time as the year comes to an end!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

This is our first year as an established 501(c)3 and we are still learning so much. We are trying to focus on community engagement and getting our name "out there" right now. I am definitely spending time researching and looking up ideas online so I am looking forward to reading all of the wonderful ideas on here!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Hi Brandi - I'm a volunteer with Just Giants Rescue, Inc.  While JGRI has been in existence for 11 years, there's been a major changeover in volunteers.  I was recently appointed Donations Coordinator and I am looking for creative fundraising ideas as well.  I know Culvers does a donation night so I was thinking about asking if we could do one four our rescue.  Bring a few dogs, have them outside close to the drive-up line, and hand out a flyer with a blurb on what we do and ask them to mention our rescue or even to follow our social media pages.  It's up to our board if we do it, but it's an idea, right?

Nancy Kaniewski

Just Giants Rescue, Inc.

https://justgiants.org/

This is our first year as an established 501(c)3 and we are still learning so much. We are trying to focus on community engagement and getting our name "out there" right now. I am definitely spending time researching and looking up ideas online so I am looking forward to reading all of the wonderful ideas on here!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. We just had a grand opening of a Culver's in our town so I will have to check and see if this could be an opportunity for us. 

Hi Brandi - I'm a volunteer with Just Giants Rescue, Inc.  While JGRI has been in existence for 11 years, there's been a major changeover in volunteers.  I was recently appointed Donations Coordinator and I am looking for creative fundraising ideas as well.  I know Culvers does a donation night so I was thinking about asking if we could do one four our rescue.  Bring a few dogs, have them outside close to the drive-up line, and hand out a flyer with a blurb on what we do and ask them to mention our rescue or even to follow our social media pages.  It's up to our board if we do it, but it's an idea, right?

Nancy Kaniewski

Just Giants Rescue, Inc.

https://justgiants.org/

This is our first year as an established 501(c)3 and we are still learning so much. We are trying to focus on community engagement and getting our name "out there" right now. I am definitely spending time researching and looking up ideas online so I am looking forward to reading all of the wonderful ideas on here!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Hi Brandi - I'm a volunteer with Just Giants Rescue, Inc.  While JGRI has been in existence for 11 years, there's been a major changeover in volunteers.  I was recently appointed Donations Coordinator and I am looking for creative fundraising ideas as well.  I know Culvers does a donation night so I was thinking about asking if we could do one four our rescue.  Bring a few dogs, have them outside close to the drive-up line, and hand out a flyer with a blurb on what we do and ask them to mention our rescue or even to follow our social media pages.  It's up to our board if we do it, but it's an idea, right?

Nancy Kaniewski

Just Giants Rescue, Inc.

https://justgiants.org/

This is our first year as an established 501(c)3 and we are still learning so much. We are trying to focus on community engagement and getting our name "out there" right now. I am definitely spending time researching and looking up ideas online so I am looking forward to reading all of the wonderful ideas on here!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Hi Brandi - I'm a volunteer with Just Giants Rescue, Inc.  While JGRI has been in existence for 11 years, there's been a major changeover in volunteers.  I was recently appointed Donations Coordinator and I am looking for creative fundraising ideas as well.  I know Culvers does a donation night so I was thinking about asking if we could do one four our rescue.  Bring a few dogs, have them outside close to the drive-up line, and hand out a flyer with a blurb on what we do and ask them to mention our rescue or even to follow our social media pages.  It's up to our board if we do it, but it's an idea, right?

Nancy Kaniewski

Just Giants Rescue, Inc.

https://justgiants.org/

This is our first year as an established 501(c)3 and we are still learning so much. We are trying to focus on community engagement and getting our name "out there" right now. I am definitely spending time researching and looking up ideas online so I am looking forward to reading all of the wonderful ideas on here!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

This is our first year as an established 501(c)3 and we are still learning so much. We are trying to focus on community engagement and getting our name "out there" right now. I am definitely spending time researching and looking up ideas online so I am looking forward to reading all of the wonderful ideas on here!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few corporate sponsors for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Hi Niki - I love your ideas.  Would you be willing to share how you are implenting your Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays and 12 Days of Rescue?  These sound like excellent opportunities to raise awareness, funds, and maybe an adopter for our dogs waiting for their forever homes.

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few corporate sponsors for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Hi Nancy, 

• 🎁 Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays: Donors can virtually sponsor a foster dog, helping cover their care costs while receiving updates and photos throughout the season.
• 🐕 The 12 Days of Rescue: A social media campaign featuring daily stories of transformation, foster highlights, and community gratitude, designed to inspire giving and celebrate the lives saved this year.

Hi Niki - I love your ideas.  Would you be willing to share how you are implenting your Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays and 12 Days of Rescue?  These sound like excellent opportunities to raise awareness, funds, and maybe an adopter for our dogs waiting for their forever homes.

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few corporate sponsors for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few corporate sponsors for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few corporate sponsors for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few corporate sponsors for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

We're a newly established foster-based 501(c)(3) called Dogs 4 U, serving Northwest Indiana and the surrounding suburbs. As a brand-new rescue, we're ending our first year with hope, gratitude, and a big goal to grow our impact in 2026.

This holiday season, we'll be at several local holiday shows with Dogs 4 U swag for donations, helping fund vet care, food, and supplies for our foster pups. We'll also be recruiting new fosters, welcoming volunteers, and reaching out to a few local businesses for small sponsorships to support our upcoming community events.

To make giving more personal, we're launching "Sponsor a Dog for the Holidays" and "The 12 Days of Rescue"-two heartfelt campaigns celebrating the amazing dogs, fosters, and supporters who remind us why we do what we do. Our goal is simple: end the year strong and keep transforming lives, one dog at a time.

We try to utilize the end of year as a time to educate about our programs and our needs. We have multiple donation barrels that we place around at businesses and public places to collect donations for the pets of the unhoused. As a municipality people are hesitant to give cash donations but they feel great about providing food or beds or collars or toys.

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Especially am appreciative of all the support for grant writing here - Our org has really been trying to dig into grant funding as we work to expand our operations. Fundraising via social media has been slow as our growth continues at a slow pace. I have seen similar orgs that started at the same time as ours blow up just due to one trending sound video getting 4 million views, but we haven't had that kind of luck yet. They shot up to 17k followers which expanded their fundraising ability. Has anyone successfully engaged adopters to be major contributors towards year end? I feel like this is an untapped potential for us!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Farrah - Don't give up.  We have a social media team that works endlessly scheduling posts on Facebook and Instagram.  They keep trying to come up with unique ideas to grab attention.  Apparently, black dogs get passed up the most at shelters/rescues.  Our team put together a black dog halloween post with a discounted adoption fee During the month of October for only those 5 dogs.  I personally don't know how well it did, but it was a creative approach.  Try stalking the socials of other rescues/shelters and see what's working for them.  Ask everyone you know (friends, family, neighbors, co-workers) to share your posts every couple days.  If you ask for help and people say they can't afford it...respond with sharing or social media posts is free (guilt sometimes works too).   You will get there...just keep trying.

Especially am appreciative of all the support for grant writing here - Our org has really been trying to dig into grant funding as we work to expand our operations. Fundraising via social media has been slow as our growth continues at a slow pace. I have seen similar orgs that started at the same time as ours blow up just due to one trending sound video getting 4 million views, but we haven't had that kind of luck yet. They shot up to 17k followers which expanded their fundraising ability. Has anyone successfully engaged adopters to be major contributors towards year end? I feel like this is an untapped potential for us!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

Your words are encouraging. The rescue I volunteer with doesn't have a Social Media team and we  need one! We  always seem to miss the mark when it comes to posting for marketing purposes, too late and not often enough.  We have good intentions but yet it never quite happens.  Your team approach is what I plan on bringing back to the rescue again ( I have before) . Right know, it is one person  responsible and it is too much on that one person.  Thanks.

Farrah - Don't give up.  We have a social media team that works endlessly scheduling posts on Facebook and Instagram.  They keep trying to come up with unique ideas to grab attention.  Apparently, black dogs get passed up the most at shelters/rescues.  Our team put together a black dog halloween post with a discounted adoption fee During the month of October for only those 5 dogs.  I personally don't know how well it did, but it was a creative approach.  Try stalking the socials of other rescues/shelters and see what's working for them.  Ask everyone you know (friends, family, neighbors, co-workers) to share your posts every couple days.  If you ask for help and people say they can't afford it...respond with sharing or social media posts is free (guilt sometimes works too).   You will get there...just keep trying.

Especially am appreciative of all the support for grant writing here - Our org has really been trying to dig into grant funding as we work to expand our operations. Fundraising via social media has been slow as our growth continues at a slow pace. I have seen similar orgs that started at the same time as ours blow up just due to one trending sound video getting 4 million views, but we haven't had that kind of luck yet. They shot up to 17k followers which expanded their fundraising ability. Has anyone successfully engaged adopters to be major contributors towards year end? I feel like this is an untapped potential for us!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

I am really excited about our EOY fundraiser - and will post a photo when it's finished! It's actually an ongoing fundraiser, but we will launch it in conjunction with EOY: We are creating an actual Rainbow Bridge, which include names of pets that we have helped that have passed. But supporters can make a memorial donation to have their pet's name written on the Rainbow Bridge. I will probably be finished painting it today!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising

I am really excited about our EOY fundraiser - and will post a photo when it's finished! It's actually an ongoing fundraiser, but we will launch it in conjunction with EOY: We are creating an actual Rainbow Bridge, which include names of pets that we have helped that have passed. But supporters can make a memorial donation to have their pet's name written on the Rainbow Bridge. I will probably be finished painting it today!

As the year winds down, animal well-being organizations are gearing up for one of the most important fundraising seasons. From Giving Tuesday to holiday campaigns, this is a prime time to meet urgent needs, plan for the year ahead and engage your community in meaningful ways. 

While fundraising ultimately aims to support your mission and the pets in your care, many organizations also use this season to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers and community partners. Coordinated campaigns like highlighting stories of impact, celebrating successes, and showing gratitude for supporters can make your fundraising campaigns even more purposeful.

We'd love to hear from you: How does your organization approach end-of-year fundraising?

Sharing your experiences can inspire others, and sometimes the simplest strategies like leveraging storytelling on social media, matching gift challenges, online auctions, or engaging your volunteers and fosters can have the biggest impact especially during the giving/holiday season.

💬 How to enter to win this October & November! Participating in this thread during October & November 2025 will automatically enter you into our 30th anniversary giveaway, where one winner will receive $1,000 in unrestricted funds to help kickstart your fundraising efforts.

If you want to explore more about fundraising strategies, these resources are a great place to start:

Maddie's Community Conversations

• Maximizing Impact: Budget Strategies for Animal Welfare Organizations
• Building Grant Success in Animal Wellbeing: Strategies for Readiness, Writing, and Reporting
• Changing the Game in Animal Grantmaking
• Reimagining Fundraising: Ethics, Empathy, and Equity

Maddie's University Recordings

• How to Start and Grow Major Gift Fundraising for Your Non-Profit
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 1
• Fundraising Fundamentals for Scrappy Organizations, Part 2
• Fundraising for Animal Welfare Organizations 

Maddie's Pet Forum Discussions

• Quickie Fundraising
• Fundraising Tips

CalAnimals Summa Fundraising Series

• Session 1: Fundraising 101
• Session 2: Special Events
• Session 3: Yes, you can fundraise for animal control!
• Session 4: The Business Side of Fundraising