Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Municipal Shelter Resources

    Posted 09-13-2025 08:15 PM

    I once ran a private - run shelter. I'm now in with a municipal/city run shelter. Finding funding for it seems much more difficult. What do other directors of municipal/city run shelter have available for resources for funding, donations, etc? 


    #FundraisingandDevelopment

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    Mallory Johnston
    Manager
    Amory Animal Resource Center
    MS
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  • 2.  RE: Municipal Shelter Resources

    Posted 09-15-2025 10:16 AM

    Hi Mallory. There are grants available to government shelters through several national foundations (e.g., Maddie's Fund, Petco Love, Bissell Pet Foundation, Greater Good, PetSmart Charities, ASPCA). You should also be able to solicit donations as long as they are used for a public purpose and do not supplant government funding. You might consider setting up a trust fund account to keep donations separate from operating funds. Many government shelters have "friends of the shelter" 501c3 organizations that can do even more active fundraising and qualify for more grants. Find some dedicated volunteers and advocates to help get the process started. You may have to provide guidance and direction to that separate organization until it gets up and running.

    Hope this helps.

    Genuinely,

    Chris



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    Chris Fitzgerald
    Director of Animal Services
    Town of Greece, NY - Animal Services
    Rochester NY
    cfitzgerald@greeceny.gov
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Municipal Shelter Resources

    Posted 09-15-2025 11:08 AM

    I'm in the same boat.  I moved into a county operated shelter from a non-profit.  If your shelter can have a "Friends of" non-profit started, with the mission of assisting your shelter, it helps so much.  I was fortunate that we had a core group of volunteers that started one.  They fund all of our medical costs, parts of our s/n costs and various other projects.



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    Melissa Houghton
    Dog Warden
    Richland County Dog Warden
    OH
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Municipal Shelter Resources

    Posted 09-15-2025 11:21 AM

    Our municipal shelter is partnered with a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides fundraising for our shelter to assist in offsetting costs for the animal's needs. The non-profit was founded by a few volunteers at the municipal shelter. The 501c3 provides financial support on emergency medical costs, food, heartworm treatment post adoption, TNR costs among other areas.  This relationship has continued for over 10 years. 

    The shelter also gets visibility and donations through bake sales at the shelter during adoption or vaccination events. Also putting tents up with donation jars at local city/county festivals. Of course, there are grants specific for municipal shelters. Also, check your state department of agriculture to see if they offer grants. The State of MIchigan provides that opportunity.  



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    Elaine Edington
    Grant coordinator volunteer
    Shelter Animal Donations & Genesee County Animal C
    MI
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    Original Message


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