How to raise money for animal rescue nonprofit organizations with creative fundraising ideas
Raising funds for an animal rescue nonprofit requires creativity, persistence, and community support. Whether you operate a small animal charity, a large shelter, or a healthcare initiative, effective fundraising ideas can help secure essential resources for your good cause. In this helpful guide, you’ll discover practical and engaging ideas for nonprofits and individuals, ensuring every dollar raised makes a real difference for animals in need. GoFundMe offers a safe, trusted, and user-friendly platform to share your mission and encourage donations from its global giving community.
What are effective ways to raise funds for small animal charities?
To fundraise successfully, small animal charities need to make an impact with limited budgets and teams. From pet-themed events to online fundraisers on GoFundMe, these strategies allow you to create maximum impact using fewer resources.
- Launch an online fundraiser – GoFundMe allows small charities to reach large audiences with ease, thanks to the platform’s global giving community of 150 million donors, social media sharing tools, and advanced storytelling capabilities.
- Pet costume parade – Level up the cuteness factor with a pet costume parade. It’s a relatively low-maintenance event that guarantees plenty of return. Not only is it adorable in person, but it can be shared on social media to increase visibility and fundraising opportunities. Set a costume theme, award prizes, and take plenty of photos and videos. To raise money, charge entry fees, include donation buckets, and seek local sponsorships with businesses.
- “Yappy hour” at cafes or breweries – Partner with local venues for a pet-friendly gathering. Raise funds by charging admission, providing donation buckets, including QR codes linked to your fundraising page, and sharing profits with the business hosting your event. Take lots of photos and videos to share on socials and drive people to your GoFundMe fundraising page.
- Pet photo contest – Put pets head-to-head in a cute photo contest, with a small prize for the winner. Charge pet owners for submissions and encourage donations to cast votes. This fundraiser can be held virtually, and if you want an in-person event, consider creating a mini art exhibit featuring the best photos.
- Sell themed gift baskets – Partner with local businesses to create gift baskets to raise funds. When promoting the gift baskets, remember to include a rough estimate of the total value of the basket, as people are more likely to purchase if they think they’re getting a good deal. Add some themed or informational material about the cause, making it an educational opportunity.
- Pet care workshops – Connect with your expert contacts and local celebrity pet owners to host a workshop or Q&A that pet owners will enjoy. Who doesn’t want to learn more about caring for their animals? Charge admission, sell pet-themed refreshments, and seek sponsorship opportunities to raise funds.
How to raise money for a stray animal care nonprofit
Raising funds for a nonprofit that cares for stray animals begins with cultivating strong relationships within the local community. Hosting enjoyable events, setting up regular giving programs, and offering animal sponsorship options help everyone feel more personally connected to the animals and the cause. Remember to clearly explain how the funds will be used so people feel engaged and in control.
- Monthly giving program – Increase your regular donations by setting up small, recurring contributions. You can easily do this through fundraisers on GoFundMe Pro, making it convenient to support your cause consistently. Create an exclusive group for your regular donors, with perks and frequent updates.
- Community yard sales – Organize a yard sale to engage your local community and raise money. Request donations of unwanted items (bonus points for pet-related goods), with proceeds supporting a nonprofit that cares for stray animals.
- Pet food & supply drives – Rehoming stray pets can be costly. Involve your local community in a drive for pet food and supplies to reduce your organization’s expenses wherever possible. Consider partnering with grocery or pet stores to gather supplies and raise additional funds. Support doesn’t have to mean cash; people can contribute in many ways, by offering in-kind donations of goods, services, or volunteer time.
- Sponsor-an-animal program – One way to foster a connection with strays is through a sponsor-an-animal program. Provide monthly sponsorship levels with varying support options to encourage a broad supporter base. For example, $5 per month could pay for one week’s food for an animal, whereas $50 could cover all food and medical expenses. Send updates on the animal’s progress to help supporters stay engaged with their sponsored animal and the broader organization.
- Donation days with businesses – You can work closely with local businesses in various ways. Consider organizing a donation day for your cause, where a portion of sales is offered and donation buckets are placed at checkout points alongside flyers and other promotional materials.
How to raise money for nonprofit animal shelters
When raising funds for nonprofit animal shelters, it’s essential to create a bond between potential supporters and the animals. Involve local communities through adoption events, kennel sponsorships, and shelter tours. Platforms like GoFundMe make it easy to raise money for nonprofit animal shelters by having a central fundraising page for supporters to donate, as well as telling your story and sharing updates.
- Adopt-a-thon events – An adopt-a-thon event is a community gathering where shelters and rescues come together to showcase many pets, all eager to find their forever homes. Combine the event with other family-friendly activities to maximize engagement and fundraising opportunities.
- Kennel sponsorships – Offer sponsorships to supporters to help fund the care and rehoming of animals. Donors get name plaques on cages or shelter areas in return for their donations.
- Charity fun runs/walks – Promote peer-to-peer fundraising through a fun run and walk that pets can join. Encourage participants to seek sponsorships to raise funds. Make it a community event with family-friendly activities and refreshments to boost your fundraising efforts.
- School fundraisers – Engage students in animal-related community service projects, such as dog walking or cat sitting. Get pet owners to donate to the cause for the service.
- Shelter tours and open houses – Offer shelter tours with a donation-based entry to raise funds and foster community connections. Make it virtual by livestreaming the tour to broaden your reach and potential supporter base.
How individuals can raise funds for a stray animal nonprofit
Platforms like GoFundMe make it easy for individuals to gather crucial support for stray animals with fundraising pages, social sharing, and a global giving community. Taking this important initiative to set up a personal fundraiser not only saves lives but also inspires others to get involved.
Every effort counts—whether it’s a small event, social media drive, or personal online fundraiser. Individual fundraising is an essential source of funding for charities and nonprofits. In 2024, individual fundraising made up 67% of all charitable giving in the United States.
- Personal fundraisers – Creating your own fundraising page and sharing your personal connection to a cause can be very effective in raising money. Using platforms like GoFundMe or Donorbox, you can easily tell your story, set a clear fundraising goal, and keep donors updated, which helps increase engagement.
- Birthday or celebration fundraisers— Instead of a typical birthday gift, ask for donations to support stray animals. It’s simple to set up on GoFundMe and makes your celebration more meaningful. Share your wishes ahead of your celebration and post to your social media pages on the day.
- Sell handmade goods – Sell your creations online or at markets. Offering personalized or unique items attracts buyers and raises awareness for your nonprofit, especially if they’re animal-themed ones
- Neighborhood bake sales – These are affordable, community-focused events that gather donations, bring neighbors closer, and raise funds for animals in need. Try theming the bake sale with cat-shaped cookies and sell some dog biscuits to include furry friends, too.
- Social media donation challenges – Inspire followers with small, fun fundraising goals. Try a “dog-walk challenge”, where supporters rack up sponsored miles for your cause, or a “treat-jar challenge”, where followers pledge to forgo their daily coffee and after-work drinks, instead donating the savings to your cause. Encourage participants to share progress to expand your reach, making the experience more engaging and rewarding for all.
How to help fundraise for TNR nonprofits
Education and advocacy are vital for fundraising efforts for TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs, helping potential supporters understand the purpose and funding needs of these programs. TNR initiatives play a key role in reducing stray cat populations and improving the animals’ health.
- TNR awareness events — Hosting workshops or education sessions helps inform the community about TNR benefits and the importance of humane population management. When it comes to less well-understood programs, such as TNR, education is essential in encouraging people to donate, volunteer, and share.
- Workplace giving programs — Payroll deductions are a lucrative form of fundraising because the donations are pre-arranged and automatic, making giving easier and more regular.
- Cat café pop-ups — These offer a fun opportunity for people to meet adoptable cats and learn more about your nonprofit. Visitors can adopt, donate, and learn more about your nonprofit.
- Educational documentary nights – Hosting animal welfare documentary screenings spreads awareness about stray and feral animals, while also raising money through ticket sales and donations. It’s a brilliant way to connect with and educate your community.
- Grant applications – Grants help secure larger or ongoing funding, which provides security for your organization and opportunities for growth. It’s important to customize proposals for each grant application to ensure you meet all criteria.
Key considerations when planning animal rescue fundraisers
When organizing a successful animal rescue fundraiser, begin by setting up your fundraising page on a trusted, well-known platform like GoFundMe.
When selecting fundraising activities, ensure they align with your organization’s mission and resonate with your audience. For example, a low-effort event that produces high results can be ideal for a small organization with limited time and budget.
Remember that not everyone can make monetary donations, so maximize the use of in-kind contributions where supporters volunteer their time, goods, or services. This helps reduce costs for fundraising events and initiatives, allowing you to maximize your fundraising results.
Use multi-channel promotion to extend your reach. The GoFundMe dashboard makes this effortless, enabling you to share directly to social media and send email updates to your donors. Leverage local influencers and press to amplify your message, too.
Finally, keep your supporters and followers updated on your fundraising progress and the impact of their donations. This builds trust and encourages repeat donations.
Pros and cons of different fundraising methods
Each fundraising approach has its pros and cons, so combining strategies often yields the best results.
Pet costume parades
Pet costume parades, for example, are enjoyable and excellent for community engagement, providing plenty of shareable content. However, they rely on good weather, which can be risky in some areas, so having an indoor venue as a backup is wise.
Online fundraisers
Online fundraisers are not affected by weather and can reach a wide audience with low costs. However, they require marketing skills to be effective; it’s not as simple as just pressing publish. You need a solid promotional strategy to stand out.
Sponsor-an-animal initiatives
Sponsor-an-animal initiatives foster donor loyalty and community spirit; however, they are limited in scalability. Consider how you can use adoption drives as an opportunity to also increase donations and expand your contact database for future fundraising. Use social media to tell different animal adoption stories and engage your online audience.
Charity fun runs
Charity fun runs are great for visibility, with many content opportunities and peer-to-peer fundraising potential. But they often need permits and extensive planning, which takes considerable time.
Grant applications
Grant applications offer substantial funding opportunities; however, they are highly competitive and require a considerable time investment.
Common questions
Q: How can I raise emergency funds for an animal shelter?
A: Host an urgent online fundraiser, pair it with local news outreach, share widely on social media, and set up drop-off donation drives.
Q: What’s the cheapest way to fundraise for a TNR program?
A: Leverage free social media, donation jars in local stores, and in-kind supply drives. Tap into the local community and your networks for in-kind donations, including volunteering, goods, and services.
Q: Can individuals meaningfully help stray animal nonprofits?
A: Yes, through personal fundraisers on GoFundMe, hosting small events, or sharing donation appeals online.
Support an animal rescue today
Whether you’re a small animal shelter or a large rescue nonprofit, there are plenty of ways to connect with animal lovers and raise funds for a worthy cause. At GoFundMe, we’ve hosted thousands of animal fundraisers over the years, and our helpful blog is full of practical fundraising tips, social sharing ideas, and ways to raise money quickly.