These photos are shared everywhere \u2013 social media channels, donation forms, website homepages, newsletters, and more. Look at this dog. We will give this dog anything he wants.<\/p>\n Fundraising for your animal shelter will be more successful if you can make your donors connect emotionally with your work \u2013 and your work happens to involve lots of adorable animals. You\u2019ve got photo opportunities everywhere you look. Make the most of them! Photos of the critters in your care are popular, emotionally compelling, and shareable.<\/p>\n Not sure your photos are up to snuff? Check out this article on how to use powerful images to boost your online fundraising<\/a> to learn how to maximize the impact of your images.<\/p>\n Animal shelters regularly need a variety of items to take care of all of the animals at the shelter properly. Let your supporters know what you need and host a supply drive or virtual supply drive with the funds raised earmarked for supply items you need.<\/p>\n People want to help their animal shelters \u2013 they often just need to be asked. Almost no one looks at a pile of old towels or newspapers and thinks, \u201cOH! I can take these to the shelter!\u201d But they\u2019re more than willing to donate them if they\u2019re asked.<\/p>\n “We are in desperate need of feathers, hair ties, and pieces of string.”<\/p>\n If you need something for your shelter, just ask! Your supporters are open to adding an extra bag of dog food to their cart the next time they\u2019re shopping, and they\u2019d probably rather donate towels or newspapers to you than throw them away. If you need bigger-ticket items \u2013 maybe kennels, medical equipment, or other items your donors don\u2019t just have lying around the house \u2013 consider creating a special appeal for them. That appeal can take the form of a virtual supply drive<\/a> to show your supporters what you’re raising funds for.<\/p>\n We’ve created a handy letter template for animal shelters to request donations<\/a>. Use its language and structure as a guide as your team reaches out to the community for support.<\/p>\n If you follow an animal shelter on social media, you\u2019ve almost certainly seen pictures of animals with their new forever homes. They\u2019re the ultimate success story \u2013 an abandoned animal is united with someone who will love them and care for them. You may also have seen other success stories \u2013 neglected dogs who recover from terrible circumstances<\/a>, cats who were abused and abandoned that find wonderful homes, or animals with behavior problems that are successfully trained. They\u2019re all popular stories.<\/p>\n There are several reasons animal shelters\u2019 success stories are wildly popular online and in real life. First of all, they\u2019re adorable so people love sharing them. They also show donors that their gifts make a real-life difference in the lives of animals that find themselves at a shelter. And success stories are a bright spot in a tough sector. Seeing a smiling human with their happy adopted dog is a powerful contrast to pictures and appeals that focus on animals\u2019 suffering.<\/p>\n This is so much nicer than those TV commercials that make you cry.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting to focus on animals\u2019 suffering or bad circumstances to inspire people to give \u2013 after all, it\u2019s hard to imagine someone seeing a picture of a neglected dog and not responding to appeals for support. But too many negative images will drive away audiences: nobody wants constant negativity on their Facebook timeline or in their inboxes. Focusing on success stories is much more effective!<\/p>\n It’s important to share your stories from start to finish. Yes, you can illustrate the need of an abandoned or abused animal, but when that story comes to its conclusion, share the happy ending! Your ability to tell a story and tell it well will inspire your donors to give<\/a>. Luckily, your shelter can share a great success story every time you process a new adoption.<\/p>\n If your animal shelter hasn’t opened a social media account to communicate with your supporters, now’s the time. You’re missing out on a no-cost way to share important animal shelter announcements, success stories, photos of adoptable pets, and links to fundraising campaigns.<\/p>\n Your supporters will value the ability to engage with your content, talk with you, and support your campaigns from your timelines. Better yet, <\/span><\/span>you can run successful fundraisers<\/span><\/span><\/a> on your organization’s Facebook page<\/span><\/span> or Instagram account<\/span><\/span><\/span> and pin urgent appeals to the top of your page. Social media platforms make sharing content easy and that content can reach new donors, adopters, fosters, and volunteers in seconds. <\/span><\/span>Many animal shelters are great at using social media to fundraise and meet the needs of the adoptable animals in their care<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Giving Tuesday<\/a> is a giving campaign taking place the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This global generosity movement asks people to participate by doing good. This can mean volunteering their time to supporting a cause or donating to a nonprofit organization.<\/p>\n Many nonprofits, including animal shelters, set up Giving Tuesday fundraising campaigns and encourage their supporters to give. Giving Tuesday campaigns typically are shared on social media and are highly visible. Encourage your supporters to share your campaign after making a gift to expand your reach. Set a fundraising goal for the day based on your specific needs and provide updates throughout the day. Tell compelling stories and share photos of the animals impacted by your supporters’ donations.<\/p>\n This animal shelter sent out several great appeals for 2020’s #GivingTuesdayNow and sailed past their original fundraising goal!<\/p>\n If you’ve never participated in Giving Tuesday before, use Qgiv’s #GivingTuesday Ultimate Guide<\/a> for resources and tips to get the most of this fundraising event.<\/p>\n Animal shelters are lucky. You’ve got a great group of supporters who care about the animals in your care. They want to see all your adoptable pets get adopted. Engage your supporters in fundraising events and show them how their participation makes this goal possible.<\/p>\n The possibilities for fundraising event ideas<\/a> are limitless. Use your creativity to come up with events that match your brand and inspire your supporters. Encourage your donors to give by attending your event or ask them to fundraise on your behalf with a peer-to-peer fundraiser.<\/p>\n You can even invite your supporters to bring their furry friends along for the fun!<\/p>\n Peer-to-peer events that culminate in a pet-friendly walk is a fun way to get your supporters involved in fundraising!<\/p>\n Using software that makes crafting beautiful appeals, communicating with donors, running events, and accepting donations online is crucial to maximizing your fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n The right software can make developing eye-catching content simple. Want to make a personalized video thank you message or ask? BombBomb<\/a> makes it easy to record simple videos and send them via email!<\/p>\n Need to make a graphic or add text to one of your images? Canva<\/a> is an inexpensive way to create custom content. There’s both a free version and an upgrade for premium content.<\/p>\n There are a number of tools that make managing social media easier. You can create and schedule posts across platforms with tools like Sprout Social<\/a> or Buffer<\/a>. For a solution that also includes the ability to manage your marketing projects, there are project management tools like CoSchedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can send<\/span> stunning email appeals <\/span>to your supporters <\/span>using <\/span>platforms <\/span>like <\/span><\/span>Constant Contact<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> or <\/span><\/span>Mailchimp<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span> The best part? <\/span>You can build your list of donors to send appeals to with an integration between <\/span>Qgiv<\/span> and your email service provider.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to hosting fundraising events or accepting online donations, Qgiv offers solutions for both. With Qgiv’s peer-to-peer platform<\/a>, your supporters can register, create fundraising pages, and raise funds on behalf of your organization. You can also use the peer-to-peer tools to create an event store, track event fundraising with goal thermometers, integrate participant fundraising pages with a Facebook fundraiser, and more! Having an auction at your event? Qgiv can help there, too<\/a>!<\/p>\n The storefront tool in our peer-to-peer platform gives you an outlet to sell all kinds of stuff!<\/p>\n Want to poll your participants about your events? Survey tools like SurveyMonkey<\/a> and Typeform<\/a> are a great way to get your guests’ opinions.<\/p>\n You can also use Qgiv to raise funds year-round with <\/span>online donation forms<\/span><\/a>. These forms are customizable to match your organization, campaign, or event branding; are mobile optimized for a great experience regardless of device; and integrate with <\/span>matching gift<\/span><\/a> service providers like <\/span>Double the Donation<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>HEPdata<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thanks to these forms\u2019 high level of customizability, you can include images of your animals and provide an impact statement for each donation amount. Your donors will see the images and connect that with the impact they\u2019ll have, which makes them feel good about supporting the animals in your care.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to your fundraising efforts, it’s important to take stock of your organization’s online reputation. Maintain accurate listings on both Charity Navigator<\/a> and GuideStar<\/a>. Ensure you’re transparent about your spending. Monitor your ratings regularly to make sure they reflect an ethical and stable nonprofit.<\/p>\n If your animal shelter seeks grant funding to meet some if its needs, there are a variety of resources that make researching grants easier. GrantStation<\/a>, Foundation Directory Online<\/a>, GrantAdvisor<\/a>, and several other grant research solutions exist to take a lot of the guesswork out of whether a particular grantmaker is a good fit for your funding needs.<\/p>\n Here are some great event ideas you can put into practice at your animal <\/span><\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span><\/span>helter<\/span><\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This first idea isn\u2019t pet friendly, but it can be a lot of fun for<\/span> your supporters anyway. <\/span>Set up table games like roulette, blackjack, and poker and encourage people to try to win the most chips by offering a fantastic prize for the luckiest gambler at your event.<\/span> You can use this type of event to r<\/span>aise funds for adoption fees, fund food for adoptable shelter animals, and more.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This pet-friendly fashion show is a <\/span>pawsit<\/span>ively<\/span> fantastic way to get supporters and their pets involved in your cause. Get supporters to dress their dogs and cats in their best costumes and str<\/span>ut their stuff on the catwalk. Charge an entry fee to walk and award prizes for best costumes in each category.<\/span><\/p>\n Another great way to get supporters and their pets to give to your shelter is to char<\/span>ge a small fee to have their pets washed by volunteers from your shelter. If you don\u2019t have a pet that loves water, bathing them can really be a chore. This event is designed to make bathing y<\/span>our pet easier on the owner while raising crucial funds for your shelter.<\/span><\/p>\n This next fundraising idea immortalizes supporters\u2019 pets with a professional photo shoot. Offer supporters pet portraits <\/span>for a fee. You can offer prints of the portrait or even turn the photo in<\/span>to a greeting card. <\/span>To add to the fun, you can produce and sell a calendar <\/span>featuring the best pet portraits from th<\/span>e photo shoots. This is a great way to raise extra funds from your community, especially if you start selli<\/span>ng them around the new year.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A bark in the park social event can be a great way for your animal shelter to meet new supporters and get the word out about the needs that you\u2019re currently facing. This pet-friendly event offers a gr<\/span>eat opportunity for pet owners to socialize at a dog-friendly park. You can charge for drinks and food at the event to raise funds for your cause and can even set up<\/span> an informational booth where supporters can come and learn about your cause and maybe even meet an adoptable shelter animal.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This last in-person event isn\u2019t pet friendly, but <\/span>does offer a fun way to support shelter animals in need. A bowling tournament is a great opportunity to get people of all ages and skill levels together to enjoy a day of bowling for a good cause. Try to partner with the bowling alley to earn a percentage of sales on food and drinks and <\/span>charge to take part in the bowling tournament itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Looking for a way to connect with supporters virtually? Give these ideas a try!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Chances are, there are supplies your animal shelter needs. In-kind gifts are gr<\/span>eat, but what if there was a way to get the supplies you needed delivered to your door? That\u2019s where a virtual supply drive comes in. Create a donation form with a <\/span>variety of donation amounts. Make sure each one corresponds with supplies that you need. When users donate you can purchase the supplies you need with their donated funds.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Want a fun way to connect with supporters virtually? Try an animal trivia night! Put together your best questions about animals and charge a fee to take part in the event. <\/span>Offer an exclusive prize to the individual or team that earns the most points. <\/span>This can be special branded merchandise, waived pet adoption fees, or another prize your supporters are sure to love.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another great way to connect <\/span>with supporters virtually is through an online class. Your shelter could probably offer a variety of classes on training and caring for pets, but one of the most fun ways supporters can<\/span> engage with you is through a cook-along class where they make treats for their furry friends. Charge a small fee to take part and then send a livestream link to those who signed up. They can watch and follow along to prepare pet-friendly treats for th<\/span>eir dog or cat.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This next idea gives supporters a behind-the-scenes look at shelter operations. They can see what volunteers at your shelter do and you can even highlight adoptable pets<\/span> during the livestream. Set up a donation form for the livestream or even use text fundraising and ask supporters to text their donations to your organization while they watch. This is a great way to show others how you do things at your animal <\/span>shelter while earning valuable donations from those watching you live.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A great way to connect with supporters is with a gala event, but in-person galas can be expensive. Instead, consider hosti<\/span>ng a virtual gala! <\/span>For a virtual gala you need to livestream your emcee a<\/span>nd entertainment, but you avoid table seating troubles and can save a ton on decor, furniture rental, and catering that would otherwise be part of your gala budget. <\/span>Your gala should be more than an opportunity to ask for donations though. Be sure to provide entertainment to those tuning in. Include a meet and greet of adoptable pets, live music, or even a<\/span> virtual<\/span> silent auction to keep supporters engaged and giving during your<\/span> virtual gala.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Animal](\"https:\/\/www.qgiv.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Sleepy-Cat-small.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nAnimal Shelter Fundraising Idea: Make Specific Asks<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nAnimal Shelter Fundraising Idea: Share Success Stories<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\nAnimal Shelter Fundraising Idea: Share On Social Media<\/h2>\n
Animal Shelter Fundraising Idea: Participate In Giving Tuesday<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\nAnimal Shelter Fundraising Idea: Host Fundraising Events<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAnimal Shelter Fundraising Idea: Use Tech Tools To Enhance Your Fundraising<\/h2>\n
Simple image and video editing software<\/h3>\n
Tools to make communicating with supporters simple<\/h3>\n
Event management tools<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nOnline fundraising tools<\/h3>\n
Other fundraising resources<\/h3>\n
Unique In-Person Animal Shelter Fundraising Events<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. A Wags to Riches casino night featuring table games with an adoptable pet theme<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Pet fashion shows featuring adopted animals in costumes<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
3. A dog washing event in which owners can pay to have their dogs bathed by volunteers<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Pet photo shoot event where donors pay to have their pets immortalized on a greeting car<\/span><\/span><\/span>d or put into a calendar<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
5. Host a bark in the park pet-friendly social gathering at a dog-friendly park<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
6. A pins for pu<\/span><\/span><\/span>ps bowling tournament event<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Virtual fundraising ideas for animal shelters<\/h2>\n
1. A virtual supply drive<\/h3>\n
2. Animal trivia virtual trivia events<\/h3>\n
3. Virtual dog treat baking class<\/h3>\n
4. Livestream a day in the life of a shelter volunteer<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
5. Host a virtual gala event<\/h3>\n
Animal shelter donation ideas<\/h2>\n