Celebrate National Puppy Day with ExpressTaxExempt!

Happy National Puppy Day!

ExpressTaxExempt’s blog is a great resource for everything you need to know about your 990 Series Tax Return, but it’s also here to help all-year long with nonprofit management and fundraising tips. 

March 23rd is National Puppy Day. Around 3.3 million puppies enter US animal shelters every year. Today, ExpressTaxExempt is celebrating National Puppy Day with 15 fundraising ideas specifically for animal shelters and humane societies. 

15 Fundraising Ideas for Animal Shelters:

Dine with Dogs: 

This is a great way to connect with your local community. Partner with your favorite local restaurant and provide your community with a night-out with their furry friends. Encourage attendees to share the night on their social media feeds to increase awareness of your animal shelter!

Cat Yoga: 

Cats impress us every day with their flexibility, test your own flexibility with a night or afternoon of cat yoga! Give your adoptable cats the spotlight with a one-hour yoga class taught by a certified yoga instructor. 

This is a great opportunity for the community to get to know some of the cats you have up for adoption and provides your community with some one-on-one kitty time in a fun environment. 

Showcase a Pet: 

Scrolling through a long list of adoptable animals can be overwhelming. Try showcasing just one animal each week. This could be done through an email, in your newsletter, or with a social media post. 

Pet Calendar: 

Who wouldn’t want to look at a new furry friend every month? Creating a pet calendar could be a great way to increase awareness of your shelter. Add pet care facts to the calendar for each month to teach your community about their pet’s health and wellness. 

This can also work as an opportunity to offer a pet photoshoot. Pet owners can pay to take a professional photo with their pet.

Pets in the Park: 

Springtime is the perfect chance to take your fundraising events outside. Mobilize your shelter by bringing a few adoptable pets to a local park to give your community a chance to play with the animals and get to know them personally.

Dog Walks or Runs: 

Almost every town has a running club. Try to contact your local running club to see if you can collaborate with them on a dog run or walk. This could be as simple as bringing some of your adoptable pets to their meet-up spot or working together to organize a 5k and fun run. 

Dog Wash: 

You’ve heard of fundraising car washes, but what about a fundraising dog wash? This is the perfect fundraising event to organize as the weather gets warmer. Ask local pet supply stores if they’re willing to donate pet shampoo and brushes. If you want to attract a larger crowd, try offering car washes as well!

Donation Stations: 

Many animal shelters struggle to get donations. Try to find pet-friendly businesses and grocery stores within your area to put up pet donation stations. This could include dog-washing products, food, leashes, and collars. 

Dog Fashion Shows: 

What do pet owners love more than their furbabies? Nothing, but dressing up their furbabies is a close second. Let your community show off their best-dressed pet with a dog fashion show. Raise funds with an entry fee, offer food and drinks, or collaborate with local businesses that want to sponsor your event. 

Painting Pets:

Invite members of your community to come and paint with their pet. Attendees can choose to paint their pet or let their pet do the painting by walking over the canvas with paint. Either way, this is a fun way to raise funds, engage community members, and bring them into your shelter. 

Pet Care Classes: 

This is a great event for both pet owners and prospective pet owners. Everyone can gain from learning more about pet care. Why leave it to just one class? If you choose this fundraising event, break up classes into a series of different topics, such as dog care, cat care, pet first aid, and CPR. Offering pet-specific classes will bring in a larger crowd as attendees will know exactly what to expect. 

Therapy Dogs and Cats: 

Spending time with animals can be therapeutic. Try inviting community members into your shelter to spend some one-on-one therapeutic time with adoptable animals. This will increase visibility for your shelter and adoptable pets. 

Live Virtual Fundraising Events: 

Virtual events are a great idea if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to connect with potential donors. Taking your event online can attract a larger audience, helping you increase awareness and donations. 

Throughout the event, make sure you provide a clear way for your attendees to donate. There are a multitude of online platforms that process donations. Link a donation page to your shelter’s website and be sure to share the link with everyone who attends your event. 

Set up a Barkery: 

A dog bake sale is a fun (and an adorable) way to raise money for your shelter. Invite your community to come and try some tasty treats for both dogs and people! 

Ask your volunteers and employees if anyone loves to bake. It’s likely someone has been hiding a talent right under your nose! You can increase donations by promoting these treats on your social media channels. Try selling treats on your website as a way to increase sales. 

Silent Auction: 

Silent Auctions are a fun excuse to dress up for a night out. Partner with pet-friendly local businesses for pet-centric donations that attendees can bid on.

These could include pet toys, pet care packages, dog and cat beds, hamster and bunny cages, and more! Offer non-pet-related items as well so that there’s something for everyone!

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It can be difficult keeping up with the ever-changing nature of nonprofit trends. Implementing new and unique fundraising ideas can help get your community excited about your shelter and mission. This excitement can lead to more adoptions and more volunteers!  

If one event doesn’t go as well as planned, don’t get discouraged! Try organizing events on different days of the week and different times of the day. This will help you evaluate which days and times attract the best attendance. 

Were these fundraising ideas helpful? Tag us on Facebook so we can see how you’re celebrating National Puppy Day!