If you work at an animal shelter or animal rescue nonprofit, you know this reality all too well:
Fundraising campaigns are constant, adoption fees don’t cover all your costs, and your team is juggling outreach, pet care, and volunteer coordination… all at once.
Whether you’re washing dogs at a fundraiser, planning a raffle, or posting adoptable furry friends on social media, your fundraising efforts can quickly lead to burnout.
Volunteers are stretched thin.
Budgets fluctuate.
The kennels are full.
All the while, you’re trying to offer animal welfare support to your community or match each shelter pet with their forever home.
But here’s the good news: There are fun ways to raise funds, build stronger community partnerships, and engage animal lovers while avoiding the feast-or-famine cycle of one-off events.
And all while avoiding stretching your team too thin.
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7 creative fundraising ideas for animal shelters
These animal shelter fundraising ideas blend fun, community, and mission-driven giving.
You can use them to attract pet owners, engage the local community, and boost your online fundraising presence.
You can also pair them with a monthly giving program to multiply their impact.
(I’ll talk through monthly giving later in the article. But if you’re worn out by hosting additional fundraising events through the year, jump ahead to the section below on Monthly Giving Programs for Animal Shelters).
For this fundraiser idea, host a pet photo day with a local groomer, photographer, or pet store. (Or maybe all three!)
For a small donation or entry fee, pet parents get a professional photo of their best friend. Make it seasonal: Halloween costumes, Valentine’s Day photo booth props, or a holiday dress-up shoot.
Add a twist: Feature winning photos in a shelter-branded pet calendar or pet accessories like t-shirts and tote bags.
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Let attendees know they can keep supporting your adoptable pets long after the photo shoot ends. Add a QR code linking to your donation page where they can become a monthly donor. For added incentive, offer a free digital copy of the photo or a discounted print to anyone who signs up for monthly giving on-site.
⭐️ What if there’s an easier way to maximize donations? There is. It’s called recurring monthly giving, and it generates 2.4X more revenue on average than one-time gifts. And our Monthly Giving Toolkit simplifies the whole program.
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Our goal is 10% or more growth in [our recurring giving program] every year. We've been hitting it for the last two or three. Recurring donors are really such a gift to an organization and those programs are worth the effort for sure.
Amanda Boerman
Director of Philanthropy at Foothills Animal Shelter
2. Dog wash + bake sale bonanza
This in-person event combines two classic fundraising events for extra impact: a dog wash and a bake sale. (You know, just keep the dog wash station and the baked goods on opposite sides of the event!)
Invite groomers and volunteers to wash pups while selling dog treats, cupcakes, and coffee shop-style snacks.
Promote via email newsletters and social media to attract new supporters—and make a morning of it for people in your community!
Set up a donation page or QR codes for small donations. Include a fundraising form so potential donors can sign up to sponsor a pet or join your monthly giving program.
Add a twist: Have a “before and after” photo contest. Whoever’s pup cleans up the best wins a prize!
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Set up a “sponsor-a-pet” sign-up station where visitors can pledge a small donation monthly—say, $10/month—to help cover grooming supplies or medical costs for shelter pets. Offer a free dog wash, branded dog treat bag, or t-shirt as a thank-you gift for new recurring donors.
For this creative fundraising event for your animal welfare org, dress up shelter pets or invite dog owners to show off their pet-friendly fashion on a mini runway.
Combine the fashion show with a trivia night about pet care, animal welfare, and local rescue animals.
Charge a ticket or registration fee for fashion show participants. Offer sponsorships from local businesses or pet supply stores.
During the event, share stories of adoptable pets and provide regular updates about how donations support pet adoption and spay or neuter initiatives.
Add a twist: Add a “fan favorite” vote where attendees can donate $5 to vote for their favorite pet outfit. The pet with the most donations wins a prize, and all proceeds go to your shelter.
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Offer voting perks to recurring donors—like a free extra vote or backstage access to meet the fashion show pets. Make sure your emcee reminds the audience: “Even $5/month helps us support pets in need!”
Working with 4aGC has been incredibly easy. We’re a small nonprofit on a rapid growth trajectory, and as we’ve started hosting more events, the registration tool has proven intuitive and very manageable. With our limited budget, we’ve also found their pricing to be extremely affordable. I would highly recommend working with Ronald and his team.
Anne Krumme
Australian Wildlife Conservancy USA
4. Sponsor-a-kennel wall or dog walk fundraiser
Let donors metaphorically “adopt” a kennel wall or sponsor a specific animal for a month.
They can receive behind-the-scenes stories, a photo update, and their name listed on a donor wall, sponsored kennel, or walk-a-thon t-shirt.
Alternatively, host a dog walk or walk-a-thon and offer entry fee discounts to any monthly donors.
Add a twist: Pet-friendly raffles, silent auctions, or even pet talent shows can add extra fundraising opportunities. And if you offer all these activities during one major annual event—like a “pet fair” or “animal lovers carnival” of sorts—and charge a small fee for any entries or raffles, you can increase community interest and participation without having to host multiple events through the year.
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Create a “Wall of Monthly Heroes” at your shelter or on your website where each monthly donor’s name is listed next to a kennel or pet they’re helping. Let them know: “Your small donation gives big comfort—month after month.” And make sure event attendees have the option to enroll in the. monthly giving program at the event.
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Probably within a month [with 4aGoodCause], we had done four times what we were getting before.
Empower supporters of your organization to raise funds through peer fundraising platforms.
Provide email templates, social graphics, and a custom fundraising page for each participant.Make it a friendly competition: Whoever can raise the most for vaccines wins.
Reward top fundraisers with t-shirts, pet accessories, or a free photo shoot with their furry friend.
Add a twist: Peer-to-peer fundraising makes a great campaign paired with a virtual event. You could host a virtual pet photo contest or livestream a shelter tour featuring rescue groups and specific animals needing forever homes.
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Encourage fundraisers to set personal goals not just for one-time donations, but for how many monthly donors they can recruit. Offer exclusive digital badges or public shout-outs to any peer fundraiser who signs up five or more recurring givers.
Host an online pet photo contest where supporters submit and vote on the best pet portraits.
Winning entries go into your annual calendar.
Participants can pay a small entry fee, and the top vote-getters get free calendars or swag. Bonus: Offer an option to “Sponsor a Month” for recurring donors.
Add a twist: Include adoptable pets in the mix and ask voters to help “pick a star” for the cover from among your adoptable pets. It’s a great way to boost outreach for pet adoption and highlight success stories.
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Offer your monthly supporters the ability to sponsor a specific month in the calendar for $15–$25/month. Their name or business appears on that month’s page. It’s a powerful incentive for local businesses or loyal donors who want ongoing visibility and love pets. Or, offer a top calendar spot for a recurring donors’ beloved pet(s) to one donor who can raise $1000.
💡What if you could spend less time on fundraising logistics and more time on your mission? With 4aGoodCause fundraising software, you can raise more and stress less.
7. Animal-lover social events
Host socials or meetups tailored for specific audiences, like “Make a New Best Friend” gatherings for young professionals or families that are new to the area, family-friendly animal playdates, or even pet-themed singles mixers.
Held in pet-friendly parks, coffee shops, or shelter spaces, these events offer animal lovers a chance to connect—all while interacting with adoptable pets and learning about your mission.
Add a twist: Create icebreaker cards for attendees that include fun animal facts or trivia. Participants who answer all questions get entered into a raffle for pet accessories or local pet store gift cards.
Pair it with a monthly giving program: Position the monthly giving program as a way for attendees to stay connected to the cause they met through. Add a table with flyers and a quick mobile signup form. New monthly givers can opt into a “social supporters” club with early invites to future events.
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We are a small nonprofit with minimal staff so a platform like 4aGoodCause has provided us with a professional, streamlined system for online donations.
Melanie R Carroll
Executive Director at Angel Flight SC
Why traditional fundraising can wear you out
Too many nonprofit organizations fall into the cycle of event planning without pause:
Walk-a-thons and animal-themed contests
One-time galas with big goals
Donation drives with low turnout
Amanda Boerman from Foothills Animal Shelter shared with 4aGoodCause that her team used to spend hours at fundraising events that weren’t always cost-effective.
“It was time-consuming and expensive,” she said. “Now we focus on outreach that supports sustainable giving.”
How Foothills Animal Shelter Grew to 400+ Monthly Donors: Setup, Stewardship, Systems
Monthly giving: The long-term solution for animal welfare organizations
Recurring donations from animal lovers can power your shelter all year long.
Monthly giving is the win-win: Your nonprofit gets steady support, and donors feel like part of your mission.
Here’s how monthly giving can help your animal shelter or local humane society:
Predictable revenue: A small donation of $10/month covers pet food, toys, and medical supplies.
Volunteer relief: Fewer in-person events means less stress for staff and volunteers.
Stronger connections: Monthly donors are more engaged and more likely to sponsor a pet or support other initiatives.
Smarter planning: You can forecast revenue and set achievable fundraising goals.
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Using 4aGoodCause saves our team time, offers our team confidence that our donors' financial information is secure, and makes the giving process seamless.
Lily Lombardi
Donor Relations, Manos de Cristo
But don’t just take our word for it:
A typical monthly donor’s lifetime value (LTV) is around $7,604 on average.
The average monthly donor gives $756 per year with the 4aGoodCause platform.
We’ve found that the 4aGoodCause’s monthly giving average is $63 per month. (The 2024 M+R Benchmarks Study mentions the average recurring monthly donation for nonprofits is $24.)
Recurring givers have retention rates up to 90%. This is huge.
Think it’s not for your org? Think again.
Foothills Animal Shelter now has over 400 recurring donors, growing 10–15% each year. That support funds critical animal care, adoption services, and operations.
Amanda and her team use 4aGoodCause to manage donations, build campaigns, and automate donor stewardship. That way, they can focus on their mission.
👇👇See how much your organization could raise with monthly giving. 👇👇
How much can you earn?
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Total raised for your organization
Getting started: Monthly giving made easy for your animal rescue or welfare org
Here’s a step-by-step checklist to launch a successful recurring giving program:
Name your program (e.g., “Dog’s Best Friends” or “Forever Home Fund”).
Recruit founding members from board members, volunteers, or dog walk participants. Check out our guide on How to Get Monthly Donors for Your Nonprofit for a step-by-step approach.
Offer perks: kennel nameplates, exclusive invites, or early access to fundraising events.
And don’t forget to include ways for animal lovers to opt in during every campaign, whether it’s a donation form at your trivia night or a QR code on your walk-a-thon flyer.
Nonprofit software that feels like part of your team.
Ronald is the President and Founder of 4aGoodCause, the fundraising CRM that makes recurring, monthly giving a breeze for small nonprofits.
For over 25 years, Ronald has had the joy of doing what he loves, building online solutions that make a difference in the world. He’s helped raise millions of dollars online for small nonprofits across the country. Connect with Ronald on LinkedIn.
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