3 Fundraising Shifts Every Animal Welfare Organization Should Make
From the desk of Janet Showley:
Fundraising right now feels harder than it used to—and you’re not imagining it. Many animal welfare organizations are seeing the same thing: donors are more cautious, costs are rising, and demand for services hasn’t slowed down. The good news is that some clear trends are emerging that can help you adapt and strengthen your giving programs.
One of the most effective shifts is toward monthly (sustainer) giving. Even modest recurring gifts add up quickly and, more importantly, give you predictable revenue you can actually plan around. If you don’t already have a strong sustainer program, start simple: create a clear, compelling name, highlight what a monthly gift provides (for example, “$35/month helps prevent one litter”), and invite donors to join at every touchpoint—not just during big campaigns.
Retention is another area where small changes can make a big impact. It costs far more to acquire a new donor than to keep an existing one. Consistent, thoughtful communication goes a long way—think quick impact updates, photos, or a short story showing how their support kept a pet in a home. These don’t need to be elaborate to be effective.
Finally, donors increasingly want to understand real impact, not just numbers. Framing your work around keeping pets with families, increasing access to care, and supporting your community helps donors see themselves in your mission.
The takeaway: focus less on one-time gifts and more on building relationships. Stability comes from connection—and that’s something your organization is already great at.
Continued Reading:
https://dataro.io/blog/animal-welfare-fundraising-insights-2026
https://shelterroundtable.com/donor-retention-animal-shelters-rescues/
Indiana Animal Welfare Conference: Recap
Indiana’s animal welfare community came together in Indianapolis for the 7th annual Indiana Animal Welfare Conference, with a major focus on practical solutions to pet overpopulation and shelter strain. From community cat strategies and shelter operations to leadership sessions and statewide collaboration, the event brought together nearly 300 professionals, volunteers, rescues, shelters, veterinarians, and advocates working toward the same goal: reducing the number of animals entering shelters in the first place.
Couldn’t attend in person? All presentation slides are up on our website : https://petfriendlyservices.org/news-events/events/indiana-animal-welfare-conference/
Help us Connect Pet Owners with Spay/Neuter Resources
Help us Connect Pet Owners with Spay/Neuter Resources
Pet Friendly Services of Indiana recently launched a new statewide Spay/Neuter Resource Directory designed to help pet owners more easily find affordable spay/neuter options in their area. The directory includes low-cost clinics, voucher programs, transport services, and financial assistance programs across Indiana.
We know many rescues and shelters are already helping connect people with these services every day, and we’d love your help making this resource as comprehensive and useful as possible. If your organization offers spay/neuter assistance, transport, vouchers, clinics, or other related services, please consider submitting your information to be included. Together, we can make it easier for pet owners to access spay/neuter and prevent more animals from entering shelters in the first place.
Please share this directory far and wide to help more people get their pets fixed!
Effective July 1st: HEA 1165
Indiana just got tougher on animal cruelty.
Starting July 1, HEA 1165 brings stronger penalties for abuse and neglect, allows felony charges in serious cases, addresses hoarding and domestic violence, defines proper care more clearly, and protects Good Samaritans who step in to help.
Read HEA 1165 here: iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1165/details
Save the Date! Love Them for Life is Saturday, October 3rd!
Save the date for Love Them for Life Adoption Event at Tom Wood Subaru! We’ll once again be hosting up to 20 shelters and rescues for a day dedicated to finding loving homes for adoptable pets and connecting with the community.
Applications for participating organizations will be opening soon, and we’ll share full event details, application information, and deadlines in the coming weeks.
Education Opportunity:
The Kitten Conference on June 6 – 7, 2026!
Hosted by The National Kitten Coalition and Community Cats Podcast, this two-day event is a virtual conference for anyone who wants to create a better future for our youngest felines!
Register now: https://zurl.co/2026KittenConference
Registration covers access to the live event, recorded sessions afterward, speaker slides, handouts, and more.
Looking for Grant Opportunities?
Pet Friendly Services maintains a list of grant opportunities for animal welfare organizations.
Each grant has different requirements, deadlines, and application processes, so please review the linked websites to determine which opportunities best fit your organization’s needs.
We know times are challenging, and requests for spay/neuter assistance are higher than ever. We hope this guide helps connect you with more funding opportunities to continue your lifesaving work.
Where Will You Be Next?
Spring is here and events are picking up! Spread the word about your event and reach more adopters with our public event calendar – a central hub for showcasing adoption events and specials across Indiana.
Whether you’re hosting a fee-reduced event, a breed-specific adoption day, or a senior pet showcase, this calendar makes it easier for pet lovers to find and attend your events. It’s completely free, so don’t miss this opportunity to boost visibility and help more pets find loving homes. Add your events today!
Reminder: Be Social With Us! Join our Partner Facebook Group
Join us! We’ve created a Facebook Group to help connect employees and/or key representatives of animal shelters, rescues, TNVR Groups, veterinary professionals, and other members of the animal welfare community that are current partners with Pet Friendly Services of Indiana.
You’ll find meaningful conversations and receive important updates about animal welfare.
Another reason to join? Monthly contests where your group can win extra spay/neuter coupons just by sharing the Pet Friendly Plate!
Our Contact Information
Pet Friendly Services of Indiana
1100 W 42nd Street, Suite 205
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-767-7771
http://PetFriendlyServices.org
