How to to Start a Non-Profit Animal Rescue

Starting up a non-profit animal rescue requires a large amount of time and effort. It also requires more than one person and a variety of talents. In order for an non-profit animal rescue to be an effective organization, it must be run like a business. Caring for the animals will only be part of the activities needed to carry out an effective mission.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Lots of great volunteers with many talents
• A business plan
• non-profit 501c3 status
• money
• time
• office
• safe, clean places to foster the animals
• community support

1. Gain basic background knowledge about managing a non profit. Read, attend seminars, communicate with other established non profit groups. Be sure you understand the issues facing homeless animals in your community. By knowing what the issues are, you will be able to create an organization that fills a necessary service to the animal community.
2. Consult with animal care professionals about how to best provide housing, rehabilitation, first aid, nutrition, parasite prevention and treatment, and how to administer medical treatments and medications. Establish relationships with professionals in your community so that you will have their support.
3. Assemble your Board of Directors. These will be the people who insure the well being of your non profit organization. The board also guides the direction that the organization takes in achieving its goals. This board should be a group of people with cohesive personalities, a common vision, and diverse talents. Accounting, PR, business skills, and animal care education would be good talents to have on your board.
4. File for your 501c3 non profit status. The application forms are available through the Internal Revenue Service. Your state may require a certificate as well to allow you to solicit donations and for tax exemption. Call your State Secretary or Attorney General to find out any state specific information you may need to know regarding by laws, registration and other state regulations.
5. Set up a budget and a method of documenting and handling income and expenses.
6. Establish policies for the group in writing.
7. Network in your community. Hold public meetings, send out press releases, establish a mailing list, put up posters for your group in places that allow them. All of these things will raise awareness of your presence in the community.
8. Create materials for your first meeting that will let people know how to volunteer, how to donate, what the needs of the group are, and bios of animals you have helped or that need help. A donation canister and sign in sheet will also prove useful.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan ahead
• Be clear and put rules in writing
• Network with people in the community and other groups
• Do not take on more than your financial, time, and housing resources can support. This does not help the animals or the image of rescue groups.