8 Fundraising Ideas to Steal: Creative Success Stories from the Community Cats Grants Program

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned from the Community Cats Grants program is that fundraising for spay/neuter initiatives is not only possible—it’s essential. Many people believe that the public is more inclined to donate to shelters that house sick kittens and homeless puppies, rather than supporting efforts to prevent those situations in the first place. The Community Cats Grants program challenges this mindset, encouraging organizations to think creatively and step out of their comfort zones.

Designed specifically for small, grassroots TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) groups and spay/neuter organizations with limited budgets, the program often marks the first experience these groups have with formal fundraising. Participants frequently feel too busy, overwhelmed, or intimidated to begin fundraising efforts. However, through our program, they discover that sometimes raising money is as simple as asking for help.

Often, just sharing what you’re doing with the public can lead to unexpected support. I’ve lost count of the stories where a stranger learns about a group’s efforts and immediately offers a donation. Simply mentioning a matching grant opportunity can also motivate people to give.

But some organizations have taken fundraising to a new level with innovative ideas. If you’re raising money for spay/neuter programs, consider trying one of these creative approaches:

1. 10 for 10 for $10: Encourage members or volunteers to ask 10 people to ask 10 others to donate $10 each. Reach out to church friends, exercise classes, classmates—everyone whose causes you’ve supported!
2. Custom Photo Book for Major Donors: Create a personalized photo book filled with stories and images of the cats you’ve helped. Send it to major donors with a heartfelt thank-you note and a message about the grant opportunity. You could also sell these books to the general public.
3. Envelope Fundraiser: Label 50 envelopes with numbers from 1 to 50 and ask people to sponsor an envelope for the amount shown. If all envelopes are sponsored, you’ll raise $1, 275!
4. Kitten Naming Party: For a $5 donation, let people suggest a name for a kitten. Collect all suggestions, and during a Zoom or Facebook Live party, draw the winning names from a hat!
5. Nail Trim Clinics: Set up a table at a local pet store to offer nail trims for $10 each. Promote it as a “drive-thru” event for added convenience.
6. Name That Sardine: For a donation, people can name a sardine that will be fed to a cat. Share photos or videos of the cat eating it with the donor. 
7. OnlyPaws: Offer playful, “naughty” photos of cat or kitten feet for donations. Everyone loves some adorable toe beans!
8. Pet Portraits/Caricatures: Collaborate with a local artist to create personalized pet portraits for a set fee. For a fun twist, have non-artistic volunteers draw and offer “the worst” pet portraits!

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what past grantees have to say:

“The Community Cats Grants program was a pleasure to be a part of! We experimented with a new fundraising idea that not only generated funds but also got our volunteers excited and increased our social media reach, boosting public awareness of our work. The monthly check-ins were a joy, connecting us with other organizations across the country doing the same good work and allowing us to encourage one another!”

— Karina N., A Cat’s Life Rescue, Group 18

“We at NWA Community Cat Project had a blast with the Community Cats Grant Program, planning a fun new event that the community loved and raising money to help kitties! The grant reporting process was super easy, and it was great to hear from other organizations doing amazing work and see what cool things we’re all up to. Thank you so much for having us!”

— Hannah A., Northwest Arkansas Community Cat Project, Group 18

The Community Cats Grants program offers a $2,000 matching grant specifically for the spay/neuter of outdoor community cats. To qualify for a grant, organizations must plan and execute a new fundraising initiative to raise a minimum of $2,000. 

The next deadline for the Community Cats Grants program is August 31, 2024. Organizations selected for Group 20 will be expected to raise $2,000 between October 19, 2024, and January 19, 2025. All funds, including the amount fundraised and the matching grant, must be spent on the spay/neuter of community cats by April 19, 2025.