Raise Funds for an Animal Shelter

The short answer

To raise funds for an animal shelter, specify a need, show its budget, and explain how you will report the outcome. Monthly food supplies, shelter renovations, and unexpected vet bills each require different explanations and timelines.

Launching a page and waiting isn’t enough: a campaign works when the team knows what they are asking for, who is responding, and how they will keep their community informed.

In this guide

Separate emergencies from monthly expenses
Prepare a clear, easy-to-understand budget
Identify the team in charge
Choose actions the team can sustain
Show your everyday work, not just emergencies
Invite local businesses and partners
Turn urgency into ongoing support
Fundraise for your shelter with Kukumiku
Frequently asked questions

Separate emergencies from monthly expenses

Need	How to approach it	What to prepare
One-time expense	Campaign with a specific goal	Estimate or invoice and realistic timeline
Food and hygiene	Support for a defined period	Usage, costs, and other support
Facility improvements	Phased project	Feasibility, permits if applicable, and budget
Ongoing activity	Monthly donors	Recurring expenses and follow-up capacity

Don’t combine all your needs into one generic appeal. Share the overall context and choose an initial action that makes it clear what each contribution is used for.

Prepare an easy-to-understand budget

Use current amounts and distinguish what is budgeted from what has already been spent. Hide details of clients, suppliers, or individuals that don’t need to be published.

Item	Amount
Food	600 €
Hygiene products	120 €
Transportation	80 €
Monthly total	800 €

Illustrative example for one month, before campaign costs. This is not necessarily what every shelter needs.

Explain which portion is covered by your own resources or other grants. If two campaigns fund the same expense, clarify how they are coordinated so as not to give a misleading impression of what is still needed.

Identify the team in charge

Include the shelter’s name, who is organizing it, and their relationship to the work described. If a volunteer raises funds for a shelter, they must coordinate with it before using its name or stories.

Don’t present an individual fundraiser as an official campaign without their agreement. If the shelter operates as an association and you need to organize approvals or task distribution, check out the fundraising guide for associations. Here we focus on the expenses and communication specific to animal protection.

Choose initiatives your team can maintain

A donation campaign, an appeal to local businesses, or a raffle with a donated prize: every action adds work (inquiries, materials, follow-up). Choose the ones that won’t take time away from caring for the animals.

If you plan a raffle, you need a confirmed prize that attracts new attention, such as a photo shoot with your pet or a gift bundle from a pet store. First, check out the charity raffle guide.

Show the everyday work, not just the emergency

Post things that help people understand your work: preparing a space, supplies arriving, the volunteer team. Avoid always resorting to shocking images to ask for support.

If you share an animal’s story, explain precisely where the aid goes and do not promise a veterinary outcome. A good update explains what has been bought, what is still needed, and when there will be news.

Community update

Thanks to your contributions, we’ve already purchased [what was achieved]! With what we’ve raised so far, we cover [percentage or period] of [need].

We still need [amount] for [next purchase]. We’ll share the invoices and photos in the next update on [date].

Invite businesses and collaborators to participate

Make a specific ask: helping with supplies, sharing the campaign, or donating a prize. Agree on quantities, delivery, and how they will be acknowledged before announcing the partnership. If you’re looking for a prize, here is a template for requesting one from a business.

If you are offered in-kind donations, make sure you need them and have the space to store them. A donation that doesn’t fit also creates extra work and costs.

Turn urgency into ongoing support

Many people discover a shelter through an emergency. When closing that campaign, invite them to continue with a monthly contribution: it brings stability to fixed expenses and reduces reliance on emergencies.

Record funds received, costs, and purchases. At the end of each period, publish a summary and share the next need. Trust is built by showing what has been achieved and being clear about what remains pending.

With Kukumiku

Fundraise for your animal shelter with Kukumiku

On Kukumiku, you can present your animal shelter’s specific need in a campaign with its budget, and keep your community engaged through monthly donations and updates.

80% tax deduction for your donors on the first €250

48 h to review your campaign and suggest improvements

€0 extra cost to add a raffle to the campaign

Monthly donors to cover fixed expenses.
Payments via card, Bizum, PayPal, direct debit, or bank transfer.
We can pay the veterinary clinic or supplier directly.
Updates sent by email to everyone who supported the campaign.

See how it works

Frequently asked questions

Can I fundraise for an animal shelter without belonging to it?

Yes, but coordinate with their team first and agree on who receives the funds. Don’t use their name as if an agreement were in place when you don’t have one yet.

Is it a good idea to ask for monthly donations?

For ongoing expenses, yes: they provide stability. Explain the purpose and how you will update those who join. On Kukumiku, you can welcome monthly donors to your campaign.

Are donations to an animal shelter tax-deductible?

On Kukumiku, every contribution comes with a donation certificate from the foundation, allowing your donors to deduct up to 80% of the first €250 on their IRPF.

Where do I set up a campaign with Kukumiku?

Start with our guide to creating a charity crowdfunding campaign, prepare your description and budget, and create the project.