• Login

    If you're already registered for the 2024 Walk for Animals, log in here to access your Participant Center.

    Username:

    Password:

    Forgot password?

Fundraising Tips and Tools

Smiling walker with dog

For more than 50 years, we’ve been walking to create second chances for animals in need — all thanks to dedicated animal lovers like you.

By fundraising for the Walk for Animals, you're ensuring local dogs, cats, and critters receive the shelter, medical treatment, and love they deserve. You’re also helping community members care for their beloved pets by providing nonjudgmental education, compassionate resources like free pet food and our Pet Helpline, and low-cost, accessible veterinary services. Every dollar you raise goes directly toward creating happier, healthier lives for animals in our shelters — and beyond.

Fundraising comes easily when you do it from the heart. Be creative and make it personal. And remember, you're working hard for a wonderful cause — to help animals and the people who love them.

+ Digital Fundraising Toolkit

We’re here to support you on every step of your Walk for Animals journey. Check out our Digital Fundraising Toolkit which includes graphics, downloadable posters, and sample social media posts to share with your network!

+ Fundraising ideas for everyone

1. Start early. The sooner you start asking for donations, the more time you'll have to grow your fundraising total.

2. Set your fundraising goal. Give yourself something to aim for. Many people who do this raise more than they thought they would!

3. Make a personal donation. Be the first to show your commitment to animals in need.

4. Update your personal fundraising page. Share your love for animals by telling your story and uploading a picture of you and the animals in your life.

5. Send emails. Whether you’re using the email tools in your Participant Center or your personal email account, sending emails to your friends, family, and coworkers is a great way to get your message out. Share your story and include the link to your personal fundraising page if you're fundraising online. Don't be afraid to follow up if people don't respond!

6. Reach out on social media. Send messages and share your fundraising progress on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. And don't forget to thank donors on social media, too!

7. Write letters. A personal letter always goes a long way. Share your message about why you are walking!

8. Ask your employer (and your donors) about matching gifts. Many companies match their employees' donations. Ask your donors if their company will match their gift.

9. Encourage friends and family to get involved. Create your own Walk for Animals team! When you come together, you can make an even bigger impact for local animals. Inspire some friendly competition and see who can raise the most on your team — and every member will be eligible for prizes based on their individual fundraising!

10. Have fun with it! There are plenty of creative ways you can inspire your network to support your fundraising. Consider putting on a crafting or bake sale, setting up a lemonade stand, or hosting a car wash. Whatever you choose, put the “fun” in fundraising!

+ Fundraising ideas for teams and employers

1. Get organized. Host a get-together with your team! A coffee break or happy hour is a great way to discuss all your creative ideas to collectively reach your team goal.

2. Movie night. Host a movie night in person and ask for an “admission fee” (donation) or virtually with the help of online tools like Teleparty or GroupWatch. Then, post your donation link in the chat.

3. Pet photo contest. Invite your friends (and their friends) to enter their pet’s best photo, charge a few dollars for a good cause, and the winner will be selected by online voters!

4. Game night. Gather your friends and host a fun night of games, donations, and prizes.

5. Write a letter. A personal letter always goes a long way. Share your message about why you’re walking!

6. Prize drawing. Request a $10 donation from your coworkers in exchange for being entered into a drawing for gift certificates, prime parking spaces, or virtual events.

7. Host a trivia event. Offer employees the opportunity to participate in a trivia event at work — either in person or virtually — in exchange for a donation.

8. Funny activity for a cause. A favorite for all employees. Make a donation and have your boss do a funny activity — from eating a pet’s favorite treat to doing a funny dance in a meeting, the possibilities are endless and help support animals.

9. Create friendly competition. Motivate your crew! Offer a prize to your team’s top fundraisers to inspire each walker to contribute even more to your team total.

+ Donation tracking form for cash and check gifts

As you collect offline donations, please send cash and checks to Animal Humane Society (Attn: Donor Services, 845 Meadow Lane N, Golden Valley, MN 55422) with a completed Donation Tracker form. For mailed donations to be counted toward prizes, your offline gifts must be postmarked by Friday, May 10.

All mailed cash and checks received by Wednesday, May 1, will be entered and appear on each Walker's record by Saturday, May 4. Gifts that arrive in the mail after that date will not be added until after the Walk. Rest assured, all gifts postmarked by May 10 will count toward your fundraising total and the prizes you’ll earn.

It's important to use the Donation Tracker form so that donors (especially those making cash donations) receive acknowledgement and a donation receipt.

If you have additional questions or need assistance tracking down a missing donation, please contact us by filling out our contact form or calling 763-432-4841.

+ Facts to help you fundraise

About Animal Humane Society:

  • Each year, Animal Humane Society cares for more than 13,000 local dogs, cats, and critters in our locations in Golden Valley, Coon Rapids, Saint Paul, and Woodbury, MN.
  • Animal Humane Society was established in 1878 and incorporated as a nonprofit charitable organization in 1891. As an independent Minnesota nonprofit, not affiliated with any national humane societies, AHS relies on the generosity of our community of animal lovers to ensure our doors are open to every animal in need.
  • For more than 50 years, Animal Humane Society’s Walk for Animals has been our largest fundraising event of the year, with thousands of attendees gathering every spring to donate and create second chances for local animals.

Animal Humane Society's impact on the community:

  • Last year, more than 11,000 animals at AHS were adopted into new homes, reunited with owners, or released into the care of other organizations.
  • AHS veterinary centers can provide more than 11,000 low-cost services to our community in a given year, including medical and wellness appointments, dental and specialty surgeries, and spay/neuter surgeries.
  • Through our community outreach efforts, we’re able to partner with local pet food pantries to distribute more than 37,000 pounds of dog and cat food to pet parents.
  • Through AHS educational programs, children of all ages can learn more about animal welfare and how they can create a more humane world for animals. Last year, more than 4,800 participants attended classes, day camps, and more at AHS locations across the Twin Cities area.
  • More than 70 family-friendly pet training classes are provided at AHS each week, in addition to one-on-one training, therapy animal courses, play groups, and agility classes. More than 1,100 local pets attended training classes last year.
  • Our free Pet Helpline answered more than 58,000 phone calls last year, providing care and resources to help pet parents with everything from solving behavioral problems to finding pet-friendly housing.