At the start of a new year, many of us take stock and think about how we can make the next twelve months even better than the last. Perhaps we will learn a new skill, travel the world, help our community, pursue our passion, or make a difference in some other way. For animal lovers, this might involve a new adoption, volunteering at the local shelter, or donating to a favorite rescue. If you are among the latter, the Kennel Squad Monthly Giving Program would be a great way to kick off the year. Not only would you be donating to a worthy cause, you’d be helping save dogs all year round as a sustaining member.
A robust sustainer program is critical to our mission
It’s heartbreaking to watch the endless stream of unwanted strays, dumped dogs, and new litters of puppies arriving at our door. Our team does everything it can, but it’s difficult to keep up. Among the many hurdles Rescue Ranch faces as it strives to save dogs, are the peaks and valleys of nonprofit funding.
Many nonprofits mitigate the natural highs and lows of the fundraising cycle by implementing a robust sustainer program, alongside any special or seasonal initiatives. For Rescue Ranch, that’s the Kennel Squad Monthly Giving Program, which offers supporters an opportunity to join the Rescue Ranch team as sustaining members for as little as $10/month.
According to Communications Director Natalie Golay, it could be a game changer. “We’ve grown exponentially over the past two and half years because there are so many dogs in need. A steady, reliable source of income will inject some stability in a largely unpredictable environment. As the program matures, it will help us respond faster to unexpected challenges and prepare for what lies ahead. It’s one of the most effective ways for donors to support our work. ”
Why Kennel Squads?
I asked Natalie where the idea for Kennel Squads came from.
“When we first discussed a sustainer program, we concluded that individual dog sponsorships wouldn’t work very well, because our goal is to get dogs adopted out. So instead, we decided to build it around the symbolic sponsorship of kennels by squads, or teams, of donors. Donors would choose their squad when they signed up. That being said, sponsorships are entirely symbolic: all funds are pooled to support our greatest need. They help us save dogs, period.”
And how did they end up with 12 squads?
“I know, it’s a lot,” she laughed.” At the time we weren’t dealing with 200+ dogs and two facilities. Our three main kennel sizes inspired the three donation levels. But with an outsized number of medium kennels, we thought it would be more balanced to subdivide into kennel groups. We ended up with 12 groups: four for each donation level. The kennel groups are somewhat moot now, given our numbers and new installations, but the 12 squads remain. We think they’re fun and will encourage team spirit. After a year, sustainers also get a cool mug with their squad name on it. So there’s that!”
Become a sustaining member of the Rescue Ranch team today!
If you’re already a member, we’re so grateful for your commitment to the dogs and our mission. If you’d like to join, the way the Kennel Squad Program works is that you choose a donation level and a monthly amount you’re comfortable with, then you pick one of the squads on that level. That’s it. You are now a sustaining member of the Rescue Ranch team. The impact of recurring donations is cumulative, so even when you give $10/month, you will make a big difference. That’s just 33 cents/day!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & SIGN UP
