Do It Yourself (DIY) Fundraisers

Interested in partnering with Ark-Valley Humane Society to support our mission of ensuring the welfare of companion animals through compassion and care? Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, gathering a service, social, or sports group, or just looking for a meaningful way to give back as an individual, organization, or business, you can help homeless pets by creating your own DIY fundraiser—turning milestones, group activities, or creative ideas into lifesaving support.

Ideas for DIY Fundraisers:

• Pet Food Drive
• Collect In-Kind Donations through an In-Person or Online Event (see our Amazon Wishlist for ideas)
• Birthday or Milestone Fundraiser: “No gifts—donate to the shelter.”
• Spare Change Challenge: Collect coins for a month and donate.
• Donate a percentage of sales through events such as:
  • Bake Sale
  • Yard Sale
  • Lemonade Stand
  • Happy Hour (Paws & Pints, Tails & Ales, The Shelter Social, etc.)
  • Round-up donations
  • Entry fees from ticketed events: Trivia Night, Paint & Sip, Bingo, Competition, Concert, Raffle, Silent Auction, etc.
  • Signature Item for a Cause: One drink/menu item where 100% of profits go to the shelter.
  • Adopt-Me Menu Feature: Highlight a shelter pet and donate per item sold, in their name.
  • Matched Customer Donations: Business matches up to a cap.
  • Flat Donation Night: Fixed amount donated regardless of sales.
  • Volunteer Hours Grant: Company donates based on employee volunteer time.
• And more! We’d love to hear from you!

Can AVHS Attend My Fundraiser?

Here at AVHS, we have unlimited compassion, but limited resources. We put together these guidelines to help you plan your fundraiser and help homeless pets in our community!

What we can do…

• Share one AVHS-approved flyer (created by you) on our social media stories ahead of the event. AVHS can provide you with a digital copy of our logo.
• Create a static follow-up thank you post on our social media.
• Provide you with an “AVHS DIY Fundraiser Box”, which includes AVHS informational brochures and an adoptable animals booklet.
• Accept your co-host request for DIY fundraiser events created on your Facebook page.
• Take a check presentation photo at the shelter.

What we can’t do…

• Provide any staff or volunteers to plan, organize, or administer your DIY fundraiser.
  • In limited circumstances, AVHS support may be considered for high-impact fundraising efforts.
• Bring animals from the shelter to your DIY fundraising event.
• • While time outside of the kennel environment is often wonderful for helping us to learn more about the personalities of the animals in our care, off-site events can be stressful for the shelter animals and pose safety risks due to temperament and vaccination differences. Because of this, bringing animals to events typically does not improve adoption outcomes; however, your support through a DIY fundraiser still makes a meaningful difference in helping them find loving forever homes!

For any questions about your DIY Fundraiser or to get started, reach out to our Outreach Manager at

outreach@ark-valley.org or by phone 719-221-5870.