Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is a Baltimore-based nonprofit, founded in 2020, that operates as America's first national BIPOC Animal Welfare organization. It delivers community-centered programs — including CARE Centers, Community Animal CARE, REDI Courses, and research — to keep marginalized families with their pets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity does
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is a Baltimore, Maryland-based nonprofit organization founded in 2020, positioned as America's first national Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Animal Welfare organization. CARE operationalizes a three-stage proprietary methodology called Human and Animal Well-Being (HAW), which centers people before animals and begins with community trust-building before program implementation. The methodology is delivered through three core divisions: Research & Development (community engagement research), Community Animal CARE (direct food, medical care, and information services to keep pets out of shelters), and Narratives (storytelling including the Brown and Bonded documentary series and PSAs).
CARE's product portfolio extends beyond direct services into programmatic infrastructure: CARE Centers (physical community hubs expanding at five to ten new centers annually), The Circle of Learning (education), REDI Courses on haw.academy (bias-training certification), the Gatekeeping Pet Ownership research study, Direct CARE support services, an annual community Gathering event, and a Scholarship Fund. The organization partners with Emancipet, Bailing Out Benji, Adopt-A-Pet, Black DVM Network, Mental Health America, Tito's Vodka for Dog People, Pet Rodeo, Maddie's Fund, and CARE Center Partners.
As a nonprofit, CARE's revenue model is grant- and donation-based rather than transactional. Approximately $8.2 million in cumulative funding has been disclosed, dominated by two anchor grants from Maddie's Fund ($1.7M in April 2022 for CARE Centers expansion and $6.5M in July 2023 for the Community Animal CARE program pilot), supplemented by smaller Maddie's Fund grants, a $43,720 PetSmart Charities grant in November 2024, individual donations, and board-led fundraising. The customer base is structurally BIPOC and other marginalized pet-owning communities facing barriers to veterinary care, housing, and adoption services; commercial transaction metrics, ARR, or per-seat pricing are not applicable.
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
- Legal name
- Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
- Website
- https://careawo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is a Baltimore-based nonprofit, founded in 2020, that operates as America's first national BIPOC Animal Welfare organization. It delivers community-centered programs — including CARE Centers, Community Animal CARE, REDI Courses, and research — to keep marginalized families with their pets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)
Keywords
Where Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) delivers community-centered animal welfare programs for BIPOC and marginalized communities across the United States through its three-stage Human and Animal Well-Being (HAW) methodology. Core offerings include Community Animal CARE (food, medical care, and information for families and pets), CARE Centers (local community hubs), Research and Development on adoption gatekeeping, educational programs (The Circle of Learning, REDI Courses), and narrative initiatives (Brown and Bonded documentary, Bark About It).
Product overview
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) operates as a unified nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community-centered programs rather than a traditional tech platform. The core offering is the Human and Animal Well-Being (HAW) methodology, a three-stage approach encompassing Research & Development, Community Animal CARE, and Narratives. Supporting programs include CARE Centers for physical community hubs, The Circle of Learning for education, REDI Courses for bias training, Gatekeeping Pet Ownership research, and narrative initiatives like Brown and Bonded documentary series.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community Animal CARE
Quantifiable outcome
- A 3% increase in adoptions among people of color would give 3.2 million pets a loving home
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Titos Vodka for Dog PeopleminorBrand partnership supporting animal welfare initiatives through Tito's vodka program.
- Pet RodeominorPartner organization in the animal welfare ecosystem.
- Bailing Out BenjicoreAnti-puppy mill organization that raises awareness about puppy mill suffering and predatory pet store practices. CARE features their content and collaborates on education.
- Adopt-A-PetminorPet adoption platform partner for helping pets find homes.
- EmancipetcoreNonprofit focused on making veterinary care affordable and accessible for all. Shares mission alignment with CARE.
- Black DVM NetworkcoreNetwork supporting Black veterinary professionals. Aligns with CARE's focus on diversity and equity in animal welfare.
- University Maddies FundminorEducational platform by Maddie's Fund for animal welfare learning.
- Mental Health AmericaminorOrganization focused on mental health that aligns with CARE's human and animal well-being approach.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alley Cat Allies: Alley Cat Allies is a national advocacy nonprofit focused on humane care for community cats and pet retention — mission-overlapping with CARE's keep-families-together work and systemic-bias advocacy within animal welfare.
- Emancipet: Emancipet is a nonprofit focused on making veterinary care affordable and accessible — a core operational focus that overlaps with CARE's Community Animal CARE program. CARE lists Emancipet as a core strategic partner, indicating closely aligned service models and target populations.
Broad incumbents
- Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends operates the largest no-kill animal sanctuary network in the US and runs national adoption and shelter-overcrowding programs directly comparable to CARE's mission. Notably, CARE's Senior Director of Culture and Talent (José Ocaño) previously led DEIB efforts at Best Friends, evidencing close labor-market and programmatic overlap.
- PetSmart Charities: PetSmart Charities is the largest funder of animal welfare in the US, supporting adoption, pet retention, and access-to-care programs. CARE received a Nov 2024 grant from PetSmart Charities, positioning it within the same competitive funding pool as other welfare nonprofits.
- ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the largest US animal welfare nonprofit, providing direct overlap in animal welfare advocacy, shelter support, and policy work — but with vastly greater resources and a general (not BIPOC-focused) mandate.
- The Humane Society of the United States: HSUS is a national animal welfare advocacy and direct-care organization that competes for the same donor and policy attention as CARE, with established programs in shelter rescue, legislative advocacy, and pet care access — serving overlapping populations but without CARE's explicit BIPOC framing.
- Maddie's Fund: Maddie's Fund is the flagship family foundation driving much of the US no-kill and community cat movement, and CARE's largest funder ($8M+ across multiple grants). As both a peer funder in the welfare space and CARE's principal financial backer, it shapes CARE's strategy and reach.
- Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): Petco Love is a national animal welfare foundation funding adoption, veterinary care access, and disaster relief. It competes with CARE for both donor mindshare and as a funder of community-based animal welfare programs nationwide.
Emerging players
- Adopt-a-Pet: Adopt-a-Pet is the largest nonprofit pet adoption platform in North America, partnering with shelters and rescues to rehome animals. As a CARE channel partner for adoption services, it shares the same adoption-funnel focus that CARE's research and Community Animal CARE programs aim to make more equitable.
- Bailing Out Benji: Bailing Out Benji is a smaller nonprofit advocating against puppy mills and predatory pet-store practices. CARE lists it as a core strategic partner and features its educational content, reflecting closely aligned advocacy and narrative goals in animal welfare reform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity social profiles
Digital presenceCompanions and Animals for Reform and Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity
What does Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity do?
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) delivers community-centered animal welfare programs for BIPOC and marginalized communities across the United States through its three-stage Human and Animal Well-Being (HAW) methodology. Core offerings include Community Animal CARE (food, medical care, and information for families and pets), CARE Centers (local community hubs), Research and Development on adoption gatekeeping, educational programs (The Circle of Learning, REDI Courses), and narrative initiatives (Brown and Bonded documentary, Bark About It).
Is Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity a public or private company?
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity founded?
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity based?
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alley Cat Allies and Emancipet. Broad incumbents are Best Friends Animal Society, PetSmart Charities, ASPCA, The Humane Society of the United States, Maddie's Fund and Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation). Emerging players are Adopt-a-Pet and Bailing Out Benji.
Does Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity.
What industry is Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity in?
Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity's product category is Animal Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEALAC, Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAJ, Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare). Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 8300.