National Animal Care & Control Association

What National Animal Care & Control Association does

The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) is a US national 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association founded in 1978 and headquartered in Lindsborg, Kansas, with an additional office in Murrieta, California. NACA serves animal control officers (ACOs), municipal animal care and control agencies, animal shelters and their staff, law enforcement officers who work animal-related cases, and state animal control associations. Its core offerings are tiered professional certifications (ACO I/II/III, Shelter Safe Animal Care Certification, Animal Welfare Dispatcher Certification, Mental Health First Aid for ACOs, and Animal Control for Law Enforcement Officers) delivered through a self-serve training portal (nacatraining.org), supplemented by free self-paced courses, a webinar library distributed via Justice Clearinghouse, in-person Field Forward workshops using Lean Six Sigma-informed process improvement, and the A.S.I.S.T. disaster response program.

NACA's underlying technology stack is a conventional association platform: a WordPress-based public website, a memberclicks.net member portal hosting the Circles networking community and operational SOP/Disaster Resource portals, the dedicated nacatraining.org LMS for paid and free courses, and a separate nacaconference.org site for the annual conference. A registered NACA logo trademark and bimonthly 'Animal Care & Control Today' magazine reinforce brand identity. Field Forward is the most operationally distinctive offering, deploying in-person at agencies (Waco, TX in February 2026; Hawaiian Humane Society in January 2026) for ride-alongs, process mapping, SWOT analysis, and roadmap development.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: annual membership dues (individual, agency, state association tiers — pricing not publicly disclosed), paid certification programs, conference and State Association Leadership Summit registration with sponsor/exhibitor fees, advertising in the bimonthly magazine, job board posting fees (nacanet.mcjobboard.net), donations (EIN 74-2158707), branded merchandise via Bonfire, and grant funding (notably from Maddie's Fund, with cumulative $115,000 across 2022–2023). NACA reaches all 50 US states, with 113 attendees from 43 states at the 2026 Summit, and is preparing for its 50th Anniversary in 2028.

Name

National Animal Care & Control Association

Legal name

National Animal Care & Control Association

Website

https://nacanet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Animal Care & Control Association is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that delivers professional certifications, training, advocacy, and networking for animal control officers, shelters, law enforcement, and state associations across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Animal control certification
• Animal care training
• Shelter management education
• Public safety training
• Professional association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lindsborg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NACA operates as a membership organization with annual membership dues providing access to the online community, member-only resources, webinars, Circles networking platform, and member discounts on training and events.
2. Training & Certification Programs: Revenue from paid certification courses including ACO I & II, ACO III, Dispatch Certification, Mental Health First Aid, Animal Control for LEOs, Shelter Safe, and in-person training events. Some training is free for individual members; paid courses support CEU credits and professional credentials.
3. Annual Conference & Events: Revenue generated from the annual NACA conference (nacaconference.org), the State Association Leadership Summit, and ACO Week celebrations, including ticket sales, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees.
4. Magazine & Publication Advertising: The 'Animal Care & Control Today' magazine publishes issue dates and a media kit with advertising opportunities for sponsors and partners.
5. Job Board & Career Center: Career center and job board (nacanet.mcjobboard.net) with posting fees for agencies and organizations recruiting animal care and control professionals.
6. Donations & Fundraising: NACA accepts donations (nacanet.org/donations/) and has received grant funding from Maddie's Fund. EIN 74-2158707 is listed for tax-deductible contributions.
7. Merchandise Sales: NACA operates an online store (bonfire.com/store/naca-gear/) selling branded merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

NACA is a national 501(c)(3) professional membership association that sets the standard of professionalism in animal welfare and public safety. It sells memberships, accredited certification courses (ACO I, II, III; Shelter Safe; Dispatch; Mental Health First Aid for ACOs; Animal Control for Law Enforcement Officers), continuing education, an annual conference, a bimonthly trade magazine, disaster response resources, and in-person consulting-style workshops (Field Forward) to animal control officers, animal shelters, law enforcement agencies, state associations, and animal welfare nonprofits across the United States.

Product overview

NACA operates as a professional association offering a certification-centered product portfolio. The core offerings are the NACA ACO I, II, and III certification programs for Animal Control Officers, supplemented by specialized certifications including Mental Health First Aid (ACO-MHFA), Dispatch Certification, Shelter Safe animal care certification, and Animal Control training for Law Enforcement Officers. The organization provides in-person training through the Field Forward Assessment & Process Improvement workshop and offers digital learning via free self-paced training, LEADing Conversations, and a Webinar Library with CEU partnerships. NACA also publishes the bimonthly 'Animal Care & Control Today' magazine, operates the annual NACA Conference Portal, hosts the State Association Leadership Summit, and manages National ACO Week. Additional member services include the Circles networking platform, Operational Resource/SOP Portal, Disaster Portal with the A.S.I.S.T. support team, Career Center job board, Awards Program, Position Statements, Guidelines, Grant Opportunities, and Scholarship Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shelter Safe: Foundations in Animal Care and Welfare Certification program for frontline shelter staff, volunteers, and animal care professionals.
• Animal Care & Control Today Magazine
• ACO Week
• Field Forward
• A.S.I.S.T

Products and services

• NACA ACO I & II Certification Online certification course for Animal Control Officers structured into bite-sized weekly lessons (10-20 minutes each), totaling 25 hours of training across the course duration. Designed for busy working professionals and updated with new content for ACO II. Awarded NACA CEUs upon completion.
• NACA ACO III Certification Advanced-level certification for experienced animal control professionals that builds on ACO I and II credentials.
• Animal Welfare Dispatch Certification (Dispatch Essentials) Animal Welfare Dispatcher Certification providing over 5 hours of specialized training tailored to the unique demands of animal welfare dispatching; qualifies for 10 NACA CEUs.
• Mental Health First Aid (ACO-MHFA) Certification ACO-specific Mental Health First Aid certification designed for animal control officers facing emotionally demanding work; qualifies for 10 NACA CEU credits.
• Shelter Safe – Animal Care Certification Foundations in Animal Care and Welfare Certification designed for frontline shelter staff, volunteers, and animal care professionals.
• Animal Control for Law Enforcement Officers Training program for law enforcement officers covering "The Link" between animal cruelty and crimes against people, recognition of warning signs, evidence gathering, and obtaining animal-crime related convictions.
• Field Forward Assessment & Process Improvement Workshop In-person consulting-style workshop for animal care and control agencies grounded in Lean Six Sigma principles and national best practices. Includes ride-alongs, observations, process mapping, SWOT analysis, and collaborative roadmap building. Deployed at City of Waco Animal Protection Services (February 2026) and Hawaiian Humane Society (January 2026).
• NACA Annual Conference Annual conference for animal care and control professionals featuring training, certifications, sponsorships, exhibitor opportunities, and professional development. The 2028 conference will coincide with NACA's 50th Anniversary.
• NACA State Association Leadership Summit Annual leadership summit bringing together state association representatives from across the country for connection, collaboration, and leadership development. The 2026 summit in Pittsburgh drew 113 attendees from 43 states.
• Animal Care & Control Today Magazine Bimonthly professional trade magazine covering industry news, best practices, award winners, and field innovations in animal care and control; published in PDF format with advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 states and 113 attendees represented at the 2026 State Association Leadership Summit
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DocupetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDocupet is a featured sponsor of NACA, appearing in the featured sponsors section of the website alongside Maddie's Fund and Petco Love.
• Justice ClearinghousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJustice Clearinghouse hosts NACA's webinar library, providing free training webinars for individual NACA members and extending NACA's reach to justice and public safety professionals. This channel partnership distributes NACA's educational content beyond its own platform.
• Hatching LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHatching LLC delivered a keynote experience at the 2026 NACA State Association Leadership Summit, guiding attendees through a leadership and internal compassion workshop framed around 'Leading Without Authority.' A live harpist accompanied the session.
• Hawaiian Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn January 2026, NACA partnered with Hawaiian Humane Society (Oahu) through its Field Forward program — a collaborative process improvement initiative involving ride-alongs, observations, process mapping, SWOT analysis, and collaborative workshops aimed at strengthening operations and field services.
• City of Waco Animal Protection ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn February 2026, NACA's Field Forward workshop was deployed at the City of Waco, Texas. NACA worked alongside Animal Protection officers through ride-alongs, interviews, and collaborative workshops to map current and future state workflows and develop a roadmap for operational improvement.
• Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters (CART)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCART is led by June Thomas, NACA's 2026 Diane Lane Memorial Award winner. CART coordinates animal transport from areas of need to partner organizations across the U.S., transporting over 1,100 animals in 2025 and 2,399 out of Arkansas in 2025. NACA recognizes CART through its annual awards program, strengthening the animal welfare network.
• Kansas Animal Control Association (KACA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKACA is NACA's 2026 Outstanding State Association Award winner. State associations like KACA serve as key distribution and implementation partners for NACA's training, certification, and advocacy programs at the state level.
• Texas Animal Control Association (TACA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTACA is NACA's 2025 Outstanding State Association Award winner. As a channel partner, TACA extends NACA's professional standards and programs to animal control professionals across Texas.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): ASPCA is a long-established national animal welfare organization providing grant funding, training, and advocacy resources to animal welfare professionals and agencies — overlapping with NACA's audience and content mission.
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): AVMA is the national professional association for veterinarians and offers credentialing, CEUs, and advocacy. While veterinary in focus rather than animal control, the operating model (membership, certification, advocacy) is structurally comparable.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends operates a national network of animal welfare programs and provides training, grants, and advocacy that overlap with NACA's deliverables to shelters and animal control agencies.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS is the largest U.S. animal welfare organization with overlapping mission areas (animal protection, advocacy, training) but a much broader advocacy and policy scope than NACA's professional membership focus.

Direct peers

• Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA): SAWA is a professional membership association for animal welfare administrators, paralleling NACA's role for animal control officers. Both offer training, certification, and networking for the animal welfare profession.
• Maddie's Fund: Maddie's Fund is both a funder of NACA and a peer in providing grant resources, training, and standards guidance for animal welfare organizations — making it comparable as a sector-capacity-building entity.
• National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA): NAIA is a national advocacy organization for responsible animal use and pet ownership, providing policy and education resources overlapping with NACA's position statements and advocacy programs.
• Association of Animal Welfare Advancement: AAWA is a professional membership association for animal welfare professionals offering training, advancement resources, and networking — directly comparable to NACA in target audience and programming.

Emerging players

• Petco Love: Petco Love is a national animal welfare grantmaking organization that partners with NACA. It is a peer in building capacity for shelters and rescues through grants, training, and national adoption initiatives.
• Shelter Animals Count: Shelter Animals Count is a national data collaborative serving animal shelters and welfare organizations with benchmarking and analytics — a peer in providing professional resources to the same NACA audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NACAnetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalAnimalCareandControlAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-animal-care-control-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/nacanetwork
• TikToktiktok.com/@nacanetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Animal Care & Control Association