What BISSELL Pet Foundation does

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, operating under the strategic sponsorship of BISSELL Inc. The foundation runs a portfolio of interconnected programs targeting pet homelessness reduction across all 50 states through a network of 6,025+ partner shelters and rescue organizations. Core programs include Empty the Shelters (the country's largest funded adoption event), Fix the Future and the broader Spay & Neuter program (nation's fastest-growing free spay/neuter initiative), Animal Incident Management (AIM) for crisis and disaster response, and the Transport program using a converted Beechcraft 1900 to relocate animals from overcrowded Southern shelters to higher-demand Northern rescues. Supporting programs include Duffield Pet Wellness Days, Healing Heartworm, Microchipping, Vaccinations, Grateful Pet, RescueLove, Feed the Shelters, and the National Shelter Alliance coalition.

Cumulative impact since inception includes 1,346,115 pets touched, 415,945 adoptions facilitated, and 713,596 spay/neuter surgeries performed. The foundation's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven rather than commercial; a 100%-pass-through funding structure is enabled by BISSELL Inc. absorbing all administrative costs, so $0 is spent on executive compensation, staff salaries, or fundraising overhead as reported on the donor-facing site. Major funding includes a $6 million grant from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation (announced 2026-02-25) to scale Fix the Future toward 600,000+ surgeries over three years, plus an annual Blocktail Party fundraiser (founded 2005, transitioned to support the foundation exclusively in 2012). The technology layer is intentionally minimal — no apps, APIs, or proprietary digital products; operations rely on the partner shelter network and event-driven program delivery rather than a software platform.

The organization functions as a program-and-coalition platform model rather than a product company, with go-to-market executed through recurring national events, spay/neuter clinics, crisis response deployments, and animal transport operations. Customer segments (in the partner-as-customer sense) span nonprofit animal welfare organizations, government-run animal shelters, underserved pet owners in spay/neuter deserts, and communities affected by natural disasters. The foundation has received Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Transparency certification (2025) and operates from a single Grand Rapids headquarters with a lean staff of 11-50.

Name

BISSELL Pet Foundation

Legal name

BISSELL Pet Foundation

Website

https://bissellpetfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs Empty the Shelters, Fix the Future, AIM crisis response, and animal transport programs across all 50 states through 6,025+ partner shelters, with 1.35M+ pets impacted since 2011.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Animal welfare programs
• Pet adoption services
• Spay and neuter clinics
• Animal rescue transport
• Disaster animal response

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: BISSELL Pet Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives the majority of its funding through donations. BISSELL Inc. absorbs the foundation's administrative fees, allowing 100% of every donation to directly impact pets in need.
2. Foundation Grants: The foundation receives grants from other foundations, such as the $6 million grant from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation over three years to support the Fix the Future spay/neuter initiative.
3. Merchandise Sales: The foundation operates an e-commerce store (shop.bissellpetfoundation.org) selling merchandise, with proceeds supporting lifesaving programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a national animal welfare nonprofit that funds and coordinates programs to reduce pet homelessness through partner shelters and rescue organizations across the United States. Its core offerings are pet adoption events (Empty the Shelters), free spay/neuter services (Fix the Future), crisis and disaster response (Animal Incident Management), and animal transport between shelters. The foundation funds these programs through individual donations, foundation grants, merchandise sales, and its annual Blocktail Party fundraiser.

Product overview

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a national animal welfare nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) that operates as a portfolio of interconnected lifesaving programs rather than a traditional product company. The organization functions as a platform-plus-programs model, with its core offerings organized around pet adoption (Empty the Shelters®), spay/neuter services (Spay & Neuter, Fix the Future®), crisis response (Animal Incident Management/AIM®), and animal transport (Transport Program). Additional programs include microchipping, vaccinations, heartworm treatment (Healing Heartworm), wellness events (Duffield Pet Wellness Days), end-of-life support (Grateful Pet), and shelter food assistance (Feed the Shelters®). The foundation also operates the National Shelter Alliance for crisis partnerships and hosts the annual Blocktail Party® fundraising event. 100% of donations directly impact pets in need, with BISSELL Inc. absorbing administrative fees. The organization has touched 1,346,115 lives since 2011, facilitated 415,945 total adoptions, and partnered with 6,025+ organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Empty the Shelters: National adoption event offering reduced adoption fees at participating shelters nationwide
• Fix the Future
• Animal Incident Management (AIM)
• Blocktail Party
• Duffield Pet Wellness Days
• National Shelter Alliance
• RescueLove
• Healing Heartworm
• Feed the Shelters
• Grateful Pet
• National Shelter Alliance

Products and services

• Empty the Shelters BISSELL Pet Foundation's flagship adoption event program that partners with shelters nationwide to offer reduced adoption fees and find homes for shelter pets, recognized as the country's largest funded adoption event.
• Spay & Neuter Program Comprehensive spay and neuter services and funding to reduce pet overpopulation, including support for community animals and partnership with veterinary providers.
• Fix the Future The nation's fastest-growing free spay and neuter program providing no-cost surgeries to increase access to veterinary care and prevent unwanted litters.
• Animal Incident Management (AIM) Crisis and disaster response program providing animal search and rescue, shelter support, transport, and mass care during natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and large-scale cruelty cases.
• Transport Program Air and ground transportation services that relocate animals from overcrowded Southern shelters to rescues in the Northeast with higher adoption rates, using a converted Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.
• Microchipping Microchip services provided through partner shelters to help identify pets and facilitate reunification with owners.
• Vaccinations Vaccination services offered through partner organizations to ensure shelter pets are healthy and up-to-date on required immunizations.
• Healing Heartworm Program providing treatment for heartworm-positive pets to make them adoptable and improve outcomes for rescued animals.
• Duffield Pet Wellness Days Wellness events providing free or low-cost veterinary services including spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchipping to underserved communities.
• Grateful Pet Program supporting pets of terminally ill guardians by covering end-of-life care costs and helping pets remain with their families.
• RescueLove Brand initiative celebrating rescue stories and promoting adoption through marketing and awareness campaigns.
• Feed the Shelters Program providing food and supplies to animal shelters experiencing financial hardship to ensure proper care of shelter animals.
• National Shelter Alliance Partnership with leading shelters to provide crisis support during natural disasters and cruelty situations, coordinating resources and expertise.
• Blocktail Party BISSELL Pet Foundation's largest annual two-night fundraiser event, founded in 2005, supporting animal welfare programs with 100% of net proceeds funding lifesaving initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,346,115 total pets impacted since 2011
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPCA partners with BISSELL Pet Foundation and Race for Life Rescue for animal transport operations, helping relocate animals from overcrowded Southern shelters to rescues in the Northeast with higher adoption rates.
• Race for Life RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501c3 nonprofit providing air transportation for animals in life-threatening situations, having saved 10,000+ animals with 158 flights across 36 states and 3 countries since October 2022. Operates converted Beechcraft 1900 for animal transport.
• Jackson County Board of CommissionersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJackson County Board of Commissioners approved a partnership with BISSELL Pet Foundation to improve veterinary care services at the Jackson animal shelter after the resignation of the shelter's full-time veterinarian. Addresses animal overpopulation issues, particularly feral cats.
• Santa Rosa County Animal ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Rosa County Animal Services in Milton, Florida partnered with BISSELL Pet Foundation for its 'Empty the Shelters' adoption event offering reduced adoption fees of $10 per cat or dog.
• Champions for Pet Health (Bay Area Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine animal well-being organizations across five Bay Area counties partnered to provide free spay/neuter surgeries and vaccines at a December 2025 event. Supported by four national foundations including BISSELL Pet Foundation, aiming for over 600 surgeries.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBISSELL Pet Foundation's Animal Incident Management (AIM) team works alongside American Red Cross during disaster response operations, prioritizing solutions that keep people and pets together.
• National Shelter AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBISSELL Pet Foundation has teamed up with leading shelters to support shelters facing crises such as natural disasters and cruelty situations. This elite network collaborates on large-scale incidents.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): One of the largest and oldest U.S. animal welfare nonprofits, operating national adoption, spay/neuter, and cruelty response programs. Already a documented partner of BISSELL Pet Foundation for transport operations, making it a directly comparable peer in mission and scope.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare nonprofit running rescue, spay/neuter, advocacy, and disaster response programs. Comparable mission breadth to BISSELL Pet Foundation and operates across all 50 states.
• American Humane: Long-standing national animal welfare nonprofit operating rescue, military support, and disaster response programs. Comparable historic brand and national disaster-response franchise.

Direct peers

• Best Friends Animal Society: National animal welfare nonprofit operating the largest no-kill sanctuary in the U.S. and running national adoption, spay/neuter, and transport programs. Directly comparable program portfolio and nationwide partner network model.
• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): Corporate-affiliated nonprofit funding adoption, spay/neuter, and welfare programs nationwide with a similar brand-backed, partner-driven distribution model. Operates its own large-scale national initiatives analogous to Empty the Shelters.
• PetSmart Charities: Retail-affiliated 501(c)(3) funding pet adoption, spay/neuter, and welfare programs nationwide. Closely comparable model: corporate sponsor absorbs admin, partner shelter network executes programs.
• Maddie's Fund: Major family foundation funding no-kill sheltering, adoption, and spay/neuter initiatives. Directly comparable grantmaking approach and similar focus on pet overpopulation reduction.
• Greater Good Charities: National nonprofit running animal welfare, disaster response, and food assistance programs. Comparable mission breadth, particularly on disaster/animal incident management.
• RedRover: National nonprofit focused on animal crisis response, emergency sheltering, and welfare grants. Highly comparable to BISSELL Pet Foundation's AIM® and emergency program mission.

Regional players

• Dogs Trust: U.K.-based leading dog welfare charity operating adoption, rehoming, and welfare programs. Operates in a different geography but is a peer in mission and large-scale program execution model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bissellpets
• Facebookfacebook.com/BissellPetFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bissell-pet-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about BISSELL Pet Foundation