Humane Indiana

What Humane Indiana does

Humane Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization headquartered in Highland, Indiana, founded in 1941 as the Hammond Humane Society. It operates four core divisions: a Shelter and Adoption Center in Munster serving dogs and cats; the Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic providing low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary services; the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Valparaiso, acquired in 2015, which rescues and releases injured and orphaned wildlife; and PAWS Resale Plus Local Artisans, a Highland-based thrift and consignment store. The organization helps approximately 25,000 animals annually, including over 4,000 dogs and cats and nearly 3,000 wildlife admissions from 26 Indiana counties.

Revenue is generated across six streams: individual and corporate donations (the primary source), pet adoption fees, low-cost veterinary service fees, thrift store sales, event ticket sales and sponsorships (Heart of Rock & Roll Gala, Paws in the Park, Festival of Owls), and educational programming including summer camps, after-school wildlife clubs, and in-school presentations starting at $200–$225 per session. The organization has no proprietary technology systems; its operational footprint relies on a Squarespace website, VetSource online pharmacy, and standard nonprofit tools.

The go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, reaching supporters through annual galas, summer camps, school field trips, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), an email newsletter ("Speak"), and earned media coverage from regional outlets. Partnerships include Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Strack & Van Til, PETCO, Smithsonian National Zoo, and AZA-accredited zoos. Marketing, fundraising, and operational execution are led by CEO Brian Fitzpatrick with a senior team spanning clinic, wildlife, retail, and people functions, supported by a 24-member board of directors.

Name

Humane Indiana

Legal name

Humane Indiana

Website

https://humaneindiana.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Humane Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization serving Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area, operating a shelter, low-cost veterinary clinic, wildlife rehabilitation center, and thrift store across four divisions to help over 25,000 animals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940), Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Animal welfare services
• Pet adoption services
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Low-cost veterinary care
• Youth education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Highland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations form the primary revenue source. The organization accepts monetary gifts, planned giving, employer matching programs, and in-kind donations of supplies and services.
2. Animal Adoption Fees: Revenue from pet adoptions at the shelter. Adoption fees help offset the cost of animal care, medical treatment, and shelter operations.
3. Veterinary Services: Low-cost spay/neuter clinic and animal clinic services providing revenue through service fees for veterinary care.
4. PAWS Resale Store: Thrift store selling donated and consignment items including local artisan products. Proceeds support the Humane Indiana mission.
5. Event Revenue and Sponsorships: Annual events including the Heart of Rock & Roll Gala, Paws in the Park, and Festival of Owls generate revenue through ticket sales, vendor fees, and corporate sponsorships.
6. Educational Programs: Revenue from educational programming including summer camps, school field trips, in-school presentations, and education trunk rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Humane Indiana runs a comprehensive animal welfare operation in Northwest Indiana, providing pet adoptions, fostering, and surrender services at its Munster shelter; low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary services through the Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic; rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife at its Valparaiso Wildlife Center; pet food assistance; youth and community education programs (summer camps, field trips, in-school presentations, trunk rentals); and fundraising through the PAWS Resale thrift and consignment store in Highland.

Product overview

Humane Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization operating multiple interconnected programs. The organization consists of four core divisions: the Shelter and Adoption Center in Munster for companion animal services; the Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic providing low-cost veterinary care; the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Valparaiso for wildlife rehabilitation; and PAWS Resale Plus Local Artisans, a thrift store supporting fundraising. Additional services include educational programming (school programs and summer camps), a Pet Food Pantry, volunteer opportunities, and the Rainbow Bridge Memorial Garden. The organization serves Northwest Indiana and admits approximately 3,000 wildlife animals and supports over 4,000 dogs and cats annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rainbow Bridge Memorial Garden: Memorial garden honoring deceased pets and loved ones with customizable memorial bricks
• Education Trunk Rentals

Products and services

• Shelter and Adoption Center Animal shelter located in Munster, IN offering pet adoptions, foster programs, lost and found pet services, pet surrender services, and community cat programs for dogs and cats.
• Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic Low-cost veterinary clinic at the Munster location providing spay/neuter services, vaccine clinics, community medicine days, and emergency care referrals for pet owners.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center Wildlife rehabilitation facility in Valparaiso, IN that rescues, heals, and releases injured and orphaned wildlife while providing educational programming and community outreach.
• PAWS Resale Plus Local Artisans Thrift and consignment store in Highland, IN that sells donated items and local artisan products, with proceeds supporting Humane Indiana's mission.
• School and Group Education Programs Interactive educational programs for Pre-K through college covering domestic pet care and native Indiana wildlife, including field trips to the Valparaiso Wildlife Center, in-school wildlife presentations, and education trunk rentals.
• Kids Summer Camps Summer day camps for children ages 6-12 at both shelter and wildlife facilities, including themed weeks such as Pet Care Week, Animal Art, Our Favorite Pets, Pet Protectors, and Wildlife Summer Camps focused on warm-blooded animals.
• Pet Food Pantry Temporary pet food assistance program helping pet owners in Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area, distributing approximately 11,000 pounds of pet food annually to families in need.
• Rainbow Bridge Memorial Garden Memorial garden at the Munster shelter offering commemorative brick purchases for honoring deceased pets and loved ones.
• VetSource Online Pharmacy Online pharmacy partner that allows pet owners to order medications and pet supplies for home delivery, accessible through Humane Indiana's clinic.
• Volunteer Programs Volunteer opportunities including dog walking, cat care, reception, laundry, animal transport, and event support at the shelter, clinic, and resale store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helps 25,000 animals annually across shelter, clinic, and wildlife programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smithsonian National ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Humane Indiana Wildlife placed Sandy the sandhill crane at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C. AZA Zoos assisted with finding accredited zoos for placement. The Smithsonian provided an appropriate permanent home for Sandy who could not be released to the wild.
• AZA ZoosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) assisted Humane Indiana in finding accredited zoos throughout the country that housed sandhill cranes for Sandy's permanent placement.
• Hard Rock Casino Northern IndianacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHard Rock Casino Northern Indiana hosted Humane Indiana's annual Heart of Rock & Roll fundraising gala, providing venue and support for the organization's largest annual fundraiser.
• Four Corners WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFour Corners Winery in Valparaiso hosts Humane Indiana's Wine & Wildlife event, providing venue for community fundraising event.
• International Crane FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Crane Foundation provided blueprints for building Sandy's travel crate specifications for the transport to the Smithsonian.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Humane Society of Indianapolis (IndyHumane): Indiana-based animal welfare nonprofit operating shelter, low-cost veterinary clinic, and adoption services, directly comparable in mission, service mix, and geography.
• Humane Society of Northwestern Indiana: Direct regional peer operating in Northwest Indiana providing shelter, adoption, and spay/neuter services overlapping Humane Indiana's service area.
• Indiana Wildlife Center: Indiana wildlife rehabilitation and education organization with overlapping wildlife intake and public education programs.

Broad incumbents

• Best Friends Animal Society: Largest national no-kill animal welfare network with shelter partnerships, spay/neuter programs, and nationwide advocacy, of which Humane Indiana is a network partner.
• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): National animal welfare nonprofit operating shelter, veterinary, and advocacy programs with significantly larger scale and donor base than Humane Indiana.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and direct-service organization with broad shelter, rescue, and policy programs directly comparable in mission.
• Michigan Humane Society: Statewide animal welfare organization offering shelter, veterinary care, and cruelty investigation comparable in scope and integrated service model.

Regional players

• PAWS Chicago: Large-scale no-kill animal shelter in Chicago operating adoption, low-cost veterinary clinic, and community programs serving the broader Chicagoland area that Humane Indiana also reaches.
• Flat Rock Nature Center / local wildlife rehabilitators: Regional wildlife rehabilitation and nature education providers in the Midwest representing the category of local competition for wildlife services.

Others

• PetSmart Charities: National foundation that funds shelter, spay/neuter, and adoption programs operated by partner organizations like Humane Indiana, representing a comparable nonprofit funder model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HumaneIndiana
• Instagraminstagram.com/humaneindiana
• TikToktiktok.com/@humaneindiana

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Humane Indiana