Shelters United
Shelters United is a nonprofit cooperative buying program and online marketplace, founded 1981, that gives free membership to U.S. animal shelters and rescue groups, aggregating their purchasing volume to negotiate discounts on veterinary supplies, vaccines, pharmacy products, and pet supplies through partners like MWI Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Shelters United does
Shelters United is a nonprofit cooperative buying program (GPO) and online marketplace serving 501(c)(3) animal welfare organizations and municipal animal shelters across the United States. Founded in 1981 and operated under the Institute for Nonprofit Excellence (INPEx) umbrella, the organization offers free membership to qualifying animal welfare groups, aggregating their purchasing volume to negotiate manufacturer and distributor discounts that individual shelters could not obtain independently. Its primary customer segments are nonprofit shelters/rescue groups, municipal shelters, and — through its pharmacy sub-brand — pet adopters, staff, and volunteers.
The platform is structured around five core programs: (1) the Vet Supplies Savings Program, a GPO partnership with MWI Animal Health offering up to 70% off flea, tick, and heartworm prevention; (2) the Vaccine Savings Program, a direct enrollment relationship with Boehringer Ingelheim offering up to 65% off rabies and 50% off core canine/feline vaccines with temperature-controlled shipping; (3) Shelters United Pharmacy, an online pet pharmacy operated through parent pharmacy Pet's Choice Pharmacy under Dr. Spencer Brown (licensed in 21 states, operations in all 50); (4) the Veterinarian of Record (VOR) Program, a free training and CE program co-developed with PetSmart Charities and University of Florida Shelter Medicine; and (5) the Pet Supplies Marketplace, an e-commerce storefront for food, litter, treats, and enrichment products currently rolling out in phases across certain U.S. zip codes. The technology stack is conventional e-commerce plus pharmacy fulfillment, augmented by 15+ trusted-partner brand integrations (Virbac, Canine Spectra, Antech, Wedgewood, PRN Pharmacal, Rescue Disinfectants, Neogen, Pet-Ag, VetOne, BLUE Natural Veterinary Diets, Trupanion, Clinic HQ, and others).
Shelters United's business model is transaction-driven rather than subscription-based: all programs are free for member organizations, and revenue is earned through three primary streams. First, the cooperative buying program generates marketplace-style commissions on aggregated purchasing volume routed through MWI Animal Health and direct manufacturer partners. Second, the Pharmacy Program earns margin on pet medication sales — with 5% of each purchase donated back to the member organization the buyer supports, and 10% discounts to staff/volunteers on personal pet medications. Third, special offers and promotional partnerships with brand vendors generate affiliate/referral revenue. The organization is led by Founder Mal Schwartz (also President of INPEx) and COO Tali Thomas, with a team of approximately 20 including a CTO, VP of Business Intelligence, directors of partnerships, membership, and B2B operations, and multiple member consultants. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Shelters United firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shelters United
- Legal name
- Shelters United
- Website
- https://sheltersunited.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Shelters United is a nonprofit cooperative buying program and online marketplace, founded 1981, that gives free membership to U.S. animal shelters and rescue groups, aggregating their purchasing volume to negotiate discounts on veterinary supplies, vaccines, pharmacy products, and pet supplies through partners like MWI Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shelters United industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Group Purchasing Organization (Animal Welfare)
- NAICS
- Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (45991)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)
Keywords
Where Shelters United is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shelters United business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmacy Revenue Donation: When pet adopters, staff, and volunteers purchase through Shelters United Pharmacy, 5% of each purchase is donated back to the member animal welfare organization. This creates a recurring revenue stream for member organizations while Shelters United earns margin on pharmacy sales.
- Cooperative Buying Program Fees: Through partnerships with MWI Animal Health and other distributors, Shelters United earns revenue by aggregating purchasing volume from member organizations and negotiating discounted pricing. The organization serves as a GPO (Group Purchasing Organization).
- Special Offers and Promotional Revenue: Exclusive deals from trusted partners (Virbac, Antech, PRN Pharmacal, Wedgewood, etc.) generate revenue through increased volume and promotional partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Vaccine Savings - Up to 65% off |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Vet Supplies - Up to 70% off |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Trusted Partner Discounts - 10-48% off |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Pharmacy Program - Free with revenue generation |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Marketplace Products - Discount pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shelters United product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shelters United is a free cooperative buying program (GPO) for 501(c)(3) animal welfare organizations and municipal shelters that aggregates purchasing volume to negotiate discounted veterinary supplies, vaccines, and pet medications through distributor and pharmaceutical partnerships (MWI Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Virbac). The organization also operates the Shelters United Pharmacy, an online pet pharmacy that donates 5% of every purchase back to the adopter's member organization, while offering 10% staff and volunteer discounts on personal pet medications.
Product overview
Shelters United operates a multi-component platform for animal welfare organizations offering five core programs: the Vet Supplies Savings Program (GPO), Vaccine Savings Program, Shelters United Pharmacy, Veterinarian of Record (VOR) Program, and Pet Supplies Marketplace. The ecosystem connects animal welfare organizations with discounted veterinary supplies, vaccines, medications, and pet supplies through various supplier partnerships including MWI Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Virbac, Canine Spectra, Wedgewood Pharmacy, and Antech. The platform is structured as a free membership-based cooperative buying organization that generates revenue sharing for member organizations while providing staff discounts on personal pet supplies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shelters United Pharmacy: Online pet pharmacy where members earn revenue when adopters, staff, and volunteers make purchases, with 5% donated back to their organization.
- Vet Supplies Savings Program
- Pet Vaccine Program
- Veterinarian of Record (VOR) Program
Products and services
- Vet Supplies Savings Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Save up to 65% on pet vaccines
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Shelters United
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Shelters United technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Shelters United partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- MWI Animal HealthcorePreferred veterinary supplies distributor partner providing thousands of discounted pet health products to Shelters United members. Access to everyday low prices and frequent special offers on essential vet supplies including vaccines, medications, and equipment.
- Boehringer IngelheimcoreMajor pharmaceutical partnership providing access to RECOMBITEK canine vaccines (50% off core), IMRAB rabies vaccines (65% off), and PUREVAX feline vaccines (50% off core, 25% off rabies). Direct tap into Boehringer Ingelheim's distribution system for reliable inventory and fast shipping.
- Virbacmajor15% discount on most Virbac products. Currently offering Buy 3 Get 1 Free on Iverhart Max heartworm prevention.
- Pet's Choice PharmacycoreParent pharmacy for Shelters United Pharmacy. Operates under Dr. Spencer Brown's oversight with licenses in 21 states and operations in all 50. Stocks thousands of FDA-approved medications.
- AntechminorSave up to 10% on trūRapid diagnostic tests through this diagnostic testing partner.
- PRN PharmacalminorEveryday offer: Buy 3 Get 1 Free on PRN Pharmacal products.
- Wedgewood Pharmacyminor10% off compounded pet medications through Wedgewood Pharmacy partnership.
- Rescue DisinfectantsminorLow everyday prices: Save up to 46% vs. online retailers on Rescue disinfectants. Also offers bundle deals.
- NeogenminorGreat value on quality health products, every day through Neogen partnership.
- Pet-AgminorShelter discounts on milk replacers and related products through Pet-Ag partnership.
- Clinic HQminorNew customers get 20% off Clinic Software for shelter management.
- Give Them TenminorFree Cat Adoptions Marketing Toolkit for member organizations.
- TrupanionmajorPartnership to help more adopted pets stay in their forever homes by embedding pet insurance protection and education into the adoption process.
- Canine SpectramajorSave up to 48% on dog & cat vaccines through Canine Spectra partnership.
- PetSmart CharitiesmajorSponsor of the Veterinarian of Record (VOR) Program, helping build profitable and impactful relationships between veterinarians and animal welfare organizations.
- University of Florida Shelter MedicinecoreCo-sponsor of the VOR Program, providing expertise and resources for the free training program and toolkit.
- Dr. Spencer Brown, PharmDcoreLicensed U.S. pharmacist who personally oversees Shelters United Pharmacy. Director of Pharmacy for Pet's Choice Pharmacy since 2011. Holds licenses in 21 states and oversees operations in all 50 states.
- Dr. Kwane StewartminorKnown as 'The Street Vet', featured in VOR Program materials explaining the importance of Veterinarian of Record relationships for animal welfare organizations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shelters United competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PetSmart Charities: The largest funder of animal welfare in North America (sponsoring Shelters United's VOR Program). It operates its own shelter/adoption support programs and grants capital to rescues, overlapping with Shelters United's mission of resourcing animal welfare organizations, but at a grant-making and advocacy level rather than a procurement/cooperative level.
- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): The largest animal protection organization in the U.S., providing grants, training, and legislative support to shelters and rescues. Overlaps with Shelters United's mission of strengthening the animal welfare ecosystem via national-level resourcing of shelters.
- Best Friends Animal Society: Major animal welfare organization running sanctuary operations and nationwide adoption/partnership programs. Comparable in mission to expand shelter/rescue resources, with similar nonprofit positioning but a different operating model focused on advocacy and direct operations rather than procurement cooperative.
- Chewy: The largest online pet supplies retailer in the U.S., operating a 'Chewy for Shelters' program that offers discounts to rescue and shelter partners. Competes with Shelters United on pet supply assortment and pricing for the same shelter customer, but at vastly greater scale and as a for-profit rather than nonprofit.
- ASPCA: National animal welfare organization providing grants, rescue services, veterinary care, and adoption support to shelters. Overlaps with Shelters United's mission of resourcing the animal welfare ecosystem; much larger budget and broader remit but does not operate a GPO/cooperative procurement model.
- Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): Petco-affiliated nonprofit that funds animal welfare organizations, supports adoption initiatives, and partners with shelters and rescues nationally. Overlap with Shelters United in resourcing shelter/rescue operations; broader scope and corporate backing but lacks the cooperative-procurement structure.
Emerging players
- Maddie's Fund: Family foundation dedicated to achieving no-kill status in animal shelters, providing grants, training, and innovation funding. Comparable in operating within the same donor-funded shelter-support ecosystem; focused on capital and innovation rather than everyday supply procurement.
- BISSELL Pet Foundation: Foundation that supports pet adoption and shelter welfare through grant funding, adoption events, and partnerships. Comparable as a private foundation operating in the shelter-support ecosystem; similar donor-funded resourcing model but focused on adoption events and capital grants rather than procurement.
Direct peers
- Direct Relief: Nonprofit humanitarian aid organization operating a GPO-style model for medical supplies aggregation and distribution to safety-net providers. The closest structural analog to Shelters United's nonprofit cooperative-buying model, but operating in human health rather than animal health — directly comparable on operating mechanics.
- Greater Good Charities: Nonprofit that funds and supplies animal welfare, hunger, and humanitarian programs through aggregated giving and in-kind distribution. Closest comparability to Shelters United as a nonprofit that aggregates resources across donors/partners and distributes savings/in-kind value to animal welfare recipient organizations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shelters United social profiles
Digital presenceShelters United financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shelters United leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Shelters United funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shelters United 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 Shelters United
What does Shelters United do?
Shelters United is a free cooperative buying program (GPO) for 501(c)(3) animal welfare organizations and municipal shelters that aggregates purchasing volume to negotiate discounted veterinary supplies, vaccines, and pet medications through distributor and pharmaceutical partnerships (MWI Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, Virbac). The organization also operates the Shelters United Pharmacy, an online pet pharmacy that donates 5% of every purchase back to the adopter's member organization, while offering 10% staff and volunteer discounts on personal pet medications.
Is Shelters United a public or private company?
Shelters United is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shelters United founded?
Shelters United was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Shelters United based?
Shelters United is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shelters United make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pharmacy Revenue Donation is the primary driver. The others are cooperative Buying Program Fees and special Offers and Promotional Revenue.
Who are Shelters United's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PetSmart Charities, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Best Friends Animal Society, Chewy, ASPCA and Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation). Emerging players are Maddie's Fund and BISSELL Pet Foundation. Direct peers are Direct Relief and Greater Good Charities.
Does Shelters United have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shelters United.
What industry is Shelters United in?
Shelters United's product category is Group Purchasing Organization (Animal Welfare). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of AFAEALAB, Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations. Its NAICS code is 45991 and its SIC code is 8600.