OIPA Italia Odv

What OIPA Italia Odv does

OIPA Italia Odv (Organizzazione Internazionale Protezione Animali, the Italian section of the International Organization for Animal Protection founded in 1981) is an Italian third-sector nonprofit (Organizzazione di Volontariato) registered in the Registro Unico Nazionale del Terzo Settore under repertoire 98178. Headquartered in Milano with a registered office in Ceriano Laghetto (MB), the organization runs a distributed animal-welfare operation through 139 local sections in 19 Italian regions and 64 nuclei of Guardie Zoofile (volunteer animal welfare guards) in 17 regions, supported by a lean paid staff of 13 employees. Its core activities are animal rescue, adoption, stray-animal support, legal intervention against cruelty via the Sportello Legale, school-based animal welfare education under a Ministry of Education protocol, and policy advocacy at the EU and UN level. Sub-brands include Angeli Blu (volunteer rescue corps), Guardie Zoofile (legally empowered welfare guards), Cat House (Milan cat shelter), Progetto Virginia (free veterinary care for homeless pet owners), and 'Io salvo un randagio' (stray-animal support project). The organization holds official recognition from the Italian Ministry of Environment (2007), Ministry of Health (2021), the UN Department of Global Communications, ECOSOC, UNEA, and the European Commission's Register of Representatives of Interest.

Revenue is generated entirely through non-commercial channels: tiered annual memberships (€30-€400), monthly supporter subscriptions (€10-€100), one-off and recurring donations, the Italian 5x1000 tax designation program, sale of 'Bomboniere Solidali' (charity-branded wedding and event stationery), the OIPA Card partner-discount program, and merchandise. The organization publishes an annual Bilancio Sociale (social balance sheet) but does not publicly disclose total income figures. Distribution is entirely community-led: services are delivered in-person through the 139 local sections and 64 Guardie Zoofile nuclei, while donor acquisition runs through a broad social-media presence (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Telegram, WhatsApp), an email newsletter, petition drives, mail-bombing campaigns, and participation in public demonstrations.

Name

OIPA Italia Odv

Legal name

OIPA Italia Odv

Website

https://oipa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OIPA Italia Odv is an Italian nonprofit animal welfare organization (founded 1981) that runs 139 volunteer sections and 64 Guardie Zoofile units across Italy to rescue animals, prevent cruelty, deliver school education, and advocate at the UN and EU level. It funds operations through memberships, donations, the 5x1000 tax designation, and solidarity fundraising products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Animal welfare services
• Animal rescue operations
• Nonprofit animal protection
• Volunteer animal advocacy
• Stray animal care

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions with tiered benefits including quarterly magazine 'Gli Altri Animali', OIPA Card for discounts at partner businesses, and merchandise for higher tiers.
2. Donations and Contributions: One-time and recurring donations via bank transfer, PayPal, credit card, postal account. Includes monthly supporter programs at €10-100/month tiers.
3. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5 per mille of their IRPEF tax to OIPA at no cost to the donor. This represents a significant fundraising channel.
4. Solidal Bomboniere (Charitable Wedding Favors): Sale of personalized wedding/event items (pergamas, place cards, menus, tableaus) with proceeds supporting animal welfare campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

OIPA Italia Odv is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that delivers direct animal rescue, adoption, and veterinary care services through 139 local sections and 64 Guardie Zoofile nuclei across Italy. Its core offerings include volunteer-driven animal protection operations, free legal consultation (Sportello Legale), school-based animal welfare education (OIPA Scuole), adoption services (Cerca Famiglia), membership-based discount programs (OIPA Card), and shelter projects such as Cat House and Progetto Virginia. The organization funds these activities through donations, membership fees, 5xMille tax designations, and solidarity wedding favors.

Product overview

OIPA Italia Odv (Organizzazione Internazionale Protezione Animali) is a non-profit animal welfare organization operating as a network of 139 local sections across 19 Italian regions, with 64 active Guardie Zoofile (zoo-phile guard) units. The organization does not offer a unified technology product but rather a portfolio of programs, projects, and services. Core offerings include the Guardie Zoofile volunteer program for animal cruelty prevention, the OIPA Scuole educational outreach for schools, and the OIPA e-learning platform with webinars. Major projects include Cat House (a cage-free cat shelter in Milan), Progetto Virginia (free veterinary care for homeless people's dogs), and the 'Io salvo un randagio' project for stray animal support. Additional services include the Sportello Legale (free legal advice), Rivista 'Gli Altri Animali' (quarterly magazine), OIPA Card (discount membership card), Bomboniere Solidali (solidarity wedding favors), and adoption services. The organization also operates donation platforms, a 5xMille tax program, and publishes social balance sheets for transparency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Angeli Blu (Blue Angels): The volunteer force of OIPA who perform animal rescue operations, care for stray animals, and conduct awareness activities across Italy.
• Guardie Zoofile OIPA
• Cat House
• Progetto Io Salvo un Randagio

Products and services

• OIPA e-learning Online learning platform offering recorded webinars and educational content on animal welfare topics, accessible to the public.
• OIPA Card Membership card offering discounts at partner establishments including pet supply stores, vegan restaurants, pet-friendly accommodations, and veterinarians throughout Italy.
• Guardie Zoofile Volunteer program training and deploying zoo-phile guards across Italy for the prevention, control, and reporting of animal cruelty.
• OIPA Scuole Educational outreach program for schools with a dedicated reserved area, promoting animal welfare awareness among students through activities and lessons under a protocol with the Ministry of Education and Merit.
• Sportello Legale Free legal consultation service providing advice on animal protection laws, municipal regulations, regional and national legislation, international norms, and legal actions.
• Rivista 'Gli Altri Animali' Quarterly magazine sent to all members containing news about animal care, curiosities, OIPA activities, and more.
• Bomboniere Solidali Solidarity wedding favors including personalized parchment certificates, place cards, tableaus, menus, and invitations with proceeds supporting OIPA's animal protection campaigns.
• Cat House Shelter project by OIPA Milano volunteers providing a cage-free refuge for abandoned cats with 6 spacious rooms, veterinary care, and daily attention from volunteers, facilitating adoption.
• Progetto 'Io salvo un randagio' Networking project supporting volunteers in providing stray dogs and cats with daily meals, veterinary care including sterilization, vaccinations, deworming, and antiparasitic treatments.
• Progetto Virginia Project providing free veterinary and behavioral assistance for dogs belonging to homeless people and families in economic difficulty, run in collaboration with Angel Service social cooperative.
• Dirette OIPA Live video broadcasts featuring expert discussions on animal welfare topics, legal matters, pet-friendly housing, and related educational content.
• Cerca Famiglia (Adoption Services) Family-finding service facilitating dog and cat adoptions, including distant adoptions, with practical information for prospective adopters.
• Campagne e Petizioni Campaigns, petitions, mail bombing, and tweet storm initiatives organized or promoted by OIPA on various animal welfare causes.
• 5xMille Program Tax donation program allowing Italian donors to allocate 5 per mille of their IRPEF tax to OIPA Italia Odv, supporting animal protection activities.
• Angeli Blu (Blue Angels) Volunteer corps of OIPA who perform daily animal rescue operations, animal welfare promotion, and diffusion of animal rights culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,586 animals adopted in 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Angel Service (Cooperativa Sociale)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2018Social cooperative for employment and social integration of disadvantaged persons. Partnered with OIPA Milano section to launch 'Progetto Virginia' - providing free veterinary and behavioral assistance to dogs of homeless people in Milan at the dormitory in via Graff, Quarto Oggiaro district.
• OIPA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOIPA Italia Odv is the Italian section of the International Organization for Animal Protection. Coordinates with international network including sections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cameroon, Italy, Corsica, India, and representatives in other countries.
• Esselunga (Food Retail Chain)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for food collection campaigns for stray animals. Solidarity collections in Esselunga stores support animal food distribution for stray animals cared for through OIPA projects.
• Fondazione CapellinominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal welfare foundation collaborating with OIPA on anti-hunting campaigns. Joint petition 'Niente giustifica la caccia' (Nothing justifies hunting) transmitted on television screens.
• Ministero dell'Istruzione e del MeritocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtocol of understanding for OIPA to conduct animal welfare education activities in Italian schools. Includes meetings and educational activities to sensitize students to respect for all forms of life.
• United Nations OrganizationscoreOthersNGO affiliated with UN Department of Global Communications (DGC), UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and accredited at UN Environment Assembly (UNEA).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Humane Society International (HSI): Global animal protection organization with EU policy arm; overlaps with OIPA's European Citizens' Initiative work and broader advocacy on testing, farming, and wildlife trade.
• PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals): Global high-profile animal rights organization with comparable advocacy portfolio (cosmetic testing, hunting, vegan outreach) competing for visibility in the same Italian and EU donor market.
• RSPCA International / RSPCA UK: Large established animal welfare charity combining rescue, enforcement, and policy; comparable business model of volunteer-driven welfare service delivery and donor-based funding.

Direct peers

• Four Paws International: Global animal welfare organization running stray-animal management, rescue operations and EU policy advocacy; closest international peer to OIPA's mix of direct rescue and EU-level lobbying.
• Animalisti Italiani Onlus: Italian animal rights organization advocating for legislative reform and operating shelters; directly comparable in mission, advocacy channels, and Italian nonprofit structure.
• Animal Equality Italia: Italian branch of Animal Equality, focused on farmed animal advocacy and vegan outreach; competes for the same donor pool and overlaps with OIPA's anti-hunting and animal testing campaigns.
• ENPA - Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali: Italy's largest national animal protection association; operates shelters, runs adoption and cruelty-prevention programs, and competes with OIPA for the same donor base and 5x1000 tax designations. Direct functional overlap in advocacy, rescue, and adoption services.
• LAV - Lega Anti Vivisezione: Italian animal rights NGO focused on anti-vivisection and animal experimentation advocacy; competitor in EU-level animal welfare campaigns and overlapping supporter base with OIPA.

Others

• WWF Italia: Italian arm of global wildlife NGO with recognized status and 5x1000 fundraising capability; competes for shared Italian donor attention and Ministry recognition rather than direct animal welfare services.
• Fondazione Capellino (Almo Nature / Capellino): Animal welfare foundation partnering with OIPA on anti-hunting campaigns; adjacent ecosystem player with shared mission in companion-animal welfare and ethical pet food.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OIPAitalia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/OIPAItalia
• Facebookfacebook.com/OIPAItalia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oipa-italia-odv
• Instagraminstagram.com/oipaitalia
• TikToktiktok.com/@oipaitalia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 OIPA Italia Odv