Greater Birmingham Humane Society

Name

Greater Birmingham Humane Society

Legal name

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society

Website

https://gbhs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG), Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Animal control services
• Foster care programs
• Humane education

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, GBHS relies heavily on donations from the public. Donations fund critical care medical treatments (such as the Simon campaign), general operations, and capital needs. Tax ID: 63-0288810.
2. Adoption Fees: Revenue from pet adoptions. Standard adoption fees range from $10-$100 depending on animal type, age, and breed. Special reduced-fee adoption events (e.g., Empty the Shelters) offer $25 adoptions.
3. Special Events Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Jazz Cat Ball (black-tie gala with casino, auction, and dinner), Putts for Paws golf event, and various community adoption events that generate donations and sponsorships.
4. Gift Shop Sales: On-site gift shop selling pet supplies and merchandise. Proceeds directly benefit homeless pets in care.
5. Critter Camp Registration: Summer camp program for children ages 6-12, generating revenue while providing humane education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society operates animal shelter, adoption, foster care, animal control, veterinary clinic, and humane education services across Jefferson County and surrounding Alabama counties. As a 501c(3) nonprofit, GBHS places adoptable animals into permanent homes, investigates cruelty complaints, runs a Critical Care Clinic, and delivers community education programs such as Critter Camp, all supported primarily by donations and adoption fees.

Product overview

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society offers a comprehensive portfolio of animal welfare services centered on its core adoption, volunteer, and animal care operations. The primary offerings include pet adoption through its Snow Drive facility and multiple satellite locations, volunteer and foster programs for community involvement, and animal control services for Jefferson County. Supporting programs include Critter Camp youth education, the GOODS Program for food distribution to partner organizations, vaccine clinics, lost pet services via Petco Love Lost integration, and the annual Jazz Cat Ball fundraising gala. The organization operates as a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1883, providing shelter, medical care, and adoption services for animals throughout the Birmingham metropolitan area including Jasper, Walker County, and Pell City locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Animals receive comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment including heartworm treatment, orthopedic surgery, and extended critical care
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Petco Love LostcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to provide centralized lost and found pet database using patented facial recognition technology. The platform analyzes size, color, facial features, and coat attributes to match lost pets with found reports across a national database. GBHS is included in this central hub for searching lost and found pets nationwide.
• PetSmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular adoption events held at PetSmart locations in Hoover, Bessemer, and Pell City. GBHS brings adoptable animals to these retail locations to increase visibility and adoption opportunities. Events typically occur multiple times monthly at various locations.
• PetCocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdoption events at PetCo locations including Jasper, AL. Reduced adoption fees ($10) offered during select PetCo events to increase adoption volumes.
• Banfield FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanfield Foundation provides grants for rabies and Bordetella vaccines at GBHS vaccine clinics. Part of ongoing partnership supporting low-cost pet wellness services.
• Petco Vaccinated & LovedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides FVRCP and DAPPV vaccines for GBHS Pet Wellness Clinics through grant program supporting low-cost vaccination services for pet owners.
• Auburn University School of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for shelter medicine program. Auburn veterinary students provide services at GBHS facilities under supervision of Dr. Russell Johnson (Chief Medical Officer). Students gain hands-on shelter medicine experience while GBHS receives additional veterinary capacity.
• GBHS Spay/Neuter & Critical Care CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted veterinary services providing 1 full-time veterinarian and 1 Licensed Veterinary Technician for Animal Care and Control operations. Also provides critical care services at the shelter hospital.
• Alabama Shelter Vets (ASV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Alabama Shelter Vets for advanced surgical procedures. Dr. Latham performed orthopedic surgery (hip screw and leg pin) on rescue dog Valhalla at the shelter hospital in Hoover.
• Greater Good (GOODS Program)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBHS serves as ambassador for the Greater Good GOODS Program, bringing low-cost pet food and supplies to the region. Food and supplies are donated, shipped to partner warehouse, and distributed to qualified Rescue Bank Recipients for minimal handling fee. Supports other rescues and shelters in the region.
• Jefferson County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGBHS serves as Jefferson County's contracted animal agent, providing official animal control services including cruelty investigations, stray pickup, and quarantine authority. County sets reclaim fee schedules; GBHS forwards all fees to the county.
• Embark VetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmbark Vet donated DNA testing kit for Simon the rescue dog, enabling breed identification contest that generated community engagement and media coverage during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Hill's Pet NutritionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided pet food donations for shelter animals and contest prizes for Simon's breed guessing competition.
• Tito's Handmade VodkaminorGTM or Marketing Partner#VodkaForDogPeople program provided swag bag prizes for Simon breed guessing contest winner.
• al.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted Simon Says breed guessing contest, providing platform for viral social engagement and contest prizes.
• Moe's Original BBQ - LakeviewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided dinner prizes for Simon contest winners, supporting fundraising engagement.
• BISSELL Pet FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Empty the Shelters nationwide adoption event, enabling reduced adoption fees ($25) at GBHS. Event runs July 5-25 annually, significantly increasing adoption volumes during the summer months.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a national animal welfare incumbent with shelter operations, advocacy, and grantmaking (e.g., through partnerships GBHS participates in). Overlaps with GBHS mission but at a national scale and broader portfolio.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends Animal Society operates a national no-kill initiative with regional pet adoption centers, spay/neuter programs, and lifesaving grants to local shelters. National incumbent whose grants and programs intersect with GBHS operations.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): HSUS is a national animal welfare advocacy and shelter-support organization operating Animal Services across the U.S. National-scope incumbent sharing GBHS's mission but not competing locally for shelter operations.

Direct peers

• Jacksonville Humane Society: Jacksonville Humane Society runs a similar mid-sized regional shelter with adoption, low-cost veterinary services, pet training, and contracted animal services to the local government. Comparable in operational breadth and contracted-municipal model.
• Nashville Humane Association: Nashville Humane Association provides adoption, spay/neuter, vaccine clinics, and humane education across metro Nashville. Comparable mid-sized Southeastern municipal-adjacent shelter with similar program mix.
• Atlanta Humane Society: Atlanta Humane Society operates a comparable regional shelter model with pet adoption, animal control/surrender services, vaccine clinics, and humane education programs across metro Atlanta. Closest direct analog in scale, geographic scope, and service mix to GBHS in the Southeast.
• Greater Huntsville Humane Society: Greater Huntsville Humane Society is another large Alabama shelter offering adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, and animal control-adjacent services. Closest intra-state peer to GBHS competing for the same donor and adopter base in northern Alabama.
• Montgomery Humane Society: Montgomery Humane Society operates an adoption-focused shelter model in central Alabama with comparable services including pet adoption, surrender, and community education. Direct in-state peer sharing the same regulatory and donor landscape as GBHS.

Others

• BISSELL Pet Foundation: BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors the Empty the Shelters nationwide adoption event in which GBHS participates with reduced $25 fees. Functions as a funder/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, comparable as a sibling nonprofit in the pet welfare ecosystem.

Regional players

• Memphis Animal Services: Memphis Animal Services is a municipal animal control and shelter operation in West Tennessee. Regional peer operating a government-run counterpart to GBHS's contracted animal-agent model across a comparable mid-South metropolitan footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheGBHS
• Facebookfacebook.com/GBHS1883
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greater-birmingham-humane-society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Greater Birmingham Humane Society