Race for Life Rescue
Race for Life Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit that uses a dedicated Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to airlift animals from overcrowded U.S. shelters, disaster zones, and underserved communities to higher-adoption regions across the U.S., Caribbean, and beyond.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersAnnapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Race for Life Rescue does
Race for Life Rescue is a U.S. 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN 87-3813883) that provides dedicated air transportation for animals in life-threatening situations, founded by Jim DeFrancesco and operated from administrative headquarters in Annapolis, MD. The organization's core capability is a Beechcraft 1900D twin-engine turboprop aircraft (tail N383RL) based in Nashville, TN, configured specifically for animal transport with a 760 cu ft cabin and 1,279 nm range, supplemented by a real-time FlightAware flight-tracking integration. Each documented mission relocates approximately 50-100 animals from overcrowded or disaster-affected origin shelters to adoption centers with higher capacity, including a notable West Bank evacuation of 70 dogs spanning 7,500 miles that was described as the largest animal evacuation in U.S. history.
The organization serves four primary segments: overcrowded southern U.S. shelters (Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Texas), disaster-affected communities across the U.S., Caribbean, and hurricane-impacted regions such as the Bahamas, underserved communities with limited veterinary and shelter resources, and northern adoption centers seeking supply of adoptable animals. Its go-to-market is community-led, funded primarily through individual donations via monthly giving programs and one-time gifts processed through DonorPerfect, supplemented by recurring corporate sponsorships (BISSELL Pet Foundation being the most prominently named) and branded merchandise sales. The organization does not sell services commercially; all rescue operations are grant- and donation-funded, and no pricing model or revenue figures are publicly disclosed.
The operational network is anchored by strategic alliances with national animal welfare organizations — ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, SPCA International — plus a broader coalition of origin and destination shelters, international relocation partners (Bahamas Humane Society, BAARK!, Darbster Rescue, South Paw Conservation, Daily Hugz), and disaster-response collaborators (NVADG, ALERT, Wings of Rescue). Supporting infrastructure includes a monthly email newsletter, blog content, social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and documentary-style media such as "We Are Race for Life Rescue" and "Save the Potcakes." Day-to-day flight operations are managed by Keith, Director of Flight Operations, who also serves as the organization's pilot, photographer, and videographer.
Race for Life Rescue firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Race for Life Rescue
- Legal name
- Race for Life Rescue
- Website
- https://raceforliferescue.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Race for Life Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit that uses a dedicated Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to airlift animals from overcrowded U.S. shelters, disaster zones, and underserved communities to higher-adoption regions across the U.S., Caribbean, and beyond.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Race for Life Rescue industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Rescue Air Transport Services
- NAICS
- Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disaster Preparedness & Animal Evacuation Services (BPAGAIAM), Live Animals & Special Care Air Freight (IATA LAR, Welfare Handling) (TLACAAAI), Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
Keywords
Where Race for Life Rescue is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Annapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Race for Life Rescue business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations: The organization relies primarily on donations from individual supporters. They promote monthly giving programs as the most effective way to support their mission, as well as one-time donations. Donors can contribute through their website donation forms.
- Partnership Sponsorships: Corporate partners such as BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsor specific rescue missions and provide funding support for animal transportation operations.
- Merchandise Sales: The organization operates a merchandise shop selling branded items to supporters.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Race for Life Rescue product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Race for Life Rescue provides free air transportation for animals in life-threatening situations using a dedicated Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. The organization relocates at-risk shelter animals from overcrowded facilities to partner adoption destinations and evacuates companion animals during natural disasters such as hurricanes across the US, Caribbean, and South America.
Product overview
Race for Life Rescue operates a single primary service: an animal air transport rescue program utilizing a Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to relocate animals from overcrowded shelters, disaster zones, and underserved communities to adoption centers with higher capacity. The organization offers no commercial products; its offerings consist entirely of nonprofit rescue mission flights, supported by ancillary communication channels including a monthly newsletter and blog content. The flight program is the core product, supplemented by interactive flight tracking (Flight Map), featured animal programs (Animal Aviators/Pet Co-Pilot of the Month), and informational blog posts covering animal welfare topics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shelter Animal Air Transport
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 100 animals can be transported per flight mission
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Race for Life Rescue
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Race for Life Rescue technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
Race for Life Rescue partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BISSELL Pet FoundationcoreMajor strategic partner that sponsors rescue missions and provides funding for air transportation of animals. Partnership enables transport of animals from southern shelters to northern adoption centers. Cathy Bissell and BISSELL Pet Foundation have been key sponsors in multiple documented rescue missions.
- ASPCAcoreAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - national partner in animal welfare initiatives and rescue operations.
- Best Friends Animal SocietycoreNational animal welfare organization that has worked with Race for Life Rescue on shelter support programs and case studies for rural shelter transformations.
- SPCA InternationalcorePartner organization that collaborated on the historic West Bank rescue mission - the largest animal evacuation in US history involving 70 dogs transported 7,500 miles. SPCAI's Patriot Pets program coordinates with Race for Life for international rescue operations.
- Bahamas Humane SocietyminorPartner shelter in the Bahamas working on animal relocation and hurricane relief operations, particularly after Hurricane Dorian devastation in 2019.
- BAARK! (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness)minorBahamas-based animal welfare organization focused on spay/neuter initiatives and relocation programs working in partnership with US shelters.
- Darbster RescueminorNew Hampshire-based rescue organization that receives relocated animals from Bahamas through Race for Life Rescue flights.
- South Paw ConservationminorNova Scotia-based conservation organization that receives relocated animals from international rescue missions.
- North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG)minorCalifornia-based disaster animal rescue organization mentioned in wildfire response content as part of broader animal rescue network.
- Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT)minorBritish Columbia-based animal disaster response organization referenced in wildfire preparedness content.
- Daily HugzcoreWest Bank animal sanctuary founded by Maad Abu-Ghazalah; Race for Life Rescue partnered with SPCA International to evacuate 70 dogs in the largest animal evacuation in US history.
- Wings of RescueminorAerial animal rescue organization that collaborated on the West Bank rescue mission for transport to California and Washington.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Race for Life Rescue competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SPCA International: International animal welfare organization that co-executed the West Bank evacuation with Race for Life Rescue. Operates the Patriot Pets program, which is directly comparable to Race for Life's international air-relief scope.
- Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill advocacy and shelter partner of Race for Life Rescue. Comparable in mission (reducing euthanasia through relocation) but vastly larger and broader in scope.
- Humane Society of the United States: Largest U.S. animal welfare organization; runs disaster animal response and shelter-rescue programs nationwide. Overlaps with Race for Life Rescue's mission space at a far larger scale.
- ASPCA: One of the largest U.S. animal welfare organizations and a named strategic partner. Operates national relocation and disaster-response programs; competes for the same donor dollar as Race for Life Rescue while also being a mission collaborator.
- Greater Good Charities (Good Flights): Large charity that runs Good Flights, an air-transport program for shelter animals. Significantly bigger and more diversified than Race for Life Rescue, but addresses the same core problem of relocating at-risk pets by air.
Others
- BISSELL Pet Foundation: Major sponsor and operational partner of Race for Life Rescue. While not a direct operational peer, BISSELL Pet Foundation runs its own shelter-relocation and adoption programs (e.g., Empty the Shelters) and is the most influential counterpart organization in Race for Life's network.
Regional players
- Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT): British Columbia-based disaster animal response organization referenced in Race for Life Rescue's wildfire preparedness content. Operates a comparable disaster animal response mission in a different geography.
Direct peers
- Pilots N Paws: Volunteer-pilot network that transports shelter animals by general aviation. Operates the same air-relief concept as Race for Life Rescue, relying on donated pilot time and donated aircraft time rather than a dedicated, owned aircraft.
- Wings of Rescue: Aerial animal rescue organization that flies at-risk shelter animals to adoption partners across the U.S. Wings of Rescue is the closest direct comparable and is even named as a collaborator on Race for Life Rescue's West Bank mission.
Emerging players
- North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG): California-based disaster animal rescue organization referenced as part of Race for Life Rescue's wildfire-response network. Comparable mission scope (disaster animal response) at a smaller, regional scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Race for Life Rescue social profiles
Digital presenceRace for Life Rescue financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Race for Life Rescue leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Race for Life Rescue funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Race for Life Rescue 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 Race for Life Rescue
What does Race for Life Rescue do?
Race for Life Rescue provides free air transportation for animals in life-threatening situations using a dedicated Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. The organization relocates at-risk shelter animals from overcrowded facilities to partner adoption destinations and evacuates companion animals during natural disasters such as hurricanes across the US, Caribbean, and South America.
Is Race for Life Rescue a public or private company?
Race for Life Rescue is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Race for Life Rescue founded?
Race for Life Rescue was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Race for Life Rescue based?
Race for Life Rescue is headquartered in Annapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Race for Life Rescue make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are partnership Sponsorships and merchandise Sales.
Who are Race for Life Rescue's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SPCA International, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA and Greater Good Charities (Good Flights). BISSELL Pet Foundation is listed as an others. Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Pilots N Paws and Wings of Rescue. North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Race for Life Rescue have an API?
No public API is recorded for Race for Life Rescue.
What industry is Race for Life Rescue in?
Race for Life Rescue's product category is Animal Rescue Air Transport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAB, Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAM, Disaster Preparedness & Animal Evacuation Services. Its NAICS code is 481219 and its SIC code is 4522.