BirchBark Foundation

What BirchBark Foundation does

BirchBark Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization (Tax ID 81-2531220) founded in 2013 by veterinary internal medicine specialist Dr. Merrianne Burtch, DVM, DACVIM, and headquartered at 9029 Soquel Avenue, Suite F, Santa Cruz, California, with a secondary mailing address in Monterey. It operates three core programs: PetAid, which provides financial grants to low-income pet guardians in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties unable to afford emergency veterinary care; Pet Loss Grief Support, which delivers free one-on-one and group counseling sessions via Zoom to California residents grieving the loss of a pet; and an Education program offering pet health resources, blog content, and webinars such as the Ask a Vet panel. Service delivery is mediated through an embedded network of regional veterinary partners (e.g., BluePearl Monterey, Animal Internal Medicine Consultants, Harbor Veterinary Hospital, Toro Park Animal Hospital, Coast Vet) that identify qualifying clients and administer grant-funded care.

The organization runs with a 1-10 employee footprint and is funded entirely through voluntary contributions. Its revenue model comprises individual donations (tiers from $50 to $1,000+ plus recurring gifts), memorial and honor gifts (with tribute-wall and newsletter recognition), corporate and event sponsorships (anchored by the annual Fall in Love signature gala, Summer Music Series, Forever Friends Luncheon, and Love, Cars & Paws cause-marketing partnership with Victory Toyota and Lexus Monterey Peninsula), and legacy giving via the Forever Friends Circle planned-giving program. The Annual Report and Strategic Plan 2026 are referenced as governance and forward-planning artifacts. Operations are CCPA-compliant and donations are 100% tax-deductible. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is supported by a Squarespace-hosted website, a Classy donation processing integration, and standard Zoom-based counseling sessions.

Name

BirchBark Foundation

Legal name

BirchBark Foundation

Website

https://birchbarkfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BirchBark Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Monterey Bay communities that delivers PetAid emergency veterinary grants, free pet-loss grief counseling, and pet health education through a network of regional veterinary partners, funded entirely via donations and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Pet welfare services
• Veterinary financial assistance
• Pet loss counseling
• Animal charity programs
• Nonprofit pet care

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization is solely supported by the generosity of individual donors, community members, businesses, and organizations. Donations range from $50 to $1,000+ and can be made as one-time or recurring contributions.
2. Memorial and Honor Gifts: Donations made in memory of deceased pets or to honor living pets or pet lovers, with tiered recognition including tribute wall placement and newsletter features.
3. Corporate and Event Sponsorships: Revenue from event sponsorships including the Fall in Love signature gala and various community events, with sponsorship tiers from Friend to Presenting Benefactor levels.
4. Legacy Giving: Planned giving through the Forever Friends Circle, allowing donors to include BirchBark in their will or trust for long-term sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BirchBark Foundation provides PetAid grants to low-income pet guardians in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties who cannot afford emergency veterinary care. It also delivers free Pet Loss Grief Support counseling (group and one-on-one sessions via Zoom for California residents) and pet health education resources. All programs are provided at no charge and funded by donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

BirchBark Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization offering a suite of community service programs unified by its mission to protect and honor the human-animal bond. The core offerings include PetAid (financial grants for emergency veterinary care), Pet Loss Grief Support (free counseling sessions for grieving pet owners), and Education for Pets (pet health information and resources). The organization serves the Monterey Bay area communities of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties in California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PetAid Financial assistance program that provides grants to low-income pet guardians in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties who cannot afford emergency veterinary care for their pets. Eligible residents apply via the foundation's website; funds are applied to the cost of veterinary treatment through partner clinics.
• Pet Loss Grief Support Free community service providing group and one-on-one grief counseling sessions via Zoom for California residents grieving the loss of a beloved pet, facilitated by grief counseling professionals. Sessions are accessed through the Pet Loss Counseling Portal on the foundation's website.
• Education for Pets and the People Who Love Them Educational program offering pet health resources, blog content, and free webinars (including the Ask a Vet panel with veterinary experts) covering topics such as disaster preparedness, temperature safety, household risks, nutrition, and general wellness to help pet owners be better health advocates for their animals.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Veterinary PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of veterinary clinics and hospitals in Monterey Bay area that partner with BirchBark to identify qualifying clients and provide medical care for pets whose owners receive PetAid financial assistance.
• Corporate PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses that support BirchBark's mission through sponsorships, donations, and community engagement.
• Nonprofit/Foundation PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with other foundations and nonprofit organizations in the region to expand resources and reach more pet families in need.
• Victory ToyotamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove, Cars & Paws event partner donating $20 per vehicle serviced and $250 per vehicle leased or purchased to BirchBark.
• Lexus Monterey PeninsulamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove, Cars & Paws event partner donating $20 per vehicle serviced and $250 per vehicle leased or purchased to BirchBark.
• Dr. Merrianne Burtch / Animal Internal Medicine ConsultantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of BirchBark and internal medicine specialist who provides veterinary expertise and program leadership.
• BluePearl MontereycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency and specialty veterinary practice participating in BirchBark's Ask a Vet panel and providing veterinary expertise.
• Pet Maintenance & RepairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall animal general practice participating in BirchBark's Ask a Vet panel.
• Harbor Veterinary HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall animal practice participating in BirchBark's Ask a Vet panel.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): Large national pet welfare foundation investing in animal welfare and pet-related causes. Comparable animal welfare focus but vastly broader portfolio, well-funded through Petco corporate support.
• PetSmart Charities: Leading funder of animal welfare in North America, supporting adoption, access to veterinary care, and pet retention. Overlaps with BirchBark's PetAid mission but operates at national scale with major corporate backing.
• Humane Society of the United States: Large animal welfare and protection organization with veterinary care and pet retention programs. Compares to BirchBark in mission around the human-animal bond but operates at national policy and direct-care scale.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National animal welfare organization focused on ending shelter killing, with programs touching pet owners, veterinary access, and community support. Comparable mission ethos but operates at much larger scale than BirchBark.

Direct peers

• The Pet Fund: Nonprofit that provides financial assistance to pet owners facing veterinary expenses they cannot afford. Closely aligned mission and grant-based delivery model for non-basic, non-emergency care.
• Mosby Foundation: Provides financial assistance for veterinary care for sick or injured dogs in low-income households. Comparable veterinary financial-aid focus on companion animals.
• RedRover: National nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance for veterinary care and crisis shelter for people and pets fleeing domestic violence. Closest direct comparable to BirchBark's PetAid program, operating at a larger geographic scale.
• Paws 4 A Cure: Nonprofit providing financial assistance for veterinary care for dogs and cats whose owners cannot afford treatment. Directly comparable grant-giving model for companion animal medical costs.
• Shakespeare Animal Fund: Provides financial assistance for emergency veterinary care for pets of low-income owners. Comparable small-grant mission and geographic-restriction model.
• Brown Dog Foundation: Provides financial assistance to low-income families for veterinary care when no other resources are available. Directly comparable mission, grant-based model, and focus on companion animal medical aid.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BirchBarkFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/birchbark-foundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 BirchBark Foundation