Benton Franklin Humane Society

What Benton Franklin Humane Society does

Benton Franklin Humane Society (BFHS) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal shelter and adoption center founded in 1966 and headquartered at 1736 E 7th Ave, Kennewick, Washington. The organization operates a single physical shelter serving the Tri-Cities area (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and surrounding communities in Benton and Franklin counties), and converted to a no-kill philosophy in 1994. Core services include cat and dog adoption, surrender intake, foster placement, a pet food bank supporting families in need, humane education and community outreach, and emergency-receiving shelter services under partnerships with HSUS, ASPCA, and Best Friends Animal Society. The organization received no government funding and relies entirely on donations, adoption fees, fundraising events, and in-kind sponsorships.

BFHS's core "products" are programmatic rather than technological: an adoption services funnel, a foster network, a volunteer program supporting hundreds of community members annually, an on-site surgical suite staffed by part-time veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians, and the Roger James Animal Adoption Center, which tripled animal housing capacity and was built debt-free. There is no proprietary technology platform; digital infrastructure consists of a WordPress-based website (bfhs.com) and DonorPerfect-powered donation portals for one-time gifts, recurring #Paws4Life monthly giving at $19/month, and Brick Lane commemorative brick sales at $60 per engraved brick. The annual Wags and Whiskers Kentucky Derby-inspired gala at Zintel Creek Golf Club is the marquee event-driven fundraising channel, supplemented by community and sponsor relationships with regional businesses including STCU, PetSmart, Target, Hills Pet Nutrition, and BISSELL Pet Foundation.

The revenue model is a blended nonprofit mix: recurring small-dollar subscriptions, episodic one-time donations concentrated around the annual gala, transaction fees from adoptions, and unit-priced commemorative brick sales. Customer segments are individual pet adopters, community donors and volunteers, families served by the pet food bank, and national animal welfare organizations requiring emergency shelter capacity. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees led by President Tracy Troutman, with Executive Director Autumn White (since August 2017) heading operations.

Name

Benton Franklin Humane Society

Legal name

Benton Franklin Humane Society

Website

https://bfhs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Benton Franklin Humane Society is a private 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter founded in 1966 in Kennewick, WA, serving the Tri-Cities area through pet adoption, foster, volunteer, and emergency-receiving shelter programs funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910), Veterinary Services (541940), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Humane society operations
• Community pet care

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennewick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: Primary revenue source. Monthly recurring donations through #Paws4Life program ($19/month), one-time donations, and general donor contributions. BFHS receives no government or tax dollar funding.
2. Adoption Fees: Revenue from pet adoptions, though specific fee amounts not disclosed.
3. Brick Lane Program: Commemorative brick sales at $60 per 4"x8" engraved brick with personalized message up to 3 lines.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual gala events including Wags and Whiskers with silent and live auctions, raffles. Sponsorship revenue from local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Benton Franklin Humane Society operates a private, nonprofit no-kill animal shelter in Kennewick, Washington, placing cats and dogs into adoptive homes while providing foster care, humane education, a community pet food bank, and on-site veterinary/surgical care. It also functions as an emergency receiving shelter for national rescue partners (HSUS, ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society), and it funds this work through donations, adoption fees, sponsorships, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Benton Franklin Humane Society operates as a private, nonprofit animal shelter and adoption center offering a comprehensive suite of animal welfare services. The core offerings include pet adoption programs (cats and dogs), volunteer and foster care networks, community education and outreach, and emergency shelter services in partnership with national organizations. Supporting services include a pet food bank, lost and found animal resources, and fundraising events. The organization converted to a no-kill philosophy in 1994 and receives no government funding, relying on donations and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Tripled animal housing capacity with Roger James Animal Adoption Center built debt-free
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Zintel Creek Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Event venue partner for Wags and Whiskers 2026 annual gala. Provides elegant southern charm Kentucky Derby-inspired setting for the fundraising event.
• Signs by SueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Generously donated van wrap design and installation, providing fresh professional look for BFHS vehicle that raises awareness about animal shelter services throughout the community.
• Tri-Cities Animal Control AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFHS answered plea for help and managed emergency sheltering for Tri-Cities Animal Shelter project (late 2022 to early 2023), receiving Project of the Year awards for this partnership.
• Dr. Menks (Mobile Veterinary Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as Paw Partner, provides mobile veterinary services.
• Blue Mountain Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaw Partner and regional humane society colleague organization.
• STCU (Spirit of 76 Credit Union)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaw Partner - local credit union supporting animal welfare.
• PetSmartminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaw Partner - pet retail chain supporting shelter.
• TargetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaw Partner - major retailer supporting animal welfare programs.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFHS serves as emergency receiving shelter for HSUS national rescue efforts.
• ASPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFHS serves as emergency receiving shelter for ASPCA national rescue efforts.
• Best Friends Animal SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFHS serves as emergency receiving shelter for Best Friends Animal Society national rescue efforts.
• Hills Pet NutritionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner displayed on website - pet nutrition company supporting shelter.
• BISSELL Pet FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner displayed on website - pet foundation supporting animal shelters.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Blue Mountain Humane Society: Regional Pacific Northwest humane society operating shelter, adoption, and animal welfare programs. Directly comparable to BFHS in scope, geography, and Paw Partner designation.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization operating shelters, advocacy, and rescue. BFHS functions as a regional emergency receiving partner, making ASPCA a broad incumbent peer in animal sheltering and welfare.
• Dumb Friends League: Large regional animal welfare organization operating shelters, veterinary services, and behavior programs in the Rocky Mountain region. Comparable to BFHS across full shelter, vet, and community service lines.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): Largest US animal welfare advocacy and rescue-coordination organization. Engages with BFHS as an emergency receiving site, making HSUS a broad incumbent peer overlapping in shelter and rescue services.

Emerging players

• PetSmart Charities: Charitable arm of PetSmart that funds shelter adoptions, pet food banks, and welfare programs nationally. Comparable to BFHS in adoption and food bank services, with far broader reach.
• BISSELL Pet Foundation: Foundation supporting shelter pets through adoptions, transport, and emergency boarding. Listed BFHS as a Paw Partner and operates in adjacent shelter-funding space.
• Maddie's Fund: National family foundation funding no-kill shelter initiatives, community programs, and veterinary care. Comparable to BFHS's no-kill philosophy and community pet food bank work.
• Petco Love (Petco Foundation): National pet welfare foundation funding adoption, veterinary care, and lifesaving programs at shelters. Comparable to BFHS's mission focus on adoption and welfare, with broader grantmaking capacity.

Direct peers

• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization running sanctuaries and rescue transfer programs. BFHS serves as an emergency receiving partner for Best Friends, making it a direct operational peer in the same no-kill rescue-and-adoption category.
• Oregon Humane Society: Regional no-kill shelter and adoption center in Portland, OR. Highly comparable to BFHS in mission, services (adoptions, veterinary, transfers), and operating model; also the prior employer of BFHS's Executive Director.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benton-franklin-humane-society

Compliance4 records

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 Benton Franklin Humane Society