The Charlie Project Dog Rescue

What The Charlie Project Dog Rescue does

The Charlie Project Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs across Wisconsin and Illinois. It is run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff, relying on a foster-network model in which rescued dogs are placed with volunteer fosters rather than housed in a central facility. The organization works in coordination with multiple partner veterinary clinics to provide medical care, including spay/neuter services, which it treats as a core advocacy priority alongside rescue and adoption.

The operating model centers on three revenue and resource streams: adoption fees standardized between $400 and $800 per dog, individual donations, and in-kind supply donations. The organization has built referral and discounted-service relationships with veterinary clinics across both states and participates in the Petco Foundation's Rehome program as an additional adoption channel. All intake, foster placement, medical coordination, and rehoming functions are handled manually through the volunteer network.

The customer base is bifurcated into adopters (households seeking dogs in WI/IL) and donors (individual supporters contributing funds or supplies). The organization does not disclose enterprise or institutional sponsorships at scale, and its growth has been constrained to organic volunteer recruitment and community-level fundraising. There is no proprietary technology, digital platform, or AI-enabled matching system; all coordination is conducted through standard nonprofit communications channels.

Name

The Charlie Project Dog Rescue

Legal name

The Charlie Project Dog Rescue

Website

https://thecharlieprojectdogrescue.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Charlie Project Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-run nonprofit based in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, that rescues and rehomes dogs across Wisconsin and Illinois through a foster network, partner veterinary clinics, and the Petco Foundation Rehome program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Rescue, Transport & Emergency Animal Response (BPAGAIAB), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

Keywords

• Dog rescue services
• Pet adoption services
• Animal foster care
• Nonprofit animal welfare
• Spay and neuter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Twin Lakes

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Adoption Fees: Fees range from $400-$800 based on age and health of dog. Fees cover vaccination, microchipping, spay/neuter, and basic medical care.
2. Donations: Monetary donations from individuals. Organization is 501(c)(3) tax-deductible. 93 cents of every dollar goes toward pet care costs.
3. Supply Donations: In-kind donations of dog food, beds, crates, toys, medical supplies, and other necessities via Amazon and Chewy wishlists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Charlie Project Dog Rescue is a volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues at-risk dogs, places them in foster homes for vetting and rehabilitation (including spay/neuter), and facilitates their adoption into permanent homes. The organization operates across Wisconsin and the Chicago metro area and is sustained by monetary and supply donations, adoption fees, and a network of foster volunteers.

Product overview

The Charlie Project Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dog rescue organization operated entirely by volunteers. The organization operates a single integrated platform centered on dog rescue and rehoming services, consisting of dog adoption services (matching available dogs with qualified families), a foster care program (temporary homes for rescued dogs), volunteer engagement opportunities, monetary and supply donation collection, pet surrender and rehome referral services, veterinary resource referrals, adoption event coordination, and success story showcases. All programs and services work together to fulfill the mission of rescuing dogs from shelters and breeder situations, providing medical care and rehabilitation, and placing them in loving permanent homes while focusing on spay/neuter education to reduce homeless pets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dog Adoption Services Rescue and placement of at-risk dogs into permanent adoptive homes; includes full veterinary vetting and spay/neuter before adoption. Targeted at individual adopters and families in Wisconsin and Chicago.
• Foster Care Program Recruits and coordinates volunteer foster families who temporarily house rescued dogs in their homes pending adoption. Targeted at community volunteers willing to provide in-home care.
• Volunteer Program Coordinates unpaid volunteers who support rescue operations, events, transportation, and administrative tasks. Targeted at community members supporting animal welfare.
• Monetary Donation Program Accepts monetary contributions from individuals and small businesses to fund veterinary care, transport, and operations. Targeted at donors and small business supporters of animal welfare.
• Supply Donation Program Accepts in-kind donations such as dog food, bedding, crates, toys, and other supplies to support foster dogs. Targeted at donors and small businesses in the rescue's service area.
• Pet Surrender / ReHome Referral Provides guidance and referrals to owners who need to surrender or rehome their dogs, connecting them to appropriate resources. Targeted at pet owners facing rehoming situations.
• Veterinary Resource Referrals Provides referrals and resources for veterinary care, including low-cost spay/neuter and medical services for rescued dogs and adopters. Targeted at adopters and foster volunteers.
• Adoption and Community Events Hosts in-person adoption events, community outreach, and fundraising activities to facilitate placements and raise awareness. Targeted at adopters, fosters, donors, and the broader community in Wisconsin and Chicago.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

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.

• BrodieBowlminorOthersSponsor of The Charlie Project Dog Rescue, appearing on the sponsors page of the website.
• RexSpecsminorOthersSponsor of The Charlie Project Dog Rescue, appearing on the sponsors page of the website.
• Barksville ChicagominorOthersSponsor of The Charlie Project Dog Rescue, appearing on the sponsors page of the website.
• Kenneth LudwigminorOthersSponsor and venue host for Puppies & Presents Fundraiser and Adoption Event at 2142 W Roscoe St, Chicago.
• Tops Training & GroomingminorOthersSponsor of The Charlie Project Dog Rescue, appearing on the sponsors page of the website.
• Bark N BoujeeminorOthersVenue host for Lincoln Park Adoption Event at 705 W Belden Ave, Chicago. Also Moego booking partner.
• Vet NaturalsminorOthersSponsor of The Charlie Project Dog Rescue, providing hemp-based pet products.
• Petco Foundation (Rehome Program)minorOthersPartnered with Petco Foundation's Rehome tool to help pets go directly from current homes to new adopters without entering shelters.
• Veterinary Medical Services Corporation (Dr. Rydberg)coreOthersParticipating veterinarian at 2380 WI-120, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. One of several partner vets providing spay/neuter and medical services for rescued dogs.
• 4 Paws Animal HospitalcoreOthersParticipating veterinarian at 1187 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048. Partner vet for rescue medical services.
• Precision VeterinarycoreOthersParticipating veterinarian at 6107 Odana Rd, Madison, WI 53719. Partner vet for rescue medical services.
• Animal Care Center (Buffalo Grove)coreOthersParticipating veterinarian at 600 Mc Henry Rd, Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089. Partner vet for rescue medical services.
• Animal Care Center of Barrington & Dental Referral ServicecoreOthersParticipating veterinarian at 353 W. Northwest Highway, Barrington, Illinois 60010. Partner vet providing dental referral services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Petfinder: Online adoption marketplace that lists Charlie Project's dogs and channels adopter traffic to participating rescues. Comparable as an ecosystem-level partner rather than a competitor — a critical top-of-funnel channel for foster-based rescues.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Pet adoption marketplace and Rehome program partner (under Petco Foundation). Directly comparable as a discovery and rehoming channel that Charlie Project uses to attract adopters and route owner-surrender cases.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization with adoption, rescue, and spay/neuter programs funded by individual donations. Comparable at the program-mission level (dog adoption, spay/neuter advocacy, donation revenue) but operates at vastly larger scale and geographic scope.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare nonprofit running adoption programs, foster networks, and spay/neuter advocacy across the U.S. Comparable as a mission-aligned incumbent operating a much broader version of the same foster/adoption/advocacy model.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and rescue-support organization. Comparable at the advocacy/policy and spay/neuter mission level that aligns with Charlie Project's founding purpose, though operating as a much broader advocacy body.

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Humane Society: Wisconsin-headquartered animal welfare organization operating shelters, adoption programs, and spay/neuter services. Directly comparable as a regional dog rescue/adoption nonprofit in the same Wisconsin service area with similar foster and adoption fee models.
• PAWS Chicago: Large Chicago-area dog and cat rescue/adoption organization with a no-kill mission, foster-based placement model, and active adoption events. Directly comparable in target geography (Chicago metro), adopter screening process, and reliance on donations and adoption fees.
• Anti-Cruelty Society (Chicago): Chicago-based animal welfare nonprofit providing adoption, veterinary, and rescue services. Comparable in midwest urban market, dog adoption focus, and donor-supported operating model.
• Almost Home Foundation: Illinois-based dog rescue operating through a volunteer foster network with adoption fees and donations as primary revenue. Closely matches Charlie Project's foster-based, no-kill, volunteer-run operating model and adopter screening approach.

Regional players

• Tender Loving Care Animal Shelter: Animal rescue and adoption organization serving the Wisconsin/Illinois border region with similar mix of dogs from breeder surrenders and shelter transfers. Comparable as a regional peer with overlapping service geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-charlie-project-dog-rescue

Compliance2 records

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 The Charlie Project Dog Rescue