Homeward Animal Shelter

What Homeward Animal Shelter does

Homeward Animal Shelter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1966 and headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, where it operates a single physical shelter at 1201 28th Avenue North within Yunker Farm Park. Its mission — "Rescue. Shelter. Protect. Rehome." — is delivered through core services including pet adoption (dogs, cats, small animals, and a "barn buddies" program), a foster network, owner surrender intake, and community resources such as microchip clinics and a pet-friendly housing database. The organization is committed to no-euthanasia-due-to-space, mandatory spay/neuter for animals six months and older, and reports a 96.5% live release rate for 2025 with 44,000+ animals placed in lifelong homes since inception.

The business model is a community-funded nonprofit revenue stack. Primary revenue streams include individual financial donations (one-time and monthly recurring, with preset tiers of $35, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000), a $35-per-day 'Day of Shelter' sponsorship, adoption fees with discounts for seniors and military, in-kind/wish-list donations, and grant funding from partners such as the Bissell Pet Foundation. A multi-year $12 million capital campaign ('Here We Grow - All Paws In!') is currently 25% funded and will add an onsite veterinary clinic, expanded kennel capacity, and specialized care spaces. The technology stack is entirely off-the-shelf: Firespring for web/hosting, DonorPerfect for donation processing, OneCause for event ticketing, Square for microchip clinic scheduling, and Google Forms for applications — no proprietary technology or AI capabilities are in use.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and community-led. Distribution is regional (Cass and Clay counties) via walk-in public hours (Tue-Fri 4-7pm, Sat 2-6pm), scheduled appointments, a foster family network, and transfer partnerships with regional rescues. The shelter is supported by 20+ local business sponsors, a multi-channel community marketing presence (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email newsletter, local media via Y94 radio), and signature annual events such as the Pawject Runway dog fashion show. Leadership consists of Executive Director Tasha Haug and a four-person executive team, with governance provided by an 11-member board of directors that includes state legislators, banking executives, an NDSU Provost Emeritus, and a nonprofit fundraising consultant.

Name

Homeward Animal Shelter

Legal name

Homeward Animal Shelter

Website

https://homewardonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Homeward Animal Shelter is a Fargo, North Dakota 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1966, that rescues, shelters, and rehomes companion animals across Cass and Clay counties, with 44,000+ lifetime adoptions and a 96.5% live release rate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter and Rescue Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Pet adoption services
• Animal shelter operations
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Foster care programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible financial donations from community members. Accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations via online portal. EIN 45-0284164 confirms 501(c)(3) status.
2. Adoption Fees: Revenue from pet adoptions. Fees likely apply though specific amounts not publicly listed.
3. Capital Campaign: Major fundraising initiative 'Here We Grow - All Paws In!' for state-of-the-art facility construction. Goal of $12,000,000 with $3,033,277.39 raised (25% complete).
4. Grant Funding: Support from organizations such as Bissell Pet Foundation and other community partners.
5. Wish List/In-Kind Donations: Accepts physical item donations via wish list program, special needs veterinary care fund, and day of shelter program ($35 per day of care).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Homeward Animal Shelter rescues, shelters, and rehomes companion animals, primarily dogs and cats, while providing supporting services such as foster care, low-cost microchip clinics, and veterinary care for special-needs animals. Adoption services are paired with pet-friendly housing guidance, volunteer engagement, and charitable giving programs that fund daily operations.

Product overview

Homeward Animal Shelter operates as a unified animal welfare platform offering pet adoption services, foster care, and volunteer programs, complemented by donation-based fundraising including general donations, designated funds (Day of Shelter, Special Needs Veterinary Care), and a major capital campaign for facility expansion. The shelter also provides community resources including microchip clinics and pet-friendly housing information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 96.5% live release rate in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting partner, minor and event partner.

• Bissell Pet Foundationsupporting partnerOthersAnimal welfare organization providing financial support and resources to Homeward Animal Shelter's lifesaving efforts.
• In-Health Specialty PharmacyminorOthersLocal specialty pharmacy sponsor supporting shelter operations.
• Natural Pet Centersupporting partnerOthersLocal pet supply retailer; hosts microchip clinics for shelter. Located at 3037 13th Ave S in Fargo.
• Animal Health Clinicsupporting partnerOthersVeterinary clinic providing medical services; local business sponsor.
• Two Rivers Veterinary HospitalminorOthersVeterinary hospital sponsor supporting shelter veterinary care needs.
• First Western Bank & TrustminorOthersFinancial institution sponsor supporting shelter operations.
• First International Bank & TrustminorOthersFinancial institution sponsor supporting shelter operations.
• Luther Family Buick GMCminorOthersAutomotive dealership sponsor.
• CorwinminorOthersLocal business sponsor.
• Y94minorOthersRadio station sponsor - local media partner.
• Gjesdahl Lawsupporting partnerOthersLaw firm owned by Board President Mike Gjesdahl; local business sponsor.
• Brewhallaevent partnerOthersVenue host for annual Pawject Runway dog fashion show event benefiting Homeward Animal Shelter.
• The Dorm StudiominorOthersPhotography studio providing professional photo sessions for Pawject Runway event participants.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maddie's Fund: Family foundation dedicated to achieving a no-kill nation by funding shelter medicine, pet adoption, and community-based animal welfare programs — directly aligned with Homeward's live-release metrics.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization operating sanctuary and shelter programs with a mission and live-release orientation directly comparable to Homeward's no-euthanasia commitment.
• Bissell Pet Foundation: Animal welfare foundation already partnering with Homeward; comparable mission focused on reducing pet overpopulation, supporting shelters, and hosting adoption events.
• Petco Love (formerly Petco Foundation): National pet welfare foundation funding shelter and adoption programs across the U.S., operating with a comparable mission of reducing euthanasia and increasing pet adoption rates.
• PetSmart Charities: Leading funder of pet adoptions and shelter support programs in North America; directly comparable mission to facilitate adoptions and fund shelter/rescue operations.
• Humane Society of the Red River Valley: The primary regional animal welfare organization serving the Fargo-Moorhead area; directly comparable mission of rescuing, sheltering, and rehoming companion animals in the same geographic market.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: The largest national animal welfare organization with broader scope including rescue, advocacy, and pet health; relevant incumbent comparable in mission space but operating at vastly greater scale.
• Humane Society of the United States: National animal protection organization addressing broader animal welfare policy and direct care; relevant incumbent comparable in shelter/rescue mission but operating at significantly larger scale and scope.

Regional players

• Animal Humane Society: Minnesota-based regional animal welfare organization operating multiple shelter locations; comparable mission of adoption, surrender prevention, and veterinary services in a neighboring Midwest market.
• Wisconsin Humane Society: Regional Midwest animal welfare organization operating shelters, adoption, and veterinary programs; comparable in scale and mission to Homeward but serving a different adjacent geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HomewardAS
• Facebookfacebook.com/HomewardAnimalShelter
• Instagraminstagram.com/homewardanimalshelter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/homeward-animal-shelter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Homeward Animal Shelter