CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY

What CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY does

Champaign County Humane Society (CCHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit open-admission animal shelter headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. Originally chartered in 1903 and reorganized in its current form in 1951, CCHS operates as an independent, community-supported animal welfare organization that does not receive government funding and is not affiliated with national animal welfare organizations such as ASPCA or HSUS. The organization serves Champaign County residents with a comprehensive suite of animal welfare services, and it cares for approximately 1,700 animals annually through its in-shelter and foster network.

The organization's core services include animal adoption, foster care placement, low-cost spay/neuter, microchipping, humane education, pet food pantry assistance, training classes, and licensed humane investigations. CCHS's technology stack is composed of standard off-the-shelf software — Shelterluv for shelter management, Volgistics for volunteer management, and point-of-sale systems — with no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiated platform architecture evident. Operations are supported by a staff of 11-50 employees and a Board of Directors with staggered terms, with no engineering or technical product functions disclosed.

CCHS operates on a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining individual donations, adoption fees, fundraising events (anchored by the annual Fur Ball gala), merchandise sales, grants, and planned giving programs. The organization relocated to a new facility in March 2023, indicating a recent capital investment and expanded operational capacity. The business model is structurally that of a single-market, community-funded nonprofit anchored by local philanthropy and earned revenue from adoption and service fees, with no government contracts or national-affiliation revenue streams.

Name

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY

Legal name

Champaign County Humane Society

Website

https://cuhumane.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Champaign County Humane Society is an independent, community-funded 501(c)(3) open-admission animal shelter in Champaign, Illinois. It serves Champaign County residents with adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, foster care, humane education, and pet retention services, caring for approximately 1,700 animals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Shelter and Welfare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (541940)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low-Cost & Community Veterinary Clinics (HLAMAAAE), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Pet adoption programs
• Humane education services
• Low-cost spay neuter
• Animal welfare nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individuals. Monthly giving program available through online portal. Donations represent primary funding source for shelter operations.
2. Adoption Fees: Fees charged for animal adoptions. Provides revenue while facilitating pet placement into homes.
3. Special Events Revenue: Annual Fur Ball dinner-and-auction event raising over $130,000 in 2025. Mutt Strut peer-to-peer fundraising. Bingo for a Cause community events. Birthday party rentals at facility.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise (t-shirts, hats, mugs) sold through Bonfire on-demand platform. CCHS receives portion of each sale. Limited edition designs available seasonally.
5. Planned Giving: Bequests and legacy gifts through FreeWill partnership. Donors can include CCHS in wills.
6. Grants: Grant funding from organizations such as Petfinder Foundation. Also receives in-kind donations of supplies and professional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Champaign County Humane Society is an open-admission, private nonprofit animal shelter that accepts all animals regardless of circumstance. It provides pet adoption, foster care, low-cost spay/neuter and microchipping clinics, humane education, behavior classes, community cat management, and surrendered and deceased pet services to residents of Champaign County, Illinois.

Product overview

The Champaign County Humane Society (CCHS) operates as a full-service animal shelter offering a comprehensive range of animal welfare services. The core offering is animal adoption and shelter care, supplemented by foster care programs for special needs animals, low-cost veterinary services (spay/neuter, microchipping), and humane education. CCHS provides multiple community support programs including a Pet Food Pantry for families in need, behavior and training classes, humane investigations for animal welfare violations, and the Seniors for Seniors adoption program. The organization conducts annual fundraising events including the Fur Ball gala, Mutt Strut, and Bingo for a Cause, while also operating a merchandise store via Bonfire for branded apparel. CCHS publishes the Paw Prints newsletter and maintains legislative advocacy efforts through dedicated newsletters on Illinois animal welfare law.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pet Adoption
• Foster Care Program
• Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic
• Microchipping Service
• Humane Education Programs
• Behavior and Training Classes
• Community Cats (TNR) Program
• Pet Surrender Services
• Humane Investigations
• Pet Food Pantry
• Seniors for Seniors Program
• Pet Pals Club
• Fur Ball Gala
• Mutt Strut
• Birthday Parties at the Shelter
• Merchandise Store

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,700 pets cared for annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BonfireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOn-demand merchandise platform for branded t-shirts, hats, mugs, and accessories. Bonfire manufactures and ships orders directly to customers; CCHS receives a portion of each sale. Partnership enables spreading awareness through wearable merchandise.
• FreeWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree online will-writing tool allowing donors to designate guardians for pets and include charitable bequests to CCHS. Partnership facilitates planned giving without CCHS providing direct service.
• Serra Subaru ChampaigncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal automotive dealer sponsors annual Paw-traits with Santa event and vaccine clinic. Active community supporter of shelter programs and pet-related initiatives. Part of Subaru Love Promise program.
• Triptych BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal brewery provides prizes for top Mutt Strut fundraisers. Annual dog walking/fundraising event where participants compete for Top Dog and Mr./Ms. Popular titles.
• Evergreen Senior LivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts Bingo for a Cause fundraiser benefiting CCHS. Event includes homemade bake sale with proceeds supporting shelter animals.
• Noma Home ProsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal home services company sponsors monthly Underdog of the Month recognition for shelter dogs, bringing attention to harder-to-adopt animals.
• Illinois Animal Welfare FederationcoreOthersCCHS Executive Director Mary Tiefenbrunn serves as President of IAWF. Federation dedicated to education and training of animal welfare professionals and addressing legislative issues impacting member agencies.
• Erin EasthamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal artist creating limited-edition merchandise designs (summer 2026) for CCHS Bonfire store. Designs available for cat lovers and dog lovers in classic vintage colors or tie-dye.
• UpClose PrintingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal printing company produces Paw Prints magazine for CCHS.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization offering sheltering, veterinary, and advocacy services. CCHS explicitly is not affiliated with ASPCA, but ASPCA represents the institutional incumbent in the same welfare category.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization operating sanctuaries and partnering with local shelters. Broader geographic scope and brand recognition across CCHS's category.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy organization operating outside CCHS's service area but providing grants, policy advocacy, and standards that CCHS aligns with. Broader scope but not a direct local competitor.

Direct peers

• PAWS Chicago: Large Illinois open-admission, no-kill animal shelter offering adoption, low-cost veterinary services, and community programs. Directly comparable to CCHS as a fellow Illinois shelter with similar service mix and mission.
• Wisconsin Humane Society: Mid-sized open-admission shelter operating multiple locations with adoption, low-cost veterinary clinics, and behavior programs. Same operational template as CCHS at a larger scale.
• Naperville Area Humane Society: Illinois-based open-admission shelter offering adoption, community veterinary services, and humane education. Directly comparable suburban/regional shelter model.
• Animal Care League (Oak Park, IL): Open-admission animal shelter in suburban Chicago providing adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, and humane education. Closely matches CCHS's operational model and community-supported nonprofit structure.
• Capital Area Humane Society (Illinois): Illinois open-admission shelter providing adoption, low-cost spay/neuter, and humane education. Comparable service mix and geographic proximity to CCHS.

Regional players

• Champaign County Animal Control: Government animal control agency operating in the same geography as CCHS, handling stray animal intake and dog licensing. Regional peer with overlapping service area but separate mission and funding.

Others

• Petfinder Foundation: Grant-making nonprofit supporting shelter and rescue groups. CCHS is a current grant recipient, making it a relevant ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cuhumane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/champaign-county-humane-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY