Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation

What Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation does

The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation (MVMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in South St. Paul, Minnesota. It operates as the officially recognized charitable arm of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), funneling private donations, event proceeds, legacy gifts, and memorial contributions into veterinary education, scholarships, continuing education grants, and organizational grants that serve the Minnesota animal health ecosystem. The foundation is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors plus an MVMA Past President seat, with operational leadership provided by a single Foundation Director.

MVMF's programmatic offering comprises four core product lines: veterinary student scholarships (DVM and technician programs at institutions including the University of Minnesota and Minnesota technical colleges, totaling over $179,000 disbursed annually), individual continuing education grants for practicing veterinarians and practice managers (e.g., the Dr. Dick Reierson Travel Grant and MVMA VBMA CE Grant), organizational grants supporting animal health programs (over $60,000 per year), and a Pet Memorial Card Program that distributes memorial cards through veterinary clinics. A dedicated Legacy Society enables planned-giving vehicles including endowed gifts (with a $25,000 minimum), bequests, and annuities. Underlying technology is minimal: the foundation relies on a vendor-hosted website (Beyond Indigo Pets) for online donations and event registration, with no proprietary platforms, APIs, or digital products disclosed.

MVMF's revenue model is purely philanthropic, consisting of individual donations, corporate event sponsorships (across three annual fundraising events — the Vet Gala, Golf Classic, and Clay Shoot — plus a silent auction at the MVMA Annual Meeting), legacy giving, and proceeds from pet memorial card sales. Fundraising is community- and event-driven rather than transactional, with channels spanning direct mail, online donations, clinic-distributed memorial cards, and event-based corporate sponsorships from animal health industry partners including Elanco, Zoetis, IDEXX, Boehringer Ingelheim, BluePearl, and Lakefield Veterinary Group.

Name

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation

Legal name

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation

Website

https://mvmfcares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the charitable arm of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, disbursing veterinary student scholarships, organizational grants, and continuing education grants across Minnesota via donations, event proceeds, and legacy gifts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Veterinary Services (541940), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Veterinary scholarships
• Veterinary grants
• Animal health funding
• Nonprofit foundation
• Continuing education grants

Headquarters

HQ city

South Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Online credit card donations, mailed checks, and MVMA member donations. Donors can give as MVMA members or guests.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various tiers for Vet Gala, Golf Classic, and Clay Shoot events providing visibility and connection to the veterinary community.
3. Legacy Giving: Endowed gifts (minimum $25,000), bequests through estate plans, life insurance, annuities, and planned giving through the Legacy Society.
4. Pet Memorial Cards: Sale of pet memorial cards to veterinary clinics for client grieving process, with portion of card costs being tax deductible.
5. Silent Auction and Raffles: Annual silent auction at MVMA Annual Meeting featuring theme baskets, sports tickets, artisan crafts. Wine pull and drawing with prizes including TVs, smart speakers, tablets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds scholarships for veterinary and technician students, awards grants to individuals and organizations supporting animal health, administers a Pet Memorial Card Program for veterinary clinics, and hosts three annual fundraising events (Vet Gala, Golf Classic, Clay Shoot). It also manages a Legacy Society for planned estate gifts to advance veterinary medicine in Minnesota.

Product overview

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation operates as a unified nonprofit platform offering multiple interconnected programs: veterinary student scholarships (DVM and technician), individual and organizational grants for animal health initiatives, the Pet Memorial Card Program for veterinary practices, online pet memorial pages, and three major annual fundraising events (Vet Gala, Golf Classic, and Clay Shoot). The foundation also manages a Legacy Society for estate planning donations and provides an Event Kit for community-hosted fundraisers. All programs collectively support advancing animal health, the human-animal bond, and the future of veterinary medicine in Minnesota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterinary Student Scholarships Annual scholarship awards for DVM students at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and veterinary technician students at accredited Minnesota programs. Awards are based on academic standing, achievements, leadership, and financial need. Over $179,000 in veterinary scholarships awarded annually.
• Individual Grants Continuing education grants for individual veterinary professionals, including the Dr. Dick Reierson Travel Grant (up to $3,650 for veterinary dentistry education) and the Minnesota Veterinary Practice Managers Network CE Grant ($500 for practice manager professional development).
• Organizational Grants Annual grants awarded to nonprofits, community groups, and student organizations that support veterinary education, animal health, and public outreach in Minnesota. Applications due March 31. Over $60,000 awarded in organizational grants annually.
• Pet Memorial Card Program A cause-related marketing program allowing veterinary practices to honor grieving clients with memorial cards. A portion of card costs is tax-deductible and donated to MVMF to fund scholarships and grants. Cards available for purchase by veterinary clinics.
• Online Pet Memorials Digital memorial pages honoring deceased pets, with donations supporting MVMF's mission and animal health programs. $25 minimum donation required for online pet memorials.
• Vet Gala Annual premier fundraising event featuring dinner, entertainment, and auctions to support veterinary and technician student scholarships and animal health programs. Held at Union Depot, St. Paul.
• Tee It Up Golf Classic Annual 32nd golf tournament at The Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove, MN, raising funds for scholarships and animal health initiatives.
• Shoot for the Future Clay Shoot Annual 17th sporting clay shoot event at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays in Clear Lake, MN, open to all skill levels with awards, raffles, and live auction. $190 per shooter; $75 for games and raffle tickets.
• MVMF Legacy Society Estate planning and legacy giving program allowing donors to create endowed scholarships or contribute through wills, life insurance, annuities, or outright estate gifts. Minimum $25,000 required to create an endowment fund.
• Silent Auction at MVMA Annual Meeting Annual two-day silent auction with wine pull and drawing held at the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association Annual Meeting, featuring theme baskets, sports tickets, artisan crafts, and prizes including TVs, smart speakers, and tablets.
• Event Kit Fundraiser Hosting Resources and guidance program enabling individuals, veterinary clinics, and corporate departments to host their own fundraisers benefiting MVMF. Includes event planning templates and committee role recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grown from 5 scholarships ($4,272) in 1991 to 25 scholarships (nearly $200,000) in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991MVMF serves as the charitable arm of MVMA, established in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. MVMA's board helped establish MVMF, and MVMA Past Presidents serve on MVMF board. MVMF provides scholarships for MVMA member students and hosts events at MVMA Annual Meeting.
• Lakefield Veterinary GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinners Circle sponsor of Vet Gala event, providing support for MVMF fundraising.
• ElancominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRun for the Roses sponsor of Vet Gala; also corporate sponsor of Golf Classic.
• ZoetisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRun for the Roses sponsor of Vet Gala; corporate sponsor and Cart Sponsor of Golf Classic.
• Boehringer IngelheimminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMagnolia Decor Sponsor of Vet Gala; Hole and Pin Sponsor of Golf Classic; supports Shoot for the Future Clay Shoot.
• BluePearl Pet HospitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMagnolia Decor Sponsor of Vet Gala event.
• University of Minnesota College of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLunch Sponsor of Golf Classic; primary institution for DVM scholarships. MVMF President Dr. Erin Burton serves as Senior Associate Dean at U of M CVM.
• AERC (Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Foursome Eagle sponsor of Golf Classic; Dinner Sponsor of Clay Shoot.
• Butler Vet InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent Sponsor of Shoot for the Future Clay Shoot.
• VDS (Veterinary Dental Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDerby Cocktails & Cuisine sponsor of Vet Gala; Dinner Sponsor of Clay Shoot.
• Mission Pet HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSouthern Charm sponsor of Vet Gala; Golf Ball Sponsor of Golf Classic.
• IDEXXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDinner Sponsor of Shoot for the Future Clay Shoot.
• Wild Marsh Sporting ClaysminorOthersVenue host for annual Shoot for the Future Clay Shoot event in Clear Lake, MN.
• The Refuge Golf ClubminorOthersVenue host for annual Golf Classic event in Oak Grove, MN.
• Union DepotminorOthersVenue host for annual Vet Gala event in St. Paul, MN.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart Charities: Major animal-welfare nonprofit funder of pet welfare, access-to-care, and adoption programs. Much larger scale than MVMF; overlaps thematically on advancing animal health and welfare but does not specialize in veterinary scholarships.
• Humane Society of the United States: Large national animal-welfare organization competing for the same pet-owner donor dollars as MVMF. Compares as an adjacent nonprofit competitor for charitable giving, though focused on advocacy and shelter support rather than veterinary scholarships.
• Scholarship America: Largest U.S. nonprofit scholarship-management organization administering donor-restricted scholarship funds nationally. Comparable as a fund-management-and-scholarship-administration nonprofit, though at vastly larger scale and without a veterinary-specific mission.

Direct peers

• Michigan Veterinary Medical Foundation: State-level veterinary charitable foundation affiliated with the Michigan VMA. Highly comparable structure: scholarships, grants, and donor programs scoped to a single state veterinary community, making it a near-twin operating model.
• AKC Canine Health Foundation: Nonprofit funding canine health research and veterinary education grants through donor and event channels. Comparable veterinary-health charitable foundation with similar donor-event-and-grant programmatic mix.
• California Veterinary Medical Foundation: Charitable arm of the California VMA funding student scholarships, disaster preparedness, and animal welfare grants. Comparable state-scope foundation model with similar scholarship-plus-grant programmatic mix.
• Morris Animal Foundation: One of the largest nonprofit foundations funding veterinary and animal health research, student scholarships, and companion animal health studies. Comparable 501(c)(3) animal-health charity, though with a heavier research-grant orientation than MVMF's scholarship focus.
• American Veterinary Medical Foundation: National 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the AVMA, awarding veterinary scholarships, research grants, and disaster relief. Closest direct peer to MVMF in mission and structure, but operating at national scale rather than state level.

Others

• American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC): Nonprofit association representing veterinary medical colleges and administering certain scholarship programs for veterinary students. Relevant ecosystem peer given shared beneficiary base (vet students) and shared scholarship-administration mission.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association Foundation: Charitable foundation affiliated with the Wisconsin VMA, supporting Wisconsin veterinary students and animal health initiatives. Operates in an adjacent geographic market to MVMF with nearly identical state-foundation structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MVMF.Minnesota.Veterinary.Medical.Foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/mvmf_cares
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-veterinary-medical-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation