Carver-Scott Humane Society

What Carver-Scott Humane Society does

Carver-Scott Humane Society is a foster-based animal rescue organization serving Carver and Scott counties in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area of Minnesota, with 35 years of continuous operation since founding around 1989–1990. The organization operates without a traditional physical shelter, instead placing rescued dogs and cats in volunteer foster homes until adoption. Its core programs include pet adoption services (dogs and cats), a foster caregiver network, a FurKeeps pet support service to help owners keep pets in their homes, lost pet recovery, surrender intake, and the differentiated Whiskers of Hope program, which partners with Oak Park Heights Correctional Facility to place cats with incarcerated caregivers in a therapeutic fostering arrangement.

The organization runs no proprietary technology platform; operations are service-based and coordinated through its Squarespace-hosted website (carverscotths.org), Instagram, an email newsletter, and an Amazon wishlist. Products and services are interconnected around the central activity of matching animals in need with adopters, foster caregivers, donors, and volunteers. Support offerings include volunteer coordination, fundraising through The Circle monthly sustainer program and the RWW 5k event, an online merchandise shop, in-kind donation acceptance, and a facility sponsorship program tied to the upcoming Hopkins build-out.

The business model is nonprofit donation-driven, with revenue sourced from individual gifts, monthly sustainer contributions, in-kind contributions, event participation, merchandise sales, and facility sponsorships. The organization is funded through a combination of cash reserves (from a gifted parcel of land that was sold), individual donations, business sponsorships, and grants. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with executive leadership under Executive Director Alyse Arras, and is currently executing a strategic relocation from Chaska to a larger Hopkins facility planned to be fully operational by fall 2026, alongside a planned organizational rebrand to reflect expanded regional reach.

Name

Carver-Scott Humane Society

Legal name

Carver Scott Humane Society

Website

https://carverscotths.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carver-Scott Humane Society is a foster-based nonprofit animal rescue serving Carver and Scott counties in the Twin Cities metro, providing pet adoptions, foster placement, surrender and lost pet support, and the Whiskers of Hope correctional cat program, funded by donations and a 2026 Hopkins facility relocation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Lost & Found, Reunification & Microchipping Programs (BPAGAIAL)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Pet adoption programs
• Foster pet care
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Veterinary wellness services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chaska

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: Primary revenue source includes one-time donations, monthly sustainer contributions through The Circle program, and general financial gifts.
2. In-Kind Donations: Accepts physical goods including pet food, supplies, and other in-kind contributions.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling CSHS branded merchandise.
4. Facility Sponsorships: Opportunities to sponsor spaces in the new facility being built in Hopkins, including kennels, cat condos, and veterinary equipment.
5. Event Participation: RWW 5k fundraising event and other community events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carver-Scott Humane Society operates a foster-based animal rescue and rehoming program serving Carver and Scott counties in Minnesota, with no physical shelter facility. The organization places rescued dogs and cats into foster homes, coordinates adoptions, provides low-cost spay/neuter and wellness services, and runs the Whiskers of Hope program partnering with correctional facilities for canine rehabilitation and training.

Product overview

Carver-Scott Humane Society is a foster-based animal rescue organization offering a portfolio of interconnected animal welfare services. The core offerings include pet adoption services, a foster program for dogs and cats, and the Whiskers of Hope program (fostering cats in correctional facilities). Supporting services include pet support resources, volunteer opportunities, lost pet services, and surrender assistance. The organization also operates fundraising programs including donations, merchandise sales, and the RWW 5k event.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Whiskers of Hope: A foster program pairing cats with carefully selected incarcerated individuals at Oak Park Correctional Facility, creating therapeutic connections and providing cats with calm environments to decompress and thrive.

Products and services

• Pet Adoption Program Placement of rescued and surrendered dogs and cats into permanent homes through an application and screening process. Targeted at residents of Carver and Scott counties, Minnesota seeking companion animals.
• Foster Care Program Volunteer-based program placing rescued animals into temporary foster homes for socialization, medical recovery, and behavioral assessment prior to adoption. Targeted at community volunteers willing to house and care for animals short-term.
• Low-Cost Wellness and Spay/Neuter Services Subsidized veterinary services including vaccinations, spay/neuter procedures, and basic preventive care for rescued animals and community pets of qualifying owners.
• Whiskers of Hope Program Partnership program with correctional facilities in which rescued dogs are placed with inmate trainers for socialization, basic obedience training, and rehabilitation prior to adoption.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Oak Park Heights Correctional FacilityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhiskers of Hope program where carefully selected incarcerated individuals foster cats who need a calm, consistent environment. Cats live with their designated foster in a private room receiving one-on-one attention and daily care. The collaboration began with conversations inside Oak Park's mental health unit. Participants are individuals who have demonstrated positive behavior, leadership, and responsibility. This is a pilot program expected to benefit both cats and their caregivers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Adopt-a-Pet: Online pet adoption search platform aggregating listings from shelters and rescues. Comparable as a distribution/marketing channel where CSHS lists adoptable animals, with overlapping adopter audience.

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart Charities: Funder of in-store adoption programs and grants to rescue organizations. Relevant as both a potential grant partner and a competitor for adopter mindshare via national PetSmart adoption events.
• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization providing rescue, adoption, spay/neuter, and anti-cruelty services. Comparable as a national umbrella voice for animal welfare with overlapping mission and donor base.
• Animal Humane Society: Operates multiple shelters across the Twin Cities metro, offering adoption, veterinary, and surrender services. Direct regional incumbent and the most obvious competitive overlap as CSHS expands from Carver/Scott counties into the broader Minneapolis-St. Paul market.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare advocacy and direct-service organization. Comparable in mission and donor-base overlap; relevant competitor for charitable dollars in animal welfare.
• Best Friends Animal Society: Large, national no-kill animal welfare organization operating sanctuaries, adoption programs, and spay/neuter initiatives. Relevant as the leading no-kill movement organization that frames CSHS's operating philosophy and fundraising narrative.

Direct peers

• Ruff Start Rescue: Minnesota-based foster-centered pet rescue taking dogs and cats from high-kill shelters, with adoption events and foster network. Operates an almost identical foster-based rescue value proposition to CSHS.
• Second Chance Animal Rescue: Nonprofit animal rescue with adoption services and foster network; comparable scope in terms of rescue, adoption matching, and donor-supported operations.
• Pet Haven Inc. Foster-based rescue serving the Twin Cities, focused on dogs and cats with adoption, foster, and surrender services. Closely mirrors CSHS's foster-only model, target geography, and animal welfare mission.

Regional players

• Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic: Local veterinary practice whose owner (Dr. Barghusen) sits on CSHS's advisory board. Relevant as a regional veterinary services comparator and the type of low-cost/expanded veterinary service CSHS plans to bring in-house at the new Hopkins facility.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CarverScottHumaneSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carver-scott-humane-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Carver-Scott Humane Society